B&R presents new ACOPOSinverter series for three-phase synchronous and induction motors The ACOPOSinverter P86 is a series of frequency inverters for three-phase synchronous and induction motors, with or without encoders. It covers a wide power spectrum from 0.75 to 75 kW and is particularly well-suited for packaging, conveyor system, material processing and hoisting gear applications. B&R's P86-series inverters already comply with the IE efficiency factors standardized in EN 61800-9-2. The future-proof inverters are easy to configure and exceptionally flexible. The new ACOPOSinverter series is also equipped with the dual-channel safety function Safe Torque Off (STO) in accordance with SIL3 / PLe. Powerful dynamics and scalability The frequency inverters are particularly well suited for dynamic applications. They can deliver up to 220% of the nominal output torque for two seconds. They can be used for open-loop or closed-loop control of induction motors (IE2, IE3), synchronous motors and reluctance motors. An integrated POWERLINK interface, numerous I/O channels, and embedded encoder and optional interface cards offer maximum flexibility in plant design. Rugged design for years of duty The ACOPOSinverter P86 series has an exceptionally rugged design, and is built to perform under harsh conditions. They easily cope with vibrations, shock, dust and temperatures up to 60°C while maintaining consistent performance. Extensive portfolio The new P86 series further expands B&R's ACOPOSinverter portfolio. Together with the P66, P76 and P96 series, they cover a range of drive technology profiles for three-phase induction motors and synchronous motors with a voltage supply from 200 to 600 V and a power rating from 0.18 to 200 kW. With easily scalable functionality and full integration into the B&R automation landscape, the ACOPOSinverter family is suited for a wide range of applications, from small machine modules to complex plants. About B&R B&R is an innovative automation company with headquarters in Austria and offices all around the world. On July 6, 2017, B&R became a business unit of the ABB Group. As a global leader in industrial automation, B&R combines state-of-the-art technology with advanced engineering to provide customers in virtually every industry with complete solutions for machine and factory automation, motion control, HMI and integrated safety technology. With Industrial IoT communication standards like OPC UA, POWERLINK and openSAFETY as well as the powerful Automation Studio software development environment, B&R is constantly redefining the future of automation engineering. The innovative spirit that keeps B&R at the forefront of industrial automation is driven by a commitment to simplifying processes and exceeding customer expectations. For more information, visit www.br-automation.com. Press‌ ‌contact:‌ ‌ Corporate‌ ‌Communications‌ ‌ t‌ ‌+43‌ ‌7748‌ ‌6586-0‌ ‌ press@br-automation.com‌ ‌ B&R‌ ‌Industrial‌ ‌Automation‌ ‌ B&R‌ ‌Strasse‌ ‌1,‌ ‌5142‌ ‌Eggelsberg,‌ ‌Austria‌

B&R now offers a wider 180° curved segment for its intelligent SuperTrak track system. The new curve enables greater holding and propulsion forces. The shuttles can travel at higher speeds and accelerate faster. This boosts the productivity of the system. At 838 millimeters, it is significantly wider than the previous variant. The curve is particularly suitable for automated assembly lines, where larger assemblies interact with the track system. The assemblies can be placed inside the SuperTrak oval to reduce the machine's overall footprint. The curved segment fits seamlessly into existing machine layouts, replacing elements such as a rotary indexing table with a diameter of 1 meter. The machine gets a substantial productivity boost in a minimal amount of space. In order to allow more design freedom in the machine layout, the track system is now also available with power supply cables in various lengths. Flexibility, precision and high payload B&R's SuperTrak enables advanced manufacturing concepts that deliver flexible, efficient production at any batch size. The track system was designed specifically for 24/7 operation under harsh industrial conditions. It is highly reliable and safe. Individual segments and shuttles can easily be replaced without having to disassemble the track. Downtime for mechanical changeover can often be eliminated entirely. The impact on overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) is substantial. About B&R B&R is an innovative automation company with headquarters in Austria and offices all around the world. On July 6, 2017, B&R became a business unit of the ABB Group. As a global leader in industrial automation, B&R combines state-of-the-art technology with advanced engineering to provide customers in virtually every industry with complete solutions for machine and factory automation, motion control, HMI and integrated safety technology. With Industrial IoT communication standards like OPC UA, POWERLINK and openSAFETY as well as the powerful Automation Studio software development environment, B&R is constantly redefining the future of automation engineering. The innovative spirit that keeps B&R at the forefront of industrial automation is driven by a commitment to simplifying processes and exceeding customer expectations. For more information, visit www.br-automation.com. Press contact: Corporate Communications t +43 7748 6586-0 press@br-automation.com B&R Industrial Automation B&R Strasse 1, 5142 Eggelsberg, Austria

B&R's mapp Cockpit is an advanced yet easy-to-use tool for commissioning and troubleshooting machines. Based on standard web technology and OPC UA communication, it's ready to use at the push of a button with no additional programming. Information is exchanged between mapp Cockpit and the automation project via the vendor-agnostic OPC UA communication protocol, and displayed in a web-based user interface. As a result, performing diagnostics with mapp Cockpit and a B&R automation system is not just extremely flexible, but also compliant with an established standard. Easy integration in any application Axes and axis groups, for example, can be controlled directly in the clearly organized mapp Cockpit dash-board. The commands for the components – which are otherwise available as function blocks – are easily executed with the simple push of a button. How the components react can then be observed in real-time in the Watch window, where all relevant values are displayed in graphic form. You therefore have everything you need without having to install an extra tool. About B&R B&R is an innovative automation company with headquarters in Austria and offices all around the world. On July 6, 2017, B&R became a business unit of the ABB Group. As a global leader in industrial automation, B&R combines state-of-the-art technology with advanced engineering to provide customers in virtually every industry with complete solutions for machine and factory automation, motion control, HMI and integrated safety technology. With Industrial IoT communication standards like OPC UA, POWERLINK and openSAFETY as well as the powerful Automation Studio software development environment, B&R is constantly redefining the future of automation engineering. The innovative spirit that keeps B&R at the forefront of industrial automation is driven by a commitment to simplifying processes and exceeding customer expectations. Press contact: Corporate Communications t +43 7748 6586-0 press@br-automation.com B&R Industrial Automation B&R Strasse 1, 5142 Eggelsberg, Austria

Using the know-how from four industries to drive innovation in the household appliance sector: That was the goal when the Swiss kitchen specialist V-ZUG AG brought three companies on board for a joint project. The Fürth coating specialists from Leonhard Kurz, the injection molding experts from the Swiss A. & J. Stöckli AG and the Munich machine builders from KraussMaffei were also present. Your task: You should give the control panel of the new premium oven from V-ZUG a new face. As usual in the automotive industry, the aim was to visually upgrade the panel, but at the same time to make its production more efficient. This should be made possible by in-mold decoration technology (IMD) - a process that turns two process steps (injection molding of the component and decoration) into one. IMD technology is already used in many industries. The V-ZUG joint project was a first for the Swiss household appliance industry. IMD technology has production and economic advantages V-ZUG is the premium kitchen specialist in Switzerland. The company produces and sells design-oriented household appliances. V-ZUG was convinced that the functionality and appearance of the high-end household appliances would benefit from IMD technology. IMD allows a wide variety of decors, even metallization is possible. Particularly important for household appliances: IMD has a "built-in" surface protection; thanks to highly resistant topcoats, surfaces are easy to clean, and the decoration is resistant to cleaning agents or moisture. The economic advantages of the IMD process cannot be dismissed out of hand. B. aluminum. Or the desired surface look only arises during subsequent processing. Production steps such as painting or electroplating mostly take place in Asia or Eastern Europe; they are a cost factor and at the same time ensure a negative environmental balance. Because IMD enables injection molding and decoration not only in one step, but is also suitable for recycled plastic materials, the process brings decoration processes "home"; this makes them more efficient and sustainable. Kurz delivers IMD coating and IMD tool Due to its special knowledge of IMD technology, V-ZUG Kurz, the German expert for thin-film technology, took part in the project. Both companies have a clear design focus. Kurz develops and produces individual IMD decorations; the necessary tools and the foil feeder for the injection molding machine also come from Kurz. The IMD carrier material is fed through the injection molding tool via a film feed unit and pressed into the cavity by the injection molding material. The temperature of the material ensures that the decorative layer detaches from its carrier and connects to the plastic part. This eliminates the need for subsequent decorations, intermediate storage and other work steps. A short video shows how the process works: https://www.plastic-decoration.com/dekorationsverarbeitung/inmold-dekor… But IMD does even more: Due to the so-called dead-front effect, IMD applications can completely hide control elements for integrated touch functionality. They become visible only through backlighting. At Kurz, In-Mold Decoration is also combined with In-Mold Labeling (IML): During the injection molding process, conductive sensor films from the Kurz subsidiary PolyIC are applied to components. This process is used for control panels in the areas of automotive, home appliances and consumer electronics. The following always applies: Both in-mold processes enable cost-effective series production. A. & J. Stöckli AG casts and decorates components using KraussMaffei machines The second partner for V-Zug AG was the Swiss A. & J. Stöckli AG. The company produces high-quality plastic components for the household appliance industry, among others. In the project, Stöckli was responsible for the implementation of the oven panels using the IMD process and for the overall project coordination. This makes Stöckli the first company in Switzerland to combine injection molding and IMD technology and to implement customer-specific component realizations of this type. Stöckli installed a new IMD-capable production machine especially for this task. This injection molding machine brought partner number three into the project - the German machine builder KraussMaffei. Its engineers found a clean cell solution that enables the oven panels to be produced with little particles: after all, the control surface of the high-end oven should have a flawless appearance. Electronic and mechanical interfaces are clearly defined in the machine. A flexible articulated arm robot makes the system ready for future components or further process steps. The film feed tool from Kurz was used in the KraussMaffei machine for the In-Mold Decoration. Due to their easily accessible two-panel construction, it is also easy to change the film for the three different panel decorations. V-ZUG AG uses In-Mold Decoration for further series productions V-ZUG, Leonhard Kurz, Stöckli and KraussMaffei are proud of how well the coordination was achieved in the complex project. The Combair V200, V400 and V600 oven series has been on the market since spring 2019. V-ZUG is currently working on further variants; Dishwashers are also to be decorated with the in-mold process and thus taken to the next design level. The Swiss kitchen appliance manufacturer plans to launch the new appliances this year. LEONHARD KURZ Foundation & Co.KG Schwabacher Str. 482 D-90763 Fürth sales@kurz.de www.kurz.de Tel .: +49 911 71 41-0 Fax: +49 911 71 41-357

Fürth, June 2nd, 2020:: KURZ will take part in the KUNSTSTOFF MAGAZIN world & conference, the virtual trade fair and interactive conference for the plastics industry. The company will be at the digital fair from June 17. until 3.7. present new solutions for decorative and functional surfaces. Exterior and interior designs for vehicles of the future, new technologies for the highly efficient mechanical integration of touch sensors and for the integration of 3D-shaped sensors in the injection molding process will be presented. In addition, processes for the economic decoration of product variants are presented and ways of sustainable decoration are shown. Anyone visiting the virtual KURZ exhibition stand will find concrete solutions for their industry - whether automotive, consumer electronics, home appliances or health & beauty. Experts from various areas of the company are available for live chats with the visitors. In addition to personal advice, exhibits, product information, process animations and white papers can be called up. On 01.07. At 10 a.m., visitors can expect a live lecture on the newly developed IMD-PUR process for avant-garde automotive designs with a deep effect and self-healing surface. Questions about the procedure will be answered immediately by the speaker. Under https://weka-virtual-show.expo-ip.com/landing/188 you can register for the lecture. Invest in product innovation during the crisis "Important trade fairs are currently being postponed, but our customers need new perspectives right now," explains Dr. Andreas Hirschfelder, Member of the Management Board at KURZ. "We are constantly investing in process and design development, and we keep sustainable decoration and design for all industries At the virtual plastics trade fair, we present the latest developments in order to provide our customers with innovative impulses even in times of crisis. " LEONHARD KURZ Foundation & Co.KG Schwabacher Str. 482 D-90763 Fürth sales@kurz.de www.kurz.de Tel .: +49 911 71 41-0 Fax: +49 911 71 41-357

Recent observational studies of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs, also called sartans) have not shown an effect of these medicines on the risk of becoming infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (the virus causing COVID-19) and do not indicate a negative impact on the outcome for patients with COVID-19 disease. EMA therefore reiterates its previous advice that patients should continue to use ACE inhibitors or ARBs as advised by their doctors. Patients with questions or concerns about their treatment should consult a healthcare professional. ACE inhibitors and ARBs are used for treating patients with high blood pressure, heart problems or kidney disease. In April 2020, media outlets and publications raised concerns about the effects of these medicines in patients with COVID-19. As part of the ongoing monitoring of the safety of medicines, 20 recently published studies on the use of ACE inhibitors and ARBs during the COVID-19 pandemic were reviewed and showed that these concerns are not supported by the latest clinical evidence. EMA and the EU regulatory network will continue monitoring available and emerging data on the use of medicines during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and are working with other regulators and relevant European and international organisations to provide reliable advice on the safe use of medicines. Further information on recommendations about COVID-19 is available on EMA’s website and the websites of national competent authorities. This public health statement has been issued by the COVID-19 EMA pandemic Task Force (COVID-ETF). More about the medicines Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are medicines used to treat patients with high blood pressure, heart problems and other conditions. They have active ingredients whose names generally end in “pril”. ACE inhibitors prevent an enzyme in the body from producing angiotensin II, a hormone that narrows blood vessels. This narrowing can cause high blood pressure and force the heart to work harder. Angiotensin II also releases other hormones that raise blood pressure. Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs, also known as angiotensin-II-receptor antagonists or sartans) are used to treat patients with high blood pressure and those with certain heart or kidney diseases and complications such as diabetic nephropathy. They also work by blocking the action of angiotensin II, preventing blood vessels from constricting so that blood pressure does not rise. References Bean D, Kraljevic Z, Searle T et al. Treatment with ACE-inhibitors is associated with less severe SARS-Covid-19 infection in a multi-site UK acute Hospital Trust. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.34883.14889/1. de Abajo F, Rodríguez-Martín S, Lerma V et al. Use of renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system inhibitors and risk of COVID-19 requiring admission to hospital: a case-population study. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31030-8. Felice C, Nardin C, Di Tanna GL et al. Use of RAAS inhibitors and risk of clinical deterioration in COVID-19: results from an Italian cohort of 133 hypertensives. doi: 10.1093/ajh/hpaa096. Gao C, Cai Y, Zhang K et al. Association of hypertension and antihypertensive treatment with COVID-19 mortality: a retrospective observational study. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa433. Gnavi R, Demaria M, Picariello, R et al. Therapy with agents acting on the renin-angiotensin system and risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa634. Guo T, Fan Y, Chen M et al. Cardiovascular Implications of Fatal Outcomes of Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). doi: 10.1001/jamacardio.2020.1017. Jung S-Y, Choi JC, You S-H et al. Association of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors with COVID-19-related outcomes in Korea: a nationwide population-based cohort study. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa624/5842160. Li J, Wang X, Chen J et al. Association of Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors With Severity or Risk of Death in Patients With Hypertension Hospitalized for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Infection in Wuhan, China. doi: 10.1001/jamacardio.2020.1624. Mancia G, Rea F, Ludergnani M et al. Renin–Angiotensin–Aldosterone System Blockers and the Risk of Covid-19. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2006923. Mehra MR, Desai SS, Kuy S, et al. Cardiovascular Disease, Drug Therapy, and Mortality in Covid-19. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2007621. The publication of this study was subsequently retracted by the authors. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc2021225. The retraction has no impact on this public statement as the study did not influence the conclusions. Mehta N, Kalra A, Nowacki AS et al. Association of Use of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers With Testing Positive for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). doi: 10.1001/jamacardio.2020.1855. Meng, J, Xiao G, Zhang J et al. Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors improve the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients with hypertension. doi: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1746200. Rentsch CT, Kidwai-Khan F, Tate, JP et al. Covid-19 Testing, Hospital Admission, and Intensive Care Among 2,026,227 United States Veterans Aged 54-75 Years. doi: 10.1101/2020.04.09.20059964. Reynolds HR, Adhikari S, Pulgarin C et al. Renin–Angiotensin–Aldosterone System Inhibitors and Risk of Covid-19. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2008975. Richardson S, Hirsch JS, Narasimhan M et al. Presenting Characteristics, Comorbidities, and Outcomes Among 5700 Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19 in the New York City Area. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.6775. Rossi GP, Marino M, Formisano D et al. Characteristics and outcomes of a cohort of SARS-CoV-2 patients in the province of Reggio Emilia, Italy. doi: 10.1101/2020.04.13.20063545. Tedeschi S, Giannella M, Bartoletti M et al. Clinical impact of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors on in-hospital mortality of patients with hypertension hospitalized for COVID-19. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa492. Yang G, Tan Z, Zhou L et al. Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors Usage is Associated with Improved Inflammatory Status and Clinical Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients With Hypertension. doi: 10.1101/2020.03.31.20038935. Zeng Z, Sha T, Zhang Y, et al. Hypertension in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a single-center retrospective observational study. doi: 10.1101/2020.04.06.20054825. Zhang P, Zhu L, Cai J et al. Association of Inpatient Use of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers with Mortality Among Patients With Hypertension Hospitalized With COVID-19. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.120.317134. Contact point EMA press office Tel. +31 (0)88 781 8427 E-mail: press@ema.europa.eu Follow us on Twitter @EMA_News

Niche Cocoa Industry Ltd., Ghana’s largest fully integrated cocoa processor, recently signed a deal with Sidel with the intention to advance into previously uncharted territory: beverage production. The company are planning to support Ghana’s School Feeding Programme by providing 5.6 million pupils with ready-to-drink (RTD) chocolate milk, aseptically packaged in 250 ml PET bottles, for 100 school days per year. In this, Niche Cocoa are relying on Sidel’s long-standing expertise in aseptic PET bottling as well as their capabilities in packaging design to manage a greenfield project. As one of Africa’s fastest growing economies in 2019, Ghana continues to perform well economically with the GDP expected to grow even further in 2020. The country’s economy is largely based on two export goods: gold and cocoa. In fact, Ghana is the world’s second biggest cocoa producer after Ivory Coast, with the world’s highest-quality bulk cocoa beans coming from the country. Currently, annual per capita chocolate consumption in Ghana is only 0.5 kilograms. This picture is most likely to change rapidly due to a growing local demand for premium consumer products that require high-end refining and marketing. While Carbonated Soft Drinks (CSD) are strongly rooted in local consumption routines, healthier beverages, like juices and milk, currently occupy a smaller segment of the beverage market. The challenge that Niche Cocoa and other market players are facing now is, on the one hand, to reach consumers with conveniently packaged products at prices they can afford, and, on the other hand, to attract end users via packaging design and educate them on good nutritional routines to build additional market share. Fastest-rising local cocoa processor in Ghana branche out to drinks Niche Cocoa Industry Ltd. were founded in 2011 and currently manufacture high quality, semi-finished cocoa products for export, such as cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, cocoa cake and cocoa powder. In 2017, Niche commenced the production of chocolate for the local and international market. The company based in Tema, Ghana, near the capital, play an important role in facilitating the transfer of technical knowledge within Ghana’s cocoa processing industry while improving the livelihoods of local cocoa farmers. Today, Niche Cocoa are the fastest-rising local cocoa processor in the country. Edmund A. Poku, the company’s Managing Director, explains, “With an installed processing capacity of 90,000 metric tons per year, an annual turnover of US$120 million and about 450 employees, we are excited about the opportunity to introduce the first and only locally produced and aseptically bottled chocolate milk in Ghana. Thanks to a loan from the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank FMO in autumn 2019, Niche Cocoa were able to purchase manufacturing equipment from Sidel, which will allow us to produce chocolate drinks.” These products will be sold in Ghana, bringing the company one step closer to the vision of becoming Africa’s leading producer of chocolate and other cocoa products. 5.6 million school children to benefit from CSR initiative Mr Poku continues, “Thanks to the FMO’s loan, we are getting ready to produce and bottle shelf-stable, fortified chocolate milk in PET for Ghanaian school children on a daily basis under the country’s recently launched ‘Ghana School Feeding Programme’. We are planning to serve approximately 5.6 million children across 261 districts in a total of 9,350 schools, both primary and secondary, on 100 school days per year. With this programme, we want to provide a healthy, nutritional alternative to our people.” “We decided to partner with Sidel on this project because of our shared passion for uncompromising food and beverage quality,” says Mr Poku. “What set Niche Cocoa apart on the market is our clear focus on top-quality products, combined with the flexibility to fit consumers’ needs while valuing organic, regional cocoa processing,” he adds. The company’s commitment is strengthened by the certifications they have obtained from a wide array of organisations, including FSSC 22000, UTZ, Fair Trade, Organic and FDA as well as the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA). Absolute food safety addressed by a complete aseptic PET solution “During Niche’s selection of a packaging machinery supplier, Sidel’s long-standing experience in aseptic PET applications and packaging played a key role in our decision. Their dedicated local sales force and after-sales service capabilities as well as the technical expertise that were evident in our business discussions simplified the choice. These latter elements, especially, helped our technical team build trust in Sidel. Their buy-in was decisive for the rest of the staff at Niche Cocoa,” highlights Mr Poku. Ultimately, Niche Cocoa opted for a low-speed (16,000 bottles per hour) aseptic PET complete solution, which integrates Tetra Pak Processing Systems technologies and the Sidel Aseptic Combi Predis with dry preform and cap sterilisation systems, two units of Gebo OptiDry®, a sleeve labeller, a VersaFilm® Access shrink-wrapping system, and finally a stretch wrapper. Also included in Niche’s scope is Sidel’s EIT® (Efficiency Improvement Tool), a market-leading data acquisition and plant intelligence system supporting beverage companies in decreasing unplanned downtime, reducing waste and costs, and increasing factory output. Sidel’s aseptic dry preform sterilisation technology – known as Predis – offers food safety and simplicity at the utmost. It perfectly supports the brand promise around product quality. Mr Poku adds, “We strongly believe in the environmental credentials of PET, its 100% recyclability, its affordability, its lightweight potential, and the dramatic savings in water usage and chemicals consumption made possible by Predis. Its ease of operation was very attractive to us as well, since this is our first foray into the beverage industry and the first time we will manage an aseptic packaging process.” With 180 references installed worldwide, Sidel’s Aseptic Combi Predis is a well-proven concept that received U.S. FDA validation back in 2017 – an industry-first. Since its launch, it has successfully decontaminated more than 60 billion bottles globally while saving over 10 billion litres of water and 60,000 tons of PET. “No other shelf-stable chocolate milk produced in Ghana is aseptically filled in PET bottles. Niche have always been an innovation-driven company with a regional focus, so opting for Sidel technology is an investment that reconfirms our values,” says Mr Poku. Attractive and convenient PET packaging for young consumers In addition to the state-of-the-art equipment, the Ghanaian company is also relying on Sidel’s 40-year history of bottle design and qualification. “Packaging plays a pivotal role in our marketing mix and represents one of the main enablers of our brand promise, alongside the origin of our ingredients and high product quality,” Mr Poku emphasises. Back in 2019, Niche Cocoa visited Sidel’s factory in Italy as well as some of their liquid dairy customers’ installations in the country. The trip afforded valuable insights into the advantages PET could offer Niche’s market in Ghana. The inherent characteristics of PET were the deciding factors for Niche’s team: the flexibility of bottle size and shape, its light weight, a premium look and feel that attracts very young consumers, the protection the material offers to the beverage, the performance through a complicated supply chain, and, finally, the affordability of the material. For their RTD chocolate milk, Niche opted for a sleek, transparent, 250 ml PET bottle, enhanced by wavy ribs that gently envelop the body of the container. This original design is intended to evoke the idea of mouth-watering ripples created by pouring chocolate into a cup of milk. This same motif will be reflected on the full-sleeve label, thereby capturing the target audience’s attention even before they taste the drink. Both the bottle’s structure and weight (15 g) have been optimised for an ideal drinking experience: it has been designed with a lightweight 32 mm bottle neck and a StarLITE™ base, offering the potential for reduced blowing pressure. The container does not require an aluminium foil due to the neck and cap tightness, and complete food safety is assured by the aseptic dry preform and cap sterilisation solution. Niche Cocoa’s long-term vision: Expansion to other African countries The ‘Ghana School Feeding Programme’ is a one-of-a-kind project that involves making healthy products easily available to the younger generation within Ghana. Mary Marshall, Confectionery Operations Manager at Niche Cocoa, explains where this journey could take the company: “We constructed a new facility to house this compact, aseptic complete line. We expect this initiative to achieve measurable success by the end of 2021, after which point we will consider to install similar lines in other countries.” For the company’s Managing Director the sky is the limit: “Our mid-term goal is not only to serve school children in Ghana, but to sell our products to everyone in the country, while our long-term strategy includes expanding to other African countries, such as South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, and the Ivory Coast. People’s health and good nutrition practices are what we seek to defend, within our own borders and beyond.” Editors Note: The images within this document are for illustrative purposes only and should not be used for reproduction. If high resolution copies are not attached with the document, please contact Nikolaus Schreck at F&H Porter Novelli for copies – see contact details below. ----------------------------------- For editorial, advertising and sponsorship enquiries, please contact: F&H Porter Novelli Nikolaus Schreck, Senior Consultant Tel: +49 (0) 89 121 75-123 Email: sidel@fundh.de

Duesseldorf (Germany), June 9, 2020 – There are obvious reasons for installing heat pump solutions in the industry. Some do it to reduce operating costs and thereby increase their competitiveness, Others choose to do it as part of their long term sustainability targets in line with the company image and finally there are industries which have to change their heating solution away from burning fossil fuels in order to meet regulatory requirement for reducing the environmental impact we all have on our planet. It can be just one, but mainly all of the benefits above that is the reason why heat pump solutions are installed. Whatever the reason is: energy-efficient heat pumps from GEA are rapidly becoming the technology of choice on the road to a carbon-neutral future. The high efficiency and low maintenance of GEA heat pumps give a short payback and continues to benefit the customer throughout the long lifecycle (min 20 years) of the installation. By replacing burning fossil fuels: CO2 emissions which are harmful to global climate and NOx emissions which are harmful to the local environment are avoided. In addition, environmentally friendly natural refrigerants such as ammonia are used. The food industry in particular recognises the considerable financial and ecological advantages of using heat pumps in production processes. Most food processing is a combination of heat treatment and subsequent cold storage for long shelf life. This combination of heating and cooling maximizes the benefit of heat pump installations. GEA heat pump technology offers energy saving advantages regardless of the industry and the extent of its use. Besides applications in the processing industry, heat pumps are also often used in environmentally friendly district heating schemes, where they are being used not only to provide the base heat load, but also as adjustable heat source, their quick reaction time is a good match with large district heating networks. In these schemes they also play an important part of protecting the electrical grid as part of smart energy systems, where loads can be adjusted online according to request from the electrical supplier. Combining climate protection with cost reduction According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), heat accounts for more than half of the world's final energy consumption, with most of this being generated from fossil fuels. In industry and commerce, the demand for hot water and process heat is very specific. It can often be met with heat pumps. Their efficiency and short payback period make them an environmentally friendly and economically attractive alternative to conventional heating systems. A heat pump converts heat from the environment - water or process waste heat - from a low temperature level to a higher one. The type of application is decisive when planning and selecting a heat pump system: The variety of industrial heat pumps makes them interesting for numerous applications where both heating and cooling is required. The smaller the temperature lift is for the heat pump the less electrical power is required. For heat pump installation it is important to find the highest temperature heat source and optimize the heating system for supplying the lowest practical hot water temperature. If the demand for heating and cooling changes seasonally, typically in office buildings or greenhouses, a GEA heat pump can heat in winter and cool in summer. In the seasons where both heating and cooling is required, the efficiency can be more than ten times higher than a conventional installation with boiler for heating and air conditioning for cooling. GEA experience with cooling systems as a decisive advantage GEA's technicians are experts in both cooling systems and heat pumps. With more than 100 years of manufacturing ammonia refrigeration and more than 10 years knowledge from high temperature heat pumps installations the reasons are obvious. Heat pumps and refrigeration systems use the same physical principle - and they all consist of the same main components, such as compressors and heat exchangers. The principle of the heat pump is also used for cooling (as with the refrigerator), while the term "heat pump" is only used for the heating unit. In the cooling process, the useful energy is the heat absorbed from the process/cold store to be cooled, which together with the drive energy is dissipated to the environment as waste heat. When a heat pump is combined with a cooling unit, both cooling and heating are possible, so that the one-time use becomes a continuous cycle, which reduces energy costs by 30 percent or more. This is a significant saving when you consider that in the food, dairy and beverage industry up to 60 percent of energy consumption can be used for heating and cooling. The centerpieces: GEA reciprocating and screw compressors They are the heart and therefore literally the pump of the heat pump: GEA reciprocating and screw compressors. GEA has the largest range of high-pressure ammonia screw compressors suitable for heat pump application. Through its many heat pump installations GEA has optimized the range for low vibration levels and high efficiency. With the small cylinder reciprocating V-compressor range available for higher pressures GEA is now able to offer the most efficient ammonia compressor solution on the market. These compressors are specially designed for the high final compression pressure in a heat pump. They offer condensation temperatures which, depending on the design, are just as suitable for operating low-temperature hot water as for providing process heat. GEA relies on environmentally friendly refrigerants As fluorinated gases are gradually being phased out Globally to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, natural refrigerants are becoming increasingly popular, especially ammonia, an environmentally friendly refrigerant and cost-effective and has no impact on global warming or causing build-up of fluoride compounds in the nature. Ammonia is widely used in food processing plants, the beverage and dairy industries, breweries and cold stores. Thanks to improvements in compressor technology, ammonia heat pumps can now produce higher temperatures. This has paved the way for their wider use in the food, beverage and dairy industries, where waste heat can be reused and enhanced for washing, cleaning and drying products, heating water for cleaning and processing purposes, and Pasteurisation. Traditionally, these industries used boilers to cook or pasteurise products, which were then cooled down again, resulting in massive waste of energy. The heat from the cooling process was too low to be reused. However, a heat pump can raise the temperature of the refrigeration plant waste heat up to 90⁰C so that it can be returned to the cycle. This means that more fossil fuel boilers can be phased out, the heat can be regenerated or recycled, and CO2 emissions are greatly reduced - in many cases by more than 50 percent. In addition, CO2 emissions can be reduced to zero if "green electricity" is used. Customized gear unit from GEA heat pumps is a giant step forward for the food industry "GEA's industrial heat pumps range from 300 kW to 10 MW, which means we can handle virtually any application from hot rinse water to city-wide district heating," says Kenneth Hoffmann, Product Manager Heat Pumps, GEA Refrigeration Technologies. "But every application is different and requires a tailored approach. We have the advantage of being able to combine extensive process knowledge and expertise for integrated heating and cooling solutions. We design everything so that the heat source remains stable and permanently available, so that the use of waste heat can be optimized". Conventional systems with gas boilers are normally designed for a much higher heat transfer medium temperature than is required in the process. This allows some inaccurate heat load calculations during design and provides only a little extra energy. A heat pump system requires a comprehensive analysis of the required temperatures and the evaluation of the correct process parameters. In a heat pump every degree counts and the more accurate the original design, the more energy can be saved. Instead of concentrating on small pipes with a large temperature difference to keep initial costs low, a heat pump investment is based on continuous savings that are made every day. "We have had excellent relationships with processing customers for decades because of the refrigeration systems we supply. This is where our roots and expertise lie," says Maarten Gelens, refrigeration expert, GEA Refrigeration Technologies Netherlands. Robert Unsworth, Technical Sales Director GEA Refrigeration Technologies UK, added: "Together with our customers we strive for sustainability goals: to achieve energy savings and CO2 reduction. The use of heat pumps in the food, dairy and beverage sectors will be the biggest leap forward food production and refrigeration has ever seen". Corporate Media & Press: Dr. Michael Golek Peter–Müller-Str. 12, 40468 Düsseldorf Phone 49 211 9136-1505 michael.golek@gea.com In case of publication, please submit two copies of each of the published items for our archives. About GEA GEA is one of the largest suppliers for the food processing industry and of related industries that generated consolidated revenues of over EUR 4.9 billion in 2019. The international technology group specializes in machinery, and plants as well as process technology and components. GEA provides sustainable energy solutions for sophisticated production processes in various end-user markets and offers a comprehensive service portfolio. The group generates around 70 percent of its revenue in the food and beverages sector that enjoys long-term sustainable growth. As of December 31, 2019, the company employed about 18,500 people worldwide. The company is listed on the German MDAX (G1A, WKN 660 200), the STOXX® Europe 600 Index as well as the DAX 50 ESG Index and selected MSCI Global Sustainability Indexes. Further information is available on the Internet at gea.com. Your contact details are stored in our central CRM-system exclusively for sending press releases. In our data protection notice we inform you about the GEA data protection guidelines. If you do not want to receive any further information from GEA, please send an email to pr@gea.com. GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft Phone 49 211 9136-1492 • Fax 49 211 9136-3-1492 • gea.com • Peter-Müller-Str. 12, 40468 Düsseldorf

This marks the first commercial launch worldwide of a brand using Aptar Pharma’s innovative PureHale™ respiratory techn

EMA has now received an application for conditional marketing authorisation (CMA) of the antiviral medicine remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19 and has formally started its evaluation. The assessment of the benefits and risks of remdesivir is being performed under a reduced timeline and an opinion could be issued within weeks, depending on the robustness of the data submitted and whether further information is required to support the evaluation. Such a short timeframe will only be possible because some data have already been assessed during the first cycle of the rolling review, which started on 30 April and was concluded on 15 May. During this first phase, EMA scientific committees and working parties operated in synergy to complete their assessment of the dossier significantly earlier compared with a regular evaluation procedure, while still ensuring a robust evaluation of the available data. During the rolling review, EMA’s human medicines committee (CHMP) assessed data on quality and manufacturing, preliminary data from several clinical studies and supporting data from compassionate use programmes. At the conclusion of the first cycle of the rolling review, the CHMP invited the company to submit further data together with an application for a conditional marketing authorisation. In parallel, EMA’s safety committee (PRAC) completed the initial assessment of the preliminary risk management plan (RMP) proposed by the company, which outlines measures to identify, characterise and minimise the medicine’s risks. The PRAC will continue to evaluate the safety data for remdesivir in an expedited manner to promptly identify and address potential safety concerns with the medicine. Furthermore, EMA’s committee for medicines for children (PDCO) rapidly issued its opinion on the company’s paediatric investigation plan (PIP), which describes how the medicine should be developed and studied for use in children, in accordance with the accelerated timelines for COVID-19 products, and an EMA decision was adopted. Should the additional data now submitted with the CMA application be sufficient to allow CHMP to conclude that the benefits of remdesivir outweigh its risks in the treatment of COVID‑19, EMA will liaise closely with the European Commission to support fast-tracking of the decision-making process and granting of a marketing authorisation by the European Commission valid in all EU1and EEA Member States. More about the medicine Remdesivir is an antiviral medicine which is being investigated for the treatment of COVID-19. Remdesivir is a ‘viral RNA polymerase inhibitor’ (a medicine that interferes with the production of viral genetic material, preventing the virus from multiplying). It has shown broad in vitro activity against different RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 and was originally developed for the treatment of Ebola virus disease. Although remdesivir is not yet authorised for marketing in the European Union, it is available to patients through clinical trials and compassionate use programmes, through which patients can get access to unauthorised medicines. Remdesivir is being developed by Gilead Sciences Ireland CU and is given by infusion (drip) into a vein. More about the procedure Further information on how EMA fast-tracks its regulatory procedures so that marketing authorisations of safe, effective and high-quality COVID-19 related medicines can be granted as soon as possible is available. 1As of 1 February 2020, the United Kingdom is no longer an EU Member State. However, EU law still applies to the UK during the transition period. Contact point EMA press office Tel. +31 (0)88 781 8427 E-mail: press@ema.europa.eu Follow us on Twitter @EMA_News

The EU Executive Steering Group on Shortages of Medicines Caused by Major Events held a virtual meeting on 3 June 2020. Regular participation in the meeting of the steering group was extended to all the heads of the national competent authorities (NCAs) of the EU Member States to discuss the measures taken by EU authorities to ensure the continued availability of medicines in Europe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In order to prepare for a potential second wave of coronavirus infections and to ensure that patients in Europe will have access to crucial medicines, the extended steering group continued to discuss how to improve the forecasting of future demand of medicines used in intensive care units (ICUs) and of other medicines and how to better match the estimated demand with the available supply. The steering group agreed to further improve the collection of demand data, taking into account best practices at national level, and to subsequently share these data within the European Medicines Regulatory Network. For this purpose, it was decided that EMA will establish an ad hoc working group that will be tasked with the development of a common framework for collecting and sharing demand data in the EU/EEA, in view of a possible next wave of the current COVID-19 pandemic in the autumn. The ad hoc group on forecasting demand data in the EU/EEA will also determine which medicines will be included in this exercise, which might go beyond ICU medicines, and will define adequate metrics for data collection at EU level. The new group will comprise experts nominated by the NCAs and have a limited time duration. The extended steering group will decide on the final composition of the ad hoc working group at its next meeting. The new working group is expected to develop a reflection paper summarising best practices from national forecasting models and providing practical recommendations for a harmonised approach. Note The EU Executive Steering Group on Shortages of Medicines Caused by Major Events is chaired by the European Commission. Its membership is made up of representatives from the European Commission, the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA), EMA, the chairs of the Coordination groups for Mutual-recognition and Decentralised Procedures for both human and veterinary medicines (CMDh and CMDv), as well as risk communication specialists. Contact point EMA press office Tel. +31 (0)88 781 8427 E-mail: press@ema.europa.eu Follow us on Twitter @EMA_News