Now manufactured in the UK, HexcelWrap named “Most Innovating Product.”

HexcelPack, a developer of eco-friendly, paper-based protective cushioning solutions to replace bubble packaging and other plastic or foam-based materials, won “Most Innovating Product” for its HexcelWrap™ cushioning paper at the prominent Packaging Innovations & Empack Show in Birmingham, UK. Voted upon by both exhibitors and attendees, the show’s Packaging Innovations Showcase award is a significant win for HexcelPack, which beat out over a dozen competitors of sustainable packaging products.

Like all HexcelPack products, HexcelWrap™ utilizes the company’s groundbreaking slit paper technology, which converts extensible paper into a three-dimensional, internationally patented cushioning product by making precise cuts at specific angles. This method makes the paper “flex,” expanding its volume while maximizing the strength and stiffness of its fibers. The result is a superior cushioning product proven to outperform recent knockoffs and environmentally-harmful product protection alternatives – including plastic-based bubble and pillow packaging.

HexcelPack protective cushioning is easily dispensed through the company’s compact options, including a standalone and completely recyclable tabletop dispensing station. The most popular of these, the Mini Packing Station™, is an easy-to-use, human-powered dispenser requiring no electricity, zero maintenance, and a mere fraction of the tabletop space required for competing solutions.

Available in both white and Kraft paper, benefits of HexcelWrap™ and the Mini Packing Station™ include:

• Unsurpassed Product Protection: Engineered with Ultra Stretch™ technology, HexcelWrap™ delivers superior cushioning and product protection. Users simply stretch, wrap and tear the lightweight, interlocking material to custom lengths without the need for tape or scissors. HexcelWrap™ is ideal for shipping fragile items and reduces product damage by eliminating, among other adverse events, glass-on-glass contact during the supply chain journey.

• Sustainability: Completely paper-based, HexcelWrap™ cushioning paper is made of 100% Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) Canadian Paper for exemplary sustainability and little to no impact on the environment – all while delivering protection proven to outperform plastic bubble packaging and pillows. Unlike single-use plastic bubble, the paper used to produce HexcelWrap™ is fully curbside recyclable and biodegradable.

• Return On Investment: Especially considering the fully manual, electricity- and maintenance-free nature of the Mini Packing Station™ dispenser, using HexcelWrap™ is as impactful on the bottom line as it is on the environment. Protective and cost-effective, the system allows retailers to expediently recoup their investment.

“This award is an honor for our team, as it is a testament to our many years of experience in developing innovative packaging solutions that offer sustainability without sacrificing product protection,” said Lorne Herszkowicz, Partner at HexcelPack. “We are thrilled to have the industry recognize HexcelWrap’s wide-ranging benefits – from its seamless integration capabilities that turn any pack table into a cost-effective, sustainable packaging suite, to its ability to reduce box sizes, control damages, reduce labor costs, save warehouse space, and eliminate redundant packaging.”

About HexcelPack

HexcelPack is the developer of eco-friendly, paper-based cushioning solutions designed to replace bubble packaging and other plastic or foam-based protective materials. The company's internationally-patented HexcelPack™ portfolio provides sustainable, superior product protection for retail packages, corrugated shippers, envelopes and other containers. Notably, its curbside recyclable HexcelWrap™ cushioning wrap is used by the top three retailers in the United States, as well as several of the world's 10 largest consumer goods companies.

HexcelWrap's UltraStretch™ technology comprises unique paper with inherent characteristics that enhance the company’s slit paper technique, which maximizes paper's volume and strength through precision, angled cuts. The result is a three-dimensional product whose substantial cushion outperforms plastic and other paper-based competitors.

Together with the recently introduced Hex-a-Fil™ void filler, HexcelWrap™ can meet the packaging and shipping protection needs of a wide variety of consumer products. Each is handily dispensed through the company's compact, standalone and completely recyclable tabletop Mini Pack™ stations. For more information, visit www.hexcelpack.com.

• Paper merchant WL Coller to newly list PERGRAPHICA® Colours
• Ideally suited for premium creative design, publishing and luxury packaging applications
• Cradle to Cradle Certified® Bronze and CO2 neutral, the PERGRAPHICA® Colours portfolio is the right environmental choice

Packaging and paper group Mondi announces an extensive range of PERGRAPHICA® Colours will be listed with paper merchant WL Coller as of 13 June 2022.

A vibrant colour portfolio

The Manchester based paper merchant and stationery producer WL Coller is part of the AIMS group. The company will include PERGRAPHICA® Colours in their sales offer to UK customers. This will boost the PERGRAPHICA® range available on the British market and open new opportunities for creative designers, print producers, premium printers, publishers and luxury packaging converters. The premium paper range is produced at the Austrian paper mill Mondi Neusiedler and available at WL Coller in folio format with grammages of 120, 160 and 250 g/m².

We just love our PERGRAPHICA® Colours – the elegant Infinite Black, the atmospheric Dark and Deep shades, the cheerful Rich colours and the soothing Pale colours. We can’t wait to see them used in luxury packaging, premium print and other creative paper projects throughout the UK.

Devan Naidoo, Marketing & Sales Director, Mondi Uncoated Fine Paper

Creative ideas in full colour
Designers and creators of premium print products only get one chance to make a first impression. Outstanding product design needs to deliver a stunning look, elevated with complementary haptics. The PERGRAPHICA® Colours now available at WL Coller offer a wealth of possibilities to bring creative ideas to reality. Designers of new packaging and print products can benefit from a wide choice – combining various papers or selecting a single shade as perfect fit for their clients. The surface has an exceptional, velvety texture optimised for offset and digital printing, which enables printers and designers to merge a haptic experience with high print quality. Its strong, elastic surface lends itself perfectly to special finishing techniques such as hot foiling, laser engraving and embossing.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Mondi to bring the PERGRAPHICA® Colours range to the UK market,” says David Merry, Managing Director at WL Coller. “We decided to include a wide range of PERGRAPHICA® Colours into our portfolio as we want to provide our customers with the best possible choice. Creative ideas are their core competence, ours is to provide the ideally suited paper,” he adds.

Eat & drink with PERGRAPHICA® Infinite Black 
A true indulgence for the senses comes in the form of luxurious food products. Food compliance is a sensitive matter and Mondi has taken the utmost care in crafting the perfect paper to wrap up these delicacies. PERGRAPHICA® Infinite Black pleases the eye, is delightful to touch and suitable for food packaging projects.

Design for a sustainable future
Among agencies, publishers, designers and brand owners, there is a conscious desire for sustainable printing, publishing and packaging products. As paper for perfectionists, PERGRAPHICA® fulfils customer requirements, providing peace of mind at all levels. The entire range of PERGRAPHICA® Colours is CO2 neutral, meets the strict international standards set by FSC™ (FSC-C015522) and EU Ecolabel, and is Cradle to Cradle Certified® Bronze.

Antares Vision Group received the award at the PHARM Connect Congress in Warsaw for its innovative VRI - Large Volume Blow-Fill-Seal Automatic Visual Inspection and Leak Detection solution

Antares Vision Group, a technological partner of excellence in digitalization and innovation for companies and institutions with a complete ecosystem of technologies to guarantee product quality (inspection systems and machines) and product traceability along the supply chain (from raw materials to production, from distribution to the consumer), has won the 7th Central Eastern European Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Excellence Award at the PHARM Connect Congress in Warsaw with its innovative inspection machine solution dedicated to the automatic visual inspection and leak detection of large-volume bottles.

PHARM Connect is the largest and most important pharmaceutical and biotechnology business summit in the Central Eastern European region, taking place annually with more than 500 participants from more than 25 countries in the region and beyond.

The award recognizes Antares Vision Group’s strong commitment to guarantee the quality of pharmaceutical products by designing and producing innovative inspection machines. The Group has two production sites in Parma and Vicenza, Italy, that are dedicated to inspection machines, and its Inspection Machine Product Unit has more than 70 employees, including dedicated R&D and quality personnel.

Antares Vision Group designed its award-winning solution for a primary Polish pharmaceutical company. It comprises an inspection machine perfectly integrated into the customer’s production line that allows them to perform visual inspection and lead detection of four Blow-Fill-Seal (BFS) product formats. BFS containers are among the most important packaging for pharmaceuticals, but they are challenging to inspect due to their design and physical properties; however, international regulatory standards require every container to be thoroughly inspected from all sides to detect defects, contamination or foreign particles, leaks, and cosmetic flaws to the packaging.

After an accurate evaluation of the customer’s requirements and the specific characteristics of their BFS packaging, Antares Vision Group’s Inspection Machine Product Unit designed and manufactured an in-line machine featuring advanced inspection technologies. The machine was designed with a reliable transportation system and dedicated infeed, which eliminated the risk of BFS products deformation.

The machine’s dedicated lighting patterns and advanced imaging techniques can identify even the thinnest scratches, deformed bottles, inclusions, embedded air bubbles, and hanger defects. Furthermore, a deep R&D plan allowed Antares Vision Group to design the appropriate solution to spot particles (free-moving particles, heavy particles, and floating particles) and in-depth testing identified vacuum decay leak detection as the best technology to detect the presence of leaks in hermetically sealed plastic containers.

“We are honoured to receive this award and to be recognized as an innovative solution provider,” said Carlo Marconi, Business Owner Inspection Machines, Life Science & Cosmetics. “We believe this award will help us strengthen our brand awareness as a group of companies offering a wide-ranging portfolio of solutions and services to support the business growth of our customers through the digitalization of production and supply chains”.

ANTARES VISION GROUP

Antares Vision Group is a technological partner of excellence in digitalization and innovation for

companies and institutions, to guarantee the safety of products and people, the competitiveness of businesses and protection of the planet. It offers a unique and complete ecosystem of technologies to guarantee product quality (inspection systems and machines) and product traceability along the supply chain (from raw materials, to production, from distribution to the consumer), with integrated management of data, production and the supply chain, also through the application of artificial intelligence and the use of blockchain. Antares Vision Group is active in the life sciences sector (pharmaceuticals, biomedical devices and hospitals), in food and beverage, in cosmetics and is expanding into other sectors.

www.antaresvision.com - www.antaresvisiongroup.com

• Reaffirms its Sustainability 2.0 Commitments on World Environment Day
• Heavily invests in renewable energy, water conservation, waste management, afforestation, and climate-smart agriculture to record landmark achievements

New Delhi, 04 June 2022:  On this World Environment Day, ITC reaffirmed its commitment towards a Greener Earth through its bold Sustainability 2.0 agenda.

Building on its sustainability journey of over two decades, ITC, under the leadership of its Chairman Sanjiv Puri, has articulated an ambitious Vision to scale up its efforts in fighting climate change, whilst supporting large scale sustainable livelihoods.

Commenting on ITC’s multidimensional sustainability initiatives, Mr. S Sivakumar, Group Head, Agri, IT and Sustainability, ITC Ltd, said “ITC has, over the years, implemented innovative business models which synergise the building of economic, environmental, and social capital as a unified strategy. Today, our ambitious Sustainability 2.0 agenda aims to further strengthen ITC’s efforts towards decarbonisation, building green infrastructure, promoting climate-smart and regenerative agriculture, ensuring water security for all, restoring biodiversity through nature-based solutions, creating an effective circular economy, creating sustainable packaging solutions and enabling the transition to a net zero economy. We believe this will go a long way in combating the climate crisis and supporting meaningful livelihood opportunities.”

ITC is today the only Company of comparable dimensions to be water, carbon, and solid waste recycling positive for over a decade and a half.  In recognition of its superior Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) models, the Company has been rated ‘A -’ at the Leadership Level for both Climate Change and Water Security by CDP, ‘AA’ by MSCI-ESG (the highest amongst peers) and was also included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Emerging Markets Index.

As a part of its efforts to transition towards Net Zero, ITC has made significant investments in renewable energy. Currently, clean energy powers 24 factories, 14 hotels, and 5 office buildings of the Company across 14 states.  Last year, ITC set a target to meet 100% of its grid electricity requirements from renewable sources by 2030. Currently, it meets around 42% of all its electrical energy requirements through renewable means. With a focus on solar energy, the Company has commissioned both onsite and offsite plants across states. ITC has maximized usage of rooftops of its Integrated Consumer Goods Manufacturing and Logistics (ICML) facilities, factories and warehouses for solar power generation. As many as 39 properties of ITC are Platinum rated green buildings by USGBC-LEED/IGBC. ITC’s Windsor Hotel in Bengaluru became the first hotel in the world to be LEED® Zero Carbon certified, followed by ITC Grand Chola and ITC Gardenia.

To contribute to a ‘Greener Earth’, ITC has also been running an integrated water stewardship programme, covering over 1.33 million acres of land and creating a total rainwater harvesting potential which was over 3 times the net water consumed by its operations during last year. The demand management interventions for promoting water efficiency in agriculture have resulted in potential water savings to the tune of 496.5 million cubic metres till date. Following the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Platinum level certification of ITC’s Paperboards and Specialty Papers unit at Kovai, the first ever site in India to achieve the highest global standard, the Company is in the process of implementing the AWS Standards and obtaining certification at other units in high water stress areas.

Similarly, ITC’s extensive biodiversity programme focusses on reviving ecosystem services provided to agriculture such as natural regulation of pests, pollination, nutrient cycling, soil health retention and genetic diversity, which have witnessed considerable erosion over the past few decades. The initiative has cumulatively covered 1.3 lakh acres in more than 29 districts across 10 states. ITC aims to expand the programme to cover over 10,00,000 acres by 2030.

To derisk agriculture from effects of climate change, ITC has introduced a Climate Smart Agriculture programme, which covers 15 lakh acres, benefitting over 4.5 lakh farmers. As an integral part of this, a Climate Smart Village initiative covering over 2,500 villages and over 8.2 lakh acres, has led to reduction in GHG emissions by up to 66% and an increase in communities’ income by up to 93% for soyabean crop in Madhya Pradesh. ITC’s large-scale social and farm forestry programme has greened over 9,50,000 acres, generating over 173million person days of employment.

Moving towards Circular Economy, the Company went beyond plastic neutrality in 2021-22 by collecting and sustainably managing more than 54,000 tonnes of plastic waste across 35 states/union territories. ITC’s flagship solid waste management programme, ITC ‘WOW – Well Being Out of Waste’ programme, has covered over 1.8 crore citizens providing sustainable livelihood to more than 17,300 waste collectors.

In line with its Vision for a sustainable packaging future, ITC’s Paperboards and Packaging Businesses have leveraged cutting-edge research and innovation capabilities of ITC Life Sciences and technology Centre to launch several first-of-its kind packaging solutions, which facilitate reduction, substitution and recyclability of plastic. The Company is now endeavouring to ensure that over the next decade, 100% of its packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable/biodegradable.

As the company expands globally in line with its Close to You strategy, more complex financial management requirements and supply chain challenges are better addressed at the CFO level

Wiltz, Luxembourg, 1 June 2022 – UNITED CAPS, an international manufacturer of caps and closures, announces the appointment of Vincent Chauvier as Chief Financial Officer, a promotion from his previous role as Finance Director.

Chauvier has an extensive track record in the financial field across a variety of companies and industries. He started his career with accounting firm KPMG working his way up to Audit Engagement Manager. Subsequently, Chauvier had financial management roles with a variety of companies, including his most recent role as Vice President of Finance & Administration for Ion Beam Applications S.A. where he was the Regional CFO and also oversaw legal, sales and marketing operations. He joined UNITED CAPS in November 2020 as Finance Director. In his new role, Chauvier will sit on the Executive Committee as a permanent member and report to CEO Benoit Henckes.

“We are delighted to have someone of Vincent’s caliber on board,” Henckes said. “Since he joined us in 2020, he has proven to be a good leader and an exceptional financial manager with a terrific background across many different financially oriented disciplines. Vincent will play an important role in the CFO position as UNITED CAPS transforms into a global organization. He will augment our capabilities to manage the additional complexities and opportunities that growth brings as well as help to navigate the ongoing impact of COVID on supply chains.”

Henckes adds that the CFO role is also necessary since UNITED CAPS is now a bigger company than ever with capacity to grow even further, fueled by customer demand thanks to significant investment in R&D capability and production capacity – a great example of the company’s R&D expertise being the fact that over 50% of the caps it produces are bespoke.

“I’m looking forward to taking on this new role,” Chauvier added. “My tenure at UNITED CAPS has been a pleasure so far. It’s an exciting and innovative company, a leader in its segment, and with a talented team that feels like family. I am excited to be able to contribute to its continued growth as Chief Financial Officer.”

For more information about products and services from UNITED CAPS, please visit www.unitedcaps.com.

Fujian Forop Advanced Materials Co. Ltd. is one of the top three leading companies in the Chinese market for the production and sale of BOPP film products. The Chinese industrial giant means to start-up two new production sites in southwest and southeast China by 2025, leading to a total of six production sites with 30 BOPP production lines. This huge industrial development will serve to boost the production potential of the group, which intends to become the largest producer of BOPP film in the world.

The agreements signed in 2021 for the supply of 16 GOEBEL IMS MONOSLIT 9000 BOPP slitter rewinders create the solid basis for a great partnership, in which IMS TECHNOLOGIES supports the Chinese manufacturer in its ambitious industrial plan. A further agreement is expected to be finalized in 2022 that will bring additional primary slitter rewinders for another 6 BOPP production lines, already ordered by Forop Advanced Materials at the beginning of 2022.

The business relationship with the Chinese group is based on the shared values of profession, reliability, cooperation and innovation: IMS TECHNOLOGIES technology is part of a smart manufacturing plan aimed at the production of innovative technical products able to increase the Forop Advanced Materials competitiveness on international markets

Tobias Lanksweirt, Managing Director of GOEBEL Schneid- und Wickelsysteme GmbH and Sales Director Film adds: “Such a project is unique in our history, we are very proud and thankful that FOROP put its trust in GOEBEL IMS. With this project we show once more that we are the world market leader if it comes to primary slitting and rewinding, especially in the field of high-speed BOPP converting. We are looking forward to a long and fruitful cooperation with FOROP”.

About IMS TECHNOLOGIES

Born from the union of specialized, diversified companies, IMS TECHNOLOGIES is an international standard-setter in the engineering and manufacturing of high-tech customized machinery in multiple sectors such as Converting, Packaging, Automotive, and other industries. Thanks to its extensive know-how and expertise and its long history, stretching back to 1851, IMS TECHNOLOGIES is able to develop solutions complying with the highest standards in terms of productivity, quality and precision and to offer them to the market through its world-renowned brands.

AV Group members will present “Supply Chain Traceability: Can Your Business Survive Without It” and “Smarter and Safer Hospitals: When Innovative Technologies Meet Patient Safety”

Travagliato (Brescia) – Antares Vision Group (AV Group), a technological partner of excellence in digitalization and integrated data management, the global leader in track and trace hardware and software solutions, and one of the main players in inspection systems for quality control and integrated data management, has been chosen to provide thought leadership presentations at the GS1 Connect Conference, June7-9 in  in San Diego.

In “Supply Chain Traceability: Can Your Business Survive Without It?”, Herb Wong, vice president of strategy and innovation at rfxcel, which is part of AV Group, will discuss why traceability is foundational to business success in a rapidly evolving landscape of digitalization, ever-changing consumer expectations and power dynamics, tougher regulations, and supply chain uncertainty. The session will be held Thursday, June 9, at 1:45 p.m.

In on-demand session 509, “Smarter and Safer Hospitals: When Innovative Technologies Meet Patient Safety,” Antares Vision Digital Healthcare Department director Adriano Fusco, and Dr. Alberto Sanna, director of the Research Center for Advanced Technologies for Health and Well-Being of the IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, will discuss how traceability and GS1 standards enabled end-to-end visibility of medications – from their arrival at the hospital to dispensing – through the use of optimized resources that focus on patient safety.

AV Group Chairman and Co-CEO Emidio Zorzella said he was excited that GS1 Connect attendees would have the opportunity to hear Mr. Wong, Mr. Fusco, and Dr. Sanna talk about the Group’s technology. “The ultimate goals of traceability and GS1 standards are to protect people and optimize business processes,” he said. “These are also AV Group’s goals. I think people will have a strong reaction when they see how our technology is improving people’s lives, making businesses more efficient and effective and, we hope, making the world a better place.”

GS1 Connect is an annual event hosted by GS1 US. It brings together trading partners to network and learn about the value of using standards-based business processes and best practices for optimum efficiencies in managing the supply and demand sides of their value chains. The theme of this year’s conference is “Adapt,” focusing on how businesses have used GS1 Standards to overcome challenges to thrive in uncertain times. It will feature more than 40 live sessions, more than 50 exhibitors, trading partner roundtables, and other events centered on user stories and leadership insights for supply chain optimization.

ABOUT ANTARES VISION GROUP

Antares Vision Group is an outstanding technology partner in digitalization and innovation for enterprises and institutions, guaranteeing the safety of products and people, business competitiveness, and environmental protection.

 AV Group provides a unique and comprehensive ecosystem of technologies — including software and hardware — to guarantee product quality (inspection systems and equipment) and end-to-end traceability (from raw materials to production, from distribution to the consumer), through integrated data management, applying artificial intelligence and blockchain too.

AV Group is active in the life sciences (pharmaceuticals, biomedical devices, and hospitals), beverage, food, and cosmetics industries, and is expanding into other sectors. The world leader in track and trace systems for pharmaceutical products, it provides major global manufacturers, including more than 50 percent of the Top 20 multinationals, and numerous government authorities with solutions to monitor their supply chains and validate product authenticity.

 Listed since April 2019 on the Italian Stock Exchange in the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) segment and from May 2021 in the STAR segment of the Mercato Telematico Azionario (MTA) (electronic equity market), AV Group operates in 60 countries, employs approximately 1,000 people, and has a consolidated network of more than 40 international partners. antaresvisiongroup.com

rfxcel, part of AV Group, has deep expertise in providing leading-edge software solutions to help companies build and manage digital supply chains, lower costs, protect products and brand reputations, and engage consumers. rfxcel.com

• Large range of industry-leading and sustainable solutions are available to pharmaceutical packaging producers

• Airnov’s laser-marked canisters, rimless packets, washers, EQius and vials will be exhibited at key industry event

• Innopack Pharma Confex to be held in Mumbai on June 9-10, 2022

– Airnov Healthcare Packaging, a global leader in controlled atmosphere packaging, will be presenting a large portfolio of solutions available to customers in India at the upcoming Innopack Pharma Confex, scheduled to take place in Mumbai on June 9-10

Now in its 11th edition, the event is India’s largest gathering of pharmaceutical packaging stakeholders, with this year’s theme being ‘Innovation and Sustainability paving the Way Forward’.

Airnov has been at the forefront of sustainable healthcare packaging innovation for many years.

At the event, the company will be showcasing a wide range of products, many of which offering sustainability gains to packaging producers.

These include sustainable rimless packets which are welded together using uncoated Tyvek® and offer greater moisture absorbing capacity, while at the same time cutting raw materials usage by 25%. Meanwhile, Airnov’s laser-marked desiccant canisters reduce risk of contamination while eliminating the need for print and paper labels.

“Most of our product developments and innovations are geared towards sustainability activities, and we are excited to be demonstrating some of those innovations at the upcoming Innopack event in Mumbai,” comments Shrikar Trikannad, Airnov’s Head of Sales for India

Also being showcased at Innopack are a range of desiccant washers and EQius™ Equilibrium RH Stabilizers, the latter being sorbent products which maintain a specific moisture level in pharmaceutical packaging.

Visitors to Innopack will additionally be able to explore Airnov’s latest innovation in its vial range of products in the form of HAT®- IN, designed to protect diagnostic and nutraceutical products. The vial, which is easily integrated into automated filling lines, utilizes and integrates the company’s advanced desiccant polymer (ADP) technology to provide a high moisture barrier, as well as excellent moisture adsorption.

“We are also excited to showcase our Aroma-Can® canisters,” added Nicolas Martinez, Product Manager at Airnov. “These employ aroma technology to add an aromatic sensory experience, either to mask unwanted odors or enhance a product’s natural aroma”

Our team will be on hand at Innopack and ready to answer any questions about this and all of our solutions.

About Airnov Healthcare Packaging

Airnov Healthcare Packaging is a global leader in shelf-life preservation solutions to protect pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and diagnostic products from moisture and oxygen. This includes drop-in sorbents such as canisters and packets, integrated desiccant systems, and specially designed container-closure systems. Airnov has five manufacturing plants located in France, the U.S., China, and India.

hubergroup Print Solutions, one of the leading international printing ink specialists, announced its participation at Printpack India 2022, which takes place from May 26 to 30 at India Expo Centre & Mart in Greater Noida, India. At its stand, hubergroup will present its MGA (low migration and low odour) inks, which guarantee safe and sustainable food packaging. In addition, the ink specialist will inform on its eco-friendly non-food packaging inks such as PACKAGING PLUS and ECO-PERFECT-DRY. As a highlight, hubergroup will showcase the relaunched series RAPIDA ECO, which is now designed mineral oil-free.

Suresh Kalra, Managing Director India & President Asia at hubergroup, says: “We are very pleased that Printpack India can finally take place and that we can use this opportunity to personally exchange ideas with our customers and business partners. We look forward to this event and invite everyone to visit our stand. You can be sure that we have the right, colourful ink for your application!”

When it comes to non-food packaging, hubergroup will present various inks which combine fast and sustainable printing. One of those is the relaunched sheet-fed ink series RAPIDA ECO. This successor to the RAPIDA series is now formulated mineral oil-free and, thus, one of the fastest vegetable-based inks for sheet-fed printing available on the market.

hubergroup’s MGA portfolio ranges from the fast setting offset ink MGA NATURA, which is designed for the safe printing on the non-food contact side of food packaging, to the recently launched ink series MGA CONTACT, which allows safe and vivid printing on the inside of paper and cardboard food packaging.

The expert SK Srivastava, General Manager Technical at hubergroup India, will further explore the topic of “safe and sustainable food packaging inks” in a presentation on May 26, 5:00 – 5:30 pm

The hubergroup team at Printpack India will be happy to advise visitors on which series best suits their requirements. You will find hubergroup at Printpack India at Hall 9B, Stand F33, from 10 am to 6 pm during the five days of the exhibition.

About hubergroup

hubergroup is a family business based in southern Germany with a 255 year history. The Print Solutions division produces and sells printing inks and printing aids for packaging printing and commercial printing. The security inks segment for international banknote and identity document producers is covered by the subsidiary Gleitsmann Security-Inks. The Chemicals Division markets raw materials such as pigments, resins and additives produced in India.

The company has always been focused on customer success. That is why hubergroup works on innovative solutions, technologies and services every day in order to optimise the value creation in the printing and chemistry industry and to allow their customers to achieve first-class results. In 2021, hubergroup generated an annual turnover of about €704 million and currently employs approximately 3,500 employees worldwide in nearly 30 countries.

Urges Centre to extend the ban by six months from current deadline of 1st July, 2022

As a leading beverage player in the Indian market, Parle Agro has always invested in initiatives and projects with keen focus on sustainability. This includes large scale plastic recycling initiatives in partnership with national bodies to collect and recycle 100% of its PET bottle waste. While Parle Agro endorses the Government led ban on the use of plastic straws, their plea is to postpone the implementation of the injunction by six months.

India produces and sells a total of 6 billion packs of Paper Based Beverage cartons with integrated plastic straws per annum. Presently the available capacity to provide a replacement of plastic straws with PLA straws or paper straws by a local Indian manufacturer is 1.3 million straws per day as opposed to the actual requirement of approximately 6 million straws per day. The hasty ban will negatively impact the industry and overall businesses of numerous players in the FMCG and beverage segment.

Packaging companies will need to invest in the right infrastructure to accommodate the changes which will require time to ensure the alternative is appropriate and cost effective, especially during inflationary times. Currently, there is no local manufacturer who can accommodate the demand. Importing straws will be 6 to 8 times more expensive making the cost of the product unaffordable; particularly products that are targeted at urban and rural markets. For Parle Agro, 50% of the company’s turnover is from rural markets as their products are strategically priced to cater to consumers across every corner of India. The increase in cost of the product will lead to a fall in demand and affect sales significantly. To replace the plastic straws, companies need 6-8 months, to make the necessary changes in technology, and sourcing and ensure smooth transition to Environment Friendly options of Paper or PLA.

“We support the noble intention of the Government to ban the use of plastic straws. To implement the changes, we need a postponement of the ban by six months which will allow packaging companies in building the right infrastructure needed to source locally. Even getting approvals from regulatory bodies after appropriate testing to manufacture PLA straws will require time. While the transition process has already begun, the short deadline is a matter of great concern.” said Schauna Chauhan, CEO, Parle Agro.

The percentage increase in cost from plastic to PLA is approximately 122% but if companies were to import the straws, the cost goes up by 259% and 278 % for PLA and paper straws respectively. Hence the industry will require time until local manufacturing capabilities are commercialised, all of which are currently underway.

About Parle Agro:

A pioneer in the beverage industry, Parle Agro Pvt. Ltd. is the largest Indian beverage company with a brand turnover of almost Rs. 7000 Cr. As a driving force of the Indian beverage market, it offers consumers a variety of products including Fruit Juice based still and sparkling drinks, Packaged Drinking Water and Dairy based beverages serving a variety of consumer needs. With 84 manufacturing facilities across India and international locations, Parle Agro caters to over 1.9 million outlets in India driven through more than 6000 channels partners. Along with its brands Frooti, Appy, Appy Fizz, B-Fizz, SMOODH, Bailley, Bailley Soda Frio, Dhishoom and Bombay 99, the organization has a continued belief in the power of innovation that drives strategy, product development and business practices.  This belief has translated into Parle Agro establishing trends that have changed industry and consumer outlook and approach.