Pianoro (Bologna) – The Thermoforming Hub Open House of Marchesini Group is one of the most long-awaited events of next Autumn for the Italian pharmaceutical industry. The event starts officially on 15th October when authorities, citizens and all of the employees of the Group will attend the inauguration of the biggest national thermoforming hub in Carpi (in the province of Modena, Emilia-Romagna). Once it is up and running, this Hub - which is rising brick upon brick thanks to the work of 300 people, on a site of 14 thousand square meters and in which Marchesini Group has invested 10 million Euro - will host the top experts of the sector and will employ over 150 workers of the Group. The end result will be one large industrial complex where the two current factories of Carpi specialising in the production of stand-alone machines and complete lines for packaging pharmaceutical blisters will merge.

After the inauguration, the Open House will take place from 17th to 21st October: this type of event has now become a consolidated formula for Marchesini Group, which has always enjoyed opening the doors of its factories to show customers the “world” of Marchesini, directly and without hiding anything, to give them the opportunity to talk directly with the designers and to take a close look at the working methods, technological novelties and the whole business system generally speaking.

On these dates, journalists and experts will be able to visit the production facilities and participate in workshops during which the topics of serialization and Made-in- Italy technology for the pharmaceutical market will be discussed. Guests will also be able to do a bit of sightseeing: in the city of Carpi, a Renaissance pearl of Emilia Romagna, as well as some landmarks, such as the Ferrari Museum or local textile factories that behold the industrial secrets that make this region a production district known across the whole world.

During the Open House, the best of the production range of stand-alone machines and blister and deep-draw thermoforming lines to package solid and liquid products will be showcased. For the solids market, there will be 11 blister lines, among which nine Integra lines; these integrated robotic lines have redefined the packaging concept of blisters, making Marchesini Group a key player in the world of this industry. The founder of the Integra family, model 220, followed by the subsequent version 320, will be backed by the queen of the event, the new Integra 520 V, a gem of Made-in-Italy previewed last year at the Achema tradeshow. Thanks to its innovative product insertion unit, a drum-type carton opening system to manage very high speeds and to many other technological innovations, the 520, with its mere 10 meters in length, is the perfect machine for single-blister solutions, capable of producing up to 520 blisters and up to 500 cartons a minute.

To “represent” the deep-draw thermoforming lines, there will be four solutions belonging to the FB family of Farcon; these are high-tech packaging machines for products such as syringes, ampoules and vials – and three integrated robotic Unica lines. Just like Integra, the Unica machines combine the two thermoforming and carton packaging operations in just one monobloc, allowing customers to save space and to maximise production.

Many of the machines on show will be equipped with the cutting-edge Track & Trace systems, wireless line controllers (Romeo) and a variety of feeders for feasible optional devices/accessories, to prove their outstanding level of versatility. The Open House is therefore not to be missed to be able to admire the best of the production range of Marchesini Group, from the great classics to the latest novelties under just one roof.

The CEO of Marchesini Group, Maurizio Marchesini says: “The facilities in Carpi will be a modern smart factory with industrial production rates but still with tailored products”. “We will use technologies capable of saving energy and minimising harmful emissions for the environment; each workplace will exploit exclusively Made-in-Italy products and technologies. Not only are we celebrating a new factory in Carpi, but we are also celebrating a place of which we can always be proud”.

Great expectations for the next edition of the exhibition that will see – in Shanghai, this coming October – draw over 52,000 specialised operators. The stars of the show will be the labellers from the ARENA series; manufactured directly in Sacmi Nanhai, these offer a fast response to the needs of the Chinese market. Alongside them, the best plastic cap technologies and advanced quality control systems.

An all-round plant engineer for the beverage sector, the Sacmi Group stands out on account of a capacity to operate efficiently across five continents, with sales offices and manufacturing facilities located on all the Group’s main target markets. These include Sacmi Nanhai, pivotal to the Chinese market and producer of the ARENA range of labellers to be displayed at China Brew&Beverage (11-14 October 2016, Shanghai International Expo Centre), the huge biannual fair dedicated to beverage processing/technology that, in this 12 th edition, is expected to attract at least 52,000 specialised operators from all over the globe.

Labelling: product and market specialists

The labelling solutions designed and marketed by Sacmi stand out on the market thanks to their efficiency and flexibility. Such solutions include the ARENA RF, the labeller produced directly by Sacmi Nanhai; designed to respond to local manufacturers’ specific needs for machines that are high-performance yet simple, it is characterised by outstanding flexibility of use, very high productivity and minimum label and/or size changeover times.

Plastic caps: productivity and low consumption

Beverage&packaging is a sector in which Sacmi has led the way for decades. It has produced pioneering innovations that have gone on to become the international industry standard and has steadily increased its worldwide market shares. Among these achievements, compression technology for the manufacture of closures is particularly impressive as it allows outstanding productivity (up to 2,000 caps a minute for a 48-cavity machine), maximum quality and ultra-low energy consumption.

“Total” quality control of the cap...

Sacmi has won heightened recognition for the reliability of its plant engineering solutions on Asian markets where it has observed, on the part of local producers, growing demand for high-level technological solutions. Sacmi provides added value by designing integrated inspection and quality control systems for every stage of the beverage production cycle: these include systems that execute high speed cap inspection directly in the line at the press outlet.

...and every other manufacturing step

All solutions developed by Sacmi’s Automation&Service Division ensure interoperability, user-friendliness and, of course, excellent inspection speed and precision. The all-seeing “director” of such systems (from plastic&metal cap control to inspection of metal packaging, preforms and labelled containers) is the cutting-edge software, fully designed by Sacmi and shared on all proposed solutions.

Close to the market, close to the customer

In addition to numerous new references recently obtained in China – where Sacmi has manufacturing and after-sales assistance facilities such as Sacmi Shanghai and Sacmi Nanhai – expectations for the 12 th edition of CCB are also being raised by the Chinese market’s renewed demand for technological and plant engineering solutions with outstanding energy efficiency: this, indeed, is an intrinsic advantage of many technologies developed by Sacmi, a company that has successfully inaugurated and exported green packaging worldwide.

Three branches in Africa and a policy aimed at offering the best technology and service worldwide. This will be Sacmi’s calling card at FDT Johannesburg (South Africa) and ProPak West Africa (Nigeria). Lastly, we’ll be taking part - together with UCIMA – in ProPak Myanmar

The Sacmi Group will soon head to Johannesburg to attend FDT (Food & Drink Technology Africa, 14-15 September 2016), the international trade fair dedicated to processing, filling, packaging and logistics for the food and beverage sectors. A key player in the Group's investment choices, Africa already has three offices dedicated to the plant engineering and technology range for the industry. One is in Morocco, another in Kenya, while the third, Sacmi South Africa, is located in the biggest economy on the continent and is the hub for development strategies throughout Africa.

A provider of all-round plant engineering solutions to the industry - from fully automated ultra-clean filling lines to machines for the manufacture of ever-lighter caps and containers that use compression technology - Sacmi will be taking part in FDT on its own stand where visitors can take a close look at the product range and the technology upgrades made available over recent months as part of a wider flexibility and process efficiency enhancement policy.

Just one week after the Johannesburg fair – where, alongside individual technological solutions, a starring role will be played by Group-developed vision systems that monitor each step of cap, labelled bottle and primary packaging production - Sacmi will stage a repeat performance at ProPak West Africa (20 - 22 September in Lagos, Nigeria) where we’ll be exhibiting on the collective UCIMA (Union of Italian Automatic Machine Manufacturers) stand. "The decision to invest in Africa by opening new offices”, points out Pietro Cassani, General Manager of Sacmi Imola. “specifically caters to all those countries where machine and production line sales require the provision of an adequate after-sales service".

These include all the sub-Saharan nations where there is both growing demand for high quality technological solutions and an intense need for reliable partners who can handle orders from the initial planning stages and continue to follow customers throughout the working life of machine or plant. “That’s why”, continues Cassani, “in addition to employing a qualified network of local agents, Sacmi has chosen to work directly with its own branches which have Group managers who already follow the business/technical side of things in Africa; their mandate is to train up local employees to deal with all the present and future situations of customer companies, whether they be small-scale producers or large multinationals”.

Again in association with UCIMA, and clearly demonstrating the Sacmi Group’s commitment to emerging markets, we’ll also be participating in ProPak Myanmar, a similar event now in its third edition, being held in one of Southeast Asia’s most promising economies (Yangon, 22-24 September). Once again, a pivotal role will be played by excellence in technology and service, the hallmark of a Group that aspires to be a global partner in the provision of plant engineering solutions to the beverage&packaging industry.

Developed by Sacmi-Intesa, this solution has now been chosen by South Africa's most important bottler to grasp fresh development and marketing opportunities in the CSD and dairy sectors

Twizza, one of South Africa's biggest bottlers, has gone for Sacmi digital printing technology to grasp new opportunities in the CSD and dairy industries – all thanks to the new potential of COLORA CAP, developed by Sacmi-Intesa.

A pivotal player in the design of digital decoration solutions, the company has progressively upgraded COLORA CAP technology: the outcome is that it is now possible to carry out digital printing on white or coloured caps, a future-oriented approach able to make a significant difference in the CSD sector, where such caps are used extensively, and in applications of extreme interest to dairy industry.

With the new COLORA CAP Sacmi has, in fact, combined unlimited colour coverage and ultra-high decoration definition with unique flexibility, super-short size change- over times and increased logistical efficiency. The four work stations – which perform cap conveying, heating and plasma-type surface treatment and crown treatment, digital decoration, drying and quality control – can process up to 600 HDPE and PP caps per minute (28 mm, 360x360 dpi); operation is independent of size and decoration can be extended to up to 70 mm.

Advanced pre-printing cap surface treatment technology ensures perfect adhesion of the inks which are applied via 1000 nozzles arranged in a 2-row configuration, while the capacity to digitally decorate white or coloured caps is provided by special optional kits.

Supplied by Sacmi complete with full international certification (from Agfa Labs to Fabes, plus low migration certification for CMYK inks), the solution used by Twizza features an integrated quality control system for direct, ultra-high speed on-line inspection of the qualitative characteristics of both cap and decoration.

The key advantage of this machine is that it frees up enormous marketing potential by letting the manufacturer print ultra-high resolution images on caps of any size or material and by allowing decoration to be changed with a simple click, directly on the line and without any need for dedicated storage lines. “We were attracted by COLORA CAP's potential", pointed out Ken Clark, founder and current CEO of Twizza, when he explained the reasons behind the investment choice. "More specifically, this new Sacmi machine allows gives us a valuable new communication and product promotion tool”.

July 2016 marks Illinois Instruments’ 30 th year as one of the leading experts and manufacturers in gas and moisture measurement. Illinois Instruments was founded in the U.S. to provide a manufacturing, sales, customer service and technical support function for the North, South, Central, American and Canadian markets. As part of the brand, Systech Illinois, the company provides efficient and specialist gas analysis solutions to the process, food, pharmaceutical and packaging industries worldwide.

President, Bryan Cummings says of the anniversary, “Our success throughout these years is testament to our employees and partners and their continued response to industry demand. The technology we produce remains a vital component for the process, pharmaceutical and food industries.”

Illinois Instruments started production of oxygen analyzers in McHenry, Illinois in 1986 and moved to its current location in Johnsburg, Illinois in 2002. The business continued to develop their product range for the process industry with the introduction of electrochemical oxygen analyzers, paramagnetic oxygen analyzers and moisture analyzers.

Due to market demand, in 2002 the company entered the permeation gas analyzer market presenting their range of oxygen and water vapor permeation analyzers to the packaging industry.

Illinois Instruments continued to develop their product range for the food and pharmaceutical market when in 2004 they launched the Gaspace Advance, oxygen and carbon dioxide headspace analyzer.

Systech Illinois comprises of Illinois Instruments, Inc in the U.S. and Systech Instruments Ltd in the UK, it also has sales and support facilities in China and Thailand and over 100 representatives worldwide. Customer demand for Systech Illinois’ instruments in Asia has recently led to a second relocation to larger offices in Shanghai, China.

Illinois Instruments’ objective is to continue to invest in research and development, to develop product ranges; diversify into new application and industry areas and to always look at improving technical support and customer service whilst meeting customer requirements.

Spreitenbach, 12 July 2016. PAS Media appoints Marco Cattarozzi as new Managing Director. He has already been contributing to the software company’s success story as previous Head of Marketing, Sales and System Services.

Marco Cattarozzi has a background in the packaging and graphics industry and broad expertise in IT- business, leadership, sales and consulting. PAS Media’s previous Managing Director, Mario Fäh, is confident that his successor will lead the company into a bright future: «In the last couple of years, PAS Media has become one of the leading providers for Artwork Management Solutions in Europe. Our software is used all over the world by some of the most renowned enterprises within their respective area. Strengthened through our broad customer base and our skilled team, we can confidently press ahead with our expansion strategy. I wish Marco and PAS Media all the best and I am delighted that I found such a competent successor that knows the product, the market and our company like no one else.»

The newest sales figures and the continuous acquisition of new customers demonstrate PAS Media’s capability to expand even further. Last year, the sales volume increased by 16 per cent and also the first half of the current year is going according to plan: The company acquired new customers like Würth, Amavita, Reinert and Delta Pronatura and implemented new software tools and innovations.

Marco Cattarozzi is determined to proceed on the chosen path: «We want to pursue our expansion strategy and consolidate our leading position in our target markets. With our headquarters located in Switzerland, we will invest in the continuous development and enhancement of our products, so our customers in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and the retail industry can benefit from our future oriented solutions during their creation and approval processes when managing their artworks, labels, POS or marketing material.»

During the last months, PAS Media has internally prepared the change at the management level and informed both clients and employees beforehand. After over 15 years in the packaging industry, Mario Fäh will dedicate himself to new challenges in a different sector. Marco Cattarozzi has taken the lead of PAS Media already by the middle of June.

In a global wine market that is predicted to see growth in glass bottles of 2.5 billion units by 2019¹, wine makers throughout Europe are seeking novel ways of distinguishing their brands, achieving shelf stand out and promoting provenance.

For leading glass packaging manufacturer Ardagh Group, responding to the needs of customers in the sector, means expanding the range of standard wine bottles produced, and one example is the launch of a range of 187ml wine bottles to satisfy the growing demand for wine miniatures .

Ardagh customers in Europe can now choose from over 150 standard wine bottle designs in a range of over twelve different colours to suit the type of wine.

“We follow consumer trends very carefully and have built a degree of flexibility into our plants that allows us to respond to specific developments and customer requests, “explains Mike Dick, Sales Director, Ardagh Group, Glass UK.

He adds: “For instance, several customers have asked us to include 187ml single serves in our portfolio of wine, reporting an increase in consumer demand from singles, health conscious under 35s and older consumers .

“There is evidence to suggest that the 187ml wine bottle is being favoured alongside chocolates as an occasional indulgence, and, as well as on railways and airlines, is becoming a more common site on supermarket shelves.”

CINCINNATI, OH (December 16, 2015) – Michem® Release Agent 9004 is an innovative new platen coating for use on laminated strand board, oriented strand board, medium density fiberboard and particle board presses. The easy-to-use solution is spray, roll or wipe applied directly to the press platen prior to processing. When applied, Michem Release Agent 9004 acts as a metal sealer. It imparts a low COF coating sealing the surface of the platen, producing a cleanersurface which reduces the frequency between cleanings. It also provides a smoother board surface over time, requiring less sanding.

Michem Release Agent 9004 is one of a family of Michem Release Agents manufactured by Michelman. The family of products are used to prevent processed materials from adhering to a substrate surface. The agents are applied to the mold or forming surface, and provide easy release of the part with defect free performance.

About Michelman

Michelman is a global developer and manufacturer of environmentally friendly advanced materials for industry, offering solutions for the coatings, printing & packaging and industrial manufacturing markets. The company’s surface modifiers, additives and polymers are used by leading manufacturers around the world to enhance performance attributes and add value in applications including wood and floor care products, metal and industrial coatings, paints, varnishes, inks, fibers and composites. Michelman is also well-known as an innovator in the development of barrier and functional coatings, as well as digital printing press primers that are used in the production of consumer and industrial packaging and paper products, labels, and commercially printed materials. Michelman serves its customers with production facilities in North America, Europe and Asia, product development and technical service centers in several major global markets, and a worldwide team of highly trained business development personnel.

Düsseldorf will again be the international meeting point for the packaging sector from 4-10 May 2017. The European Tube Manufacturers Association (etma) will be exhibiting on a joint stand with the German Aluminium Association (GDA), where it will be presenting highly topical information at first hand on the tube as a form of packaging (Hall 11, Stand A37).

A very important aspect that will run through all topics at this year’s Interpack is the interrelationship between packaging and societies and cultures that are undergoing change, and packaging’s influence on them. The president of Interpack 2017, Friedbert Klefenz, pointed to this relationship in detail in an interview and made clear how social change is also affecting the packaging sector.

For example, the trend towards more single-person households in the Western industrial nations is leading to greater demand for smaller sized packs. The increasing trend towards consumption on-the- go will mean ever more products are being consumed on the move and in smaller portions. And what is more, the ageing society will play an ever-more important role in the pharmaceutical sector, by ensuring growing demand for these products. However, older target groups also have their own needs when it comes to appropriate packaging, especially packaging that is easy and convenient to use.

“These topics are particularly interesting and exciting for the tube, of course,” says Gregor Spengler, etma’s Secretary General, with a smile. “After all, tubes are light, unbreakable and easy to handle so they are the ideal packaging for people on the move. On top of this there is the tube’s ability to dispense exact portions, its excellent barrier properties and its very good resealability. Incidentally, all of the advantages the tube offers also benefit the Save Food concept, which will be a key aspect at this year’s Interpack, too. And with its uncomplicated handling, ease of opening and resealing, precise dosing and the highest level of hygiene, the tube is particularly well suited both for pharmaceutical products and the growing target group of older people. We want to make these benefits the subject of discussion at the trade fair and together with our member companies initiate and promote appropriate solutions and ideas within our organisation.”

New solutions for intelligent, communicative packaging will also play an important role at the trade fair. The focus will be on smart packaging, Packaging 4.0 with all its innovative technologies and processes, and the growing importance of packaging’s marketing function. Packaging often represents the initial and extremely important contact between the consumer and a brand. Together with the spontaneous decision to purchase at the point of sale, this aspect is also accounting for more and more emphasis being given to packaging design.“

And here the tube has a good deal to offer,” says etma’s Secretary General Gregor Spengler confidently. “Innovative designs, the latest printing and conversion technologies, and ‘smart’ components are opening up numerous new opportunities for the tube with regards marketing and suitable packaging design.”

“In this context, we also see our joint stand as being a meeting point and communication forum for the European tube industry, its suppliers and clients. That is why our stand will certainly be an ideal place for networking along the whole process chain. In any case, today I would like to say: welcome to the Interpack fair in Hall 11, Stand A37!”

The output of the European tube industry continued its upward trend in 2016 despite the complicated economic and political environment in Europe and the rest of the world. According to the European Tube Manufacturers Association (etma), total tube production rose one per cent year-on- year.

etma’s Secretary General Gregor Spengler was justifiably pleased with these good figures: “In light of Brexit and the resulting uncertainties coupled with the economic difficulties that continue to exist in parts of southern Europe and the growing threat of terrorism, which are creating insecurity for many consumers and dampening their willingness to spend, one cannot rate this result highly enough. It demonstrates impressively the capability of our member companies, who after all account for some 70 per cent of total European tube production. And with their innovative capability and their high quality standards European companies, and in particular our member companies, are determining quality criteria worldwide. They are pointing the way forward for new developments and technology and are recognised around the globe as the undisputed benchmark. Our European standards for the production of tubes are the yardstick globally and thus make a decisive contribution to quality standards for tubes all over the world.”

Some 90 per cent of the well over ten billion tubes produced by etma member companies in 2016 were used in Europe. Aluminium tubes currently have a market share of 37 per cent, the same as laminate tubes, while plastic tubes account for some 26 per cent of the total.

These figures mean laminate tubes were able to improve their market position. Their growth was mainly attributable to growing use in markets for cosmetic applications. It was the cosmetic sector that also showed the largest gains in 2016: it accounted for 46 per cent of all tubes used. It was well ahead of the tube markets for toothpaste, with just over 20 per cent of the total volume, and the pharmaceuticals sector, with just under 20 per cent. The wide- ranging food products sector still accounted for almost nine per cent of all tubes produced, while the remaining five per cent went into industrial or household applications.

etma’s Secretary General Gregor Spengler sees the prospects for 2017 as being broadly stable: “Last year showed that the tube can assert itself successfully as packaging in a highly competitive market even during difficult times. Tubes are highly popular all over the world because of their unbeatable functionality and their consumer convenience. The tube’s growth potential is far from exhausted, though. I see opportunities, for example, for shampoos, which are still marketed overwhelmingly in bottles, as well as in other areas. The wealth of outstanding benefits of the tube as a form of packaging, which is tailormade for an increasingly mobile society, and the inventiveness of our industry will result in further completely new products and applications. That is why I am very optimistic about the future development of tube markets.”

Part of the broad range of solutions for the brewery world, the new Sacmi LVS 360 vision system guarantees total in-line, high-speed quality control of every aspect of the label: a strategic tool designed to bring out the best in both product and brand.

Over 14,000 brewery professionals are expected to attend the 34 th edition of Craft Brewers Conference & Brewexpo America which, after Philadelphia, this year returns to the capital of Washington D.C. (10-13 April 2017, Walter E. Washington Convention Center). A unique US event that brings together both beer dealers and bottlers, this international fair will once again see Sacmi play a pivotal role with a reserved exhibition area (32 m 2 , stand # 2155) that, this year, has a strong focus on new solutions for the total quality control of labelled bottles.

For example, the LVS 360 is the latest evolution of the advanced vision systems developed by Sacmi's Automation & Inspection Systems Division. Designed to operate in-line and at ultra-high speeds, this system stands out on account of its capacity to effectively identify all types of defects, from “macro” label characteristics (e.g. application presence-absence, incorrect or mixed-up applications) to detailed elements that range from the presence of creases or small bubbles to slight defects or deviations in colour tone or print quality.

Essential for showing off product and brand in the best possible light, the label can now provide - thanks to the Sacmi-developed LVS 360 vision system - guaranteed quality for producer and customer alike. This solution, in fact, not only lets producers effect 100% label quality control, it also effects real-time matching between the applied labels and the specific production lot, thus eliminating any risk of error even when making frequent product and/or size changeovers.

The result of years of experience and know-how in developing high-performance quality control systems that check every aspect of the beverage line (cap, bottle, label), the LVS 360 features 4 colour video cameras with a resolution of up to 5 MP (i.e. a total of 20 MP , the only such solution on the market capable of providing such outstanding detail). The innovative CVS 3000 software on the machine – the same installed on all Group vision systems – allows 2D reconstruction of captured 3D images, thus eliminating any distortion and minimising false rejects.

However, total quality control represents but a part of the complete solutions the Group has developed for the brewery world. Such solutions range from high-performance filling lines specifically designed for the industry (especially as regards minimisation of in-bottle oxygen residue) to high-productivity, flexible labelling lines, such as the KUBE modular labeller range, which is winning ever-greater acclaim in the industry thanks to its unique versatility. Designed to operate in line with Sacmi labellers, the same LVS 360 system can also be integrated downstream from existing lines, providing customers with maximum flexibility when it comes to upgrading their plants.

On the strategic US market, Sacmi combines that technological excellence with fast, far- reaching after-sales assistance. Thanks to Sacmi USA, which provides support to all Group businesses, and effective teamwork with the beverage R&D facility, Sacmi is able to provide advanced services at both the design stage – by first testing and then industrialising solutions together with the customer – and after the sale, supplying valuable support throughout the working life of the machine or plant.

Leading Italian bottled mineral water group - which in 2016 set a record of over 1 billion litres of bottled water sold nationally and internationally - chooses the reliability offered by Sacmi labelling to boost its output capacity.

Acque Minerali d’Italia, Italy's leading bottled water provider with brands like Norda, Sangemini and Gaudianello, has chosen Sacmi-developed OPERA technology to complete an investment strategy that, in 2016, led to the expansion of its labelling line. In doing so they have gained all the advantages that derive from a modular solution characterised by a productivity and versatility found nowhere else on the market.

A new customer for the Sacmi Group, this leading mineral water holding company selected the OPERA 400 MODUL 22T S1/E1, a machine capable of reaching output rates of 32,000 bottles/hour. Equipped with a cold glue labelling module (CG 6/5/130) – for applying labels on the cylindrical part of the glass bottle and a sleeve on the conical part – this solution is ready to receive, in the future, a second cold glue module (6/5/180) for applying pre-cut labels and/or a module for pressure sensitive self-adhesive labelling.

One of the main reasons behind the customer's decision to go with Sacmi was, in fact, OPERA's modularity; the latter provides for, right from the design stage, compatibility with multiple labelling technologies and systems, allowing them to be managed on a single machine at ultra-high speeds and with a total quality guarantee. The labeller also comes ready for the installation of a Sacmi CVS vision system which will, in the future, be used to check for proper positioning of a logo to be applied on the bottle.

The compact hard-wearing design of OPERA also makes it easier to install on existing lines, while the machine layout simplifies use and maintenance tasks. With this order, then, Sacmi has gained a strategic customer: the leading Italian mineral water and soft drink producer which, in 2016, sold a record billion litres of bottled drinks both in Italy and abroad.

Brussels, 15 March 2017 – Following the European Parliament’s plenary vote on legislative proposals amending the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) and Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD), EUROPEN and 35 other associations1 representing a wide range of sectors including retailers, consumer goods brands, packaging producers, material producers and extended producer responsibility (EPR) organisations, have announced joint recommendations in view of the forthcoming inter-institutional negotiations on the Circular Economy Package.

The 36 organisations call on the EU institutions to seek an agreement that strikes the right balance between the environmental and economic objectives of the Circular Economy package that is evidence-based and workable in practice. Importantly, the organisations call to maintain the EU Internal Market as the sole legal base (article 114 TFEU) for the PPWD to safeguard the free circulation of packaging and packaged goods. This is a pre-condition to ensure the scale and unlock investments needed to achieve tangible and sustainable benefits for European citizens, businesses and society as a whole.

“This legislation is of critical importance to many industries that depend on packaging to ensure the quality and safety of their products when delivered across the EU to the final consumer,” said Hans van Bochove of Coca- Cola European Partners and EUROPEN Chairman. “We welcome the Parliament’s vote, which safeguards the integrity of the Internal Market in the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive. This is crucial to give the packaging supply chain the security and scale to invest in green innovations,” underlined Mr van Bochove.

The joint industry recommendations2 , announced in view of the upcoming inter-institutional negotiations, call on the Parliament, Council and Commission to ensure that the Circular Economy Package:

• Maintains the EU Internal Market as the sole legal base (article 114 TFEU) for the PPWD to safeguard the free circulation of packaging and packaged goods;
• Ensures Extended – not Endless – Producer Responsibility for packaging waste management, clearly demarcating their responsibilities and related costs;
• Develops an EU harmonised calculation methodology with clarified definitions and robust data prior to assessing the feasibility of setting quantitative targets for reusable packaging;
• Sets packaging recycling targets that are realistic and achievable with clear and EU harmonised definitions and packaging recycling calculation method.

“We are encouraged by the Parliament’s vote to keep the EU EPR general requirements in the proposal and hope that the Council acknowledges this important signal,” said Virginia Janssens, EUROPEN Managing Director. “Our industries are particularly pleased with Parliament’s efforts to demarcate the producer’s responsibility, thereby recognising the shared responsibility and accountability of all stakeholders involved in national EPR implementation. EUROPEN looks forward to continuing to work constructively with the EU institutions in view of the forthcoming negotiations to help ensure that the Circular Economy can be implemented in a proper and resource-efficient manner”, she concluded.

As energy and environmental protection become increasingly important global issues, a lot of efforts have been put into lightweighting vehicles, as the reduced weight of a vehicle attributes a lot to the efficient use of energy. According to statistics, a 100kg reduction in car weight can translate into a 10% increase in driving mileage and a 15% to 20% decrease in power costs. It also helps reduce carbon emission. These factors drive the automotive industry on a quest for innovative materials and material systems that help make vehicles lighter.

New materials lead to lighter and stronger automobiles

More than 1,500 exhibitors will gather at CHINAPLAS 2017 to present new materials, state-of-the-art equipment and advanced solutions to inspire the automotive industry and facilitate enterprises to explore possibilities on the journey towards lightweight and sustainability. Some of the exhibits are highlighted below.

Kraiburg Tpe (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. will introduce its UV/HF/SF series in CHINAPLAS 2017. The UV/HF/SF Series is targeted towards automotive exterior components requiring high UV resistance, perfect surface finish and high flowability. It is of easy flowing, exhibits excellent processing behavior, adheres perfectly to PP with perfect surface finish and is tested according to Volkswagen PV3930 for outdoor use. Typical applications include cowls, gaskets, roof rims, water deflectors, window encapsulations and other exterior automotive applications.

CGN Juner New Materials Co., Ltd. will introduce to visitors 65% continuous glass fiber reinforced polyamide 6 UD-tape which features high glass fiber content, high strength and modularity. The product can be applied in automotive components, such as foot pedals, seat frames, front-end frame, etc.

Polymer Science (Shenzhen) New Materials Co., Ltd. produces polyimide fiberwith a wet spinning two-step production process. Compared on same molecular structure basis to the traditional one-step production process, it can increase heat resistance by nearly 100 degrees and double the strength. The company has overcome the difficulty of combining heat resistance and processability in the traditional process.

Smart Manufacturing Technology Zone to promote automotive industry

In CHINAPLAS 2017, a “Smart Manufacturing Technology Zone” will also be set up on the show floor, presenting a wealth of cutting-edge exhibits from leading suppliers, including Siemens, Bosch Rexroth, Deltacimic Electronics, Enmair, Zhejiang Keqiang, Danfoss, Sodron, LNC, Dongguan STS, Star Seiki and more. Apart from robotic arms, automated systems, controllers, actuators and sensors that were featured in the previous editions of CHINAPLAS, visitors will have a chance to witness smart factory solutions. More cutting-edge technology can be found in the “3D Technology Zone”, where 3D printers, 3D scanners, 3D printing software and 3D printing services will be displayed.

What worth mentioning is that Autodesk Software (China) Co., Ltd. will launch its Moldflow simulation software, the most popular injection molding software used by plastics molding industry so far, of which accuracy and solution efficiency is higher. Mesh model building time can be reduced by 20% with improved quality. With pre- production injection molding simulation, potential molding risk can be identified and evaluated, thus optimizing results.

Concurrent events to inspire automotive smart manufacturing

Building on the success of the first “Industry 4.0 Conference” held last year in Shanghai, CHINAPLAS will once again join force with VDMA, the German Engineering Federation, to present the “2 nd Industry 4.0 Conference”. The first day of the conference (May 16, 2017) is themed “Automotive 4.0”. Representatives from KraussMaffei and Engel will give presentations on smart manufacturing technology and 4.0 solutions for the automotive industry. Shanghai Volkswagen Co. Ltd. will bring smart manufacturing case sharing to audiences. In addition, the key to therealization of “Industry 4.0” and “Made in China 2025”, standardization, will also be discussed.

CHINAPLAS is once again co-present “Design x Innovation” with BASF, the world’s leading chemical company. The theme “Smarter Living” will be demonstrated through “Inno Gallery”, ‘Design Forum” and “TRIO”, with “TRIO” represents the cooperation between BASF, designers and brand owners. Concept car RN30, an innovation that combines key solutions from the chemical industry with purposeful aerodynamic design and specialized high-performance technologies and jointly developed by BASF and Hyundai Motor Company, will be showcased in“Design x Innovation”. Answers to the question how plastics can optimize aesthetics, functionality and performance, as well as creative solutions for smarter living, can be found at “Design x Innovation”. Participants will understand product design, structural and functional design from new perspectives through the solutions presented for different downstream industries including automotive, E&E, building and construction, leisure and lifestyle, etc.

Well known suppliers will gather in CHINAPLAS 2017

CHINAPLAS 2017 will be held in China Import & Export Fair Complex, Pazhou, Guangzhou, PR China on May 16 – 19, 2017. It will feature “intelligent manufacturing, high-tech materials and green solutions” with advanced plastics machinery, materials and technologies in an exhibition area of over 250,000 square meters, showcasing the best from more than 3,300 well-known suppliers, including BASF, Clariant, Lanxess, Mitsui Chemicals, LG Chem, Polyplastics, Teijin, Jushi, Sumitomo Chemical, Arburg, Engel, HASCO, Synventive, Yizumi, Yudo, Runipsys, Autodesk and so on. CHINAPLAS is expected to attract more than 140,000 professional visitors from over 150 countries or regions. So far, a number of global leading OEMs and spare parts enterprises have already pre-registered for onsite visiting, including representatives from BYD, Nissan, General Motor, Honda, GAC Group, SAIC, Dongfeng Motor and Yanfeng etc.

A one-day pass costs RMB 30 and a four-day pass costs RMB 50. To enjoy free admission, please visit www.ChinaplasOnline.com/prereg to pre-register before MaySubscribe to our social media channels and stay tuned! We invite you to follow CHINAPLAS on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn where you can share your questions, connect with like-minded professionals and entrepreneurs, and get first-hand tips for visiting the show.

• Innovative linear motor technology for improved flexibility and speed
• Industry 4.0 solutions support operators and increase efficiency
• Single-source solution, from bar production to secondary packaging

Düsseldorf — whether chocolate, muesli or protein - consumers are increasingly asking for more individual bar products. “The rising number of bar variations requires highly flexible production machinery with short changeover times. In order to prevent bar products from cross-contamination by allergens, meeting food safety standards is a must,” says Josua Schwab, product manager at Bosch Packaging Technology.

New standards in bar packaging thanks to linear motor technology

In order to live up to manufacturers’ growing demands for increased productivity, flexibility and excellent quality, Bosch will be unveiling an advanced version of its bar production system at interpack 2017. The seamlessly integrated system reaches a constant output of up to 1500 bars per minute in primary packaging with secondary packaging matching this high speed of the flow wrapper.

The latest innovation is the intelligent Sigpack FIT product infeed with linear motor technology. It allows for push-button format change, as well as a very fast, non-contact product feeding.

The cross-sealing station of the Sigpack HRM flow wrapper is based on high precision direct drive technology and reaches film speeds of up to 150 metres per minute. With the same setup, bars of varying sizes can be packed, substantially reducing the time required for format change.

A highlight in secondary packaging is the new intelligent Sigpack PFI feeding module using linear motor technology. To transfer the product from the flow wrapper into the Sigpack TTM topload cartoner, the new module gently turns and feeds the products into the grouping chain. It works exceptionally smooth at high speed without using vacuum. The Sigpack TTM forms, loads and closes up to 150 cartons per minute.

Industry 4.0 solutions for optimal operator support

Industry 4.0 solutions of Bosch Packaging Technology support operators in their daily work. For example, the biscuit system supports format changes using RFID-tags. If a different format is needed in production, operators can scan the RFID-code of the respective format part, thus ensuring that it is installed on the right place. This increases efficiency and reduces potential errors.

Complete solution for bar production enables high productivity

Manufacturers can maximize their productivity levels with a single-source solution which goes beyond the primary and secondary packaging.

The Bosch Contiline for bar production encompasses the entire production process, from mixing, slab forming, pre-cooling, lengthwise cutting and fanning out bars to crosswise cutting, coating and final cooling. Combined with the bar packaging system, manufacturers can rely on one single source for their bar production process with a complete system solution.

Of course, productivity is also key in bar production. At interpack 2017, Bosch presents, amongst others, the WRF 600 Flex roller former. The smooth slab former features easy and tool-free adjustments for precise edge cutting of slabs in different sizes, minimizing or eliminating trim and product waste. In contrast to comparable machines on the market, the working width of the WRF 600 Flex can be adjusted during machine operation, completely eliminating downtime.

Visitors to Düsseldorf’s interpack 2017 can experience the innovations in bar production live at Bosch’s stand C30 in Hall 6.

• PrintPromotion GmbH provides further training for specialist teachers in the Colombian capital of Bogotá
• Know-how for the printing and packaging markets of South and Central America

Bogotá, 08/03/17 – In autumn last year, Luz Alsivia Romero Gutiérrez participated in a four-week training course for specialist teachers organized by PrintPromotion GmbH in Chemnitz, Germany. Now, the engineer stands in front of the participants of a seminar in her home city of Bogotá – and, from 6 to 10 March 2017, makes 26 specialist teachers acquainted with modern, quality-assured prepress processes. “We are glad that Mrs. Romero Gutiérrez is now part of the training team of our Specialist Teachers Seminar in Bogotá,“ says Dr. Markus Heering, Managing Director of PrintPromotion GmbH, adding that it is a guiding principle of this training that specialist teachers pass on the knowledge that they acquire as locally networked, authentic multipliers: “What they take along to their home countries besides know- how is awareness of high quality standards and the chances offered by modern printing technology,” he explains.

A four-day seminar for 26 specialist teachers

For Jürgen Seidel, trainer for offset printing and a teacher of Romero Gutiérrez at the AZP Print Media Training Centre in Chemnitz, her contribution to the team now also has practical advantages: “Luz can teach in her mother tongue. She supports us with her professional and methodical competence. Being a full-time teacher at the Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje (SENA), she is optimally networked on site,” he explains. SENA has 115 qualification centres in Colombia. Besides the institute in Bogota, there are three regional centres focusing on special fields of the media and graphic arts industry. In Bogotá, future print specialists acquire know-how of offset, flexographic and screen printing, digital printing methods and prepress.The seminar will give the 26 specialist teachers, of which three quarters are teachers of the hosting institute, the CENIGRAF, fresh know-how of prepress and quality assurance supported by many hands-on exercises as well as practical examples of offset printing. For the first time, the three-day basic seminar will be followed by an additional day specifically for flexographic printing. “At the request of the CENIGRAF, our external trainer Ronald Weidel and the participants will delve into packaging production by means of flexographic and gravure printing presses,” Seidel states.

Know-how for printing and packaging markets in South and Central America

With nearly 50 million inhabitants and a gross national product of 328.4 billion US Dollar, Colombia offers an interesting domestic market. Due to its location between South and Central America, the country with short distances in both directions is also interesting as a production site. Therefore, there is especially keen interest in modern printing technology for the packaging market.

In recent years, the annual export volume of German printing technology to the South American country was between 10 and 15 million Euro. This made it the fourth important export market on this continent after Brazil, Argentina and Chile. In total, printing technology worth 235 million Euro was shipped to South and Central America in 2016.

With the transfer of know-how, PrintPromotion wishes to contribute to the economic development of this region and advocate for a high level of quality awareness in the local printing and packaging markets. “Good packaging is not only a guarantee that food and consumer goods reach the customer in a perfect condition, but it also informs about the packaged goods and helps brand manufacturers distinguish themselves from their competitors,” Heering explains, adding that specific practical further training of the specialist teachers of Colombia in the field of packaging printing will impart this event chain and show them the technical possibilities offered by modern printing technology; hence, PrintPromotion also makes an important contribution to the promotion of exports of German printing and paper technology.

Secure and optimize your packaging by navigating regulatory requirements with innovative materials and technologies 

The conference will dedicate sessions to each specialty and diverse topics will be discussed ensuring you will benefit from a wealth of topics within commercial packaging and labeling. Over two days, you will be learning and exploring with peers in the pharma and packaging field to gain actionable strategies to improve your day-to- day operations and insights into markets to maximize cost efficiency.

Confirmed Speakers:

• Ahmad Zuhairi, Brand & Packaging Design Nutrition & Digestive Health, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare
• Subramaniam Swaminathan, Associate Director - Supply Chain & Packaging - Consumer Healthcare (APAC, MEA & LATAM), Mundipharma
• Ariana Susanti, Past President of Asian Packaging Federation / APF, Asian Packaging Federation
• Santanu Chowdhury, Senior General Manager , Packaging Development, Sun Pharma
• Rajesh Kumar, CEO, RVK Meditech
• Senior Representative, PT. Pharos Indonesia
• Teluguntla Manojkumar, Senior General Manager - Packaging Development, Zydus Cadila
• Yiannis Korkovelos, Policy & Corporate Affairs Manager, European Chamber of Commerce (Singapore)
• Dr. LI Xu, Senior Scientist and Project Investigator, Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR)
• Ong Lye Huat, Chairman, SPA Governing Board, Head of EHS and Security, Abbott Manufacturing Singapore
• Jackie Tan, Design Director, Orient Design
• Barun Dey, Director & Head Packaging Development, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories
• Prashant Patel, Packaging Development Manager, Nutrition & Digestive Health Category, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare
• Paul Jenkins, Founder and Managing Director, ThePackHub
• Sukhdev Saini, Packaging Manager - AMEA, General Mills 

Key Topics Include:

• Regulatory Compliance Packaging
• Serialization
• Tamper-Proof Packaging
• Anti-Counterfeiting Solutions
• Patient Friendly Packaging
• Innovative Materials, Machinery and Technology
• Cold Chain Packaging
• Automation Packaging

Philadelphia, PA ­– February 21, 2017. In 1892, William Painter changed the trajectory of the beverage industry with the invention of the bottle cap (also known as the crown cork). Throughout 2017, Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) (Crown) (www.crowncork.com), the company that Painter founded, will be celebrating its 125th anniversary by highlighting its long-standing commitment to innovation, quality and sustainability.

“From the beginning, Crown has delivered technologies that enhance the experience consumers have with products through packaging,” said Timothy Donahue, President and Chief Executive Officer of Crown. “That pioneering mindset and spirit of curiosity still drives us today. That approach has also been instrumental in our ability to help our customers build their brands regionally and globally and to set new standards for convenience, production efficiency and sustainability.”

Since its founding as the Crown Cork & Seal Company of Baltimore, Inc., Crown has built a diversified portfolio of metal packaging technologies to support the beverage, food, personal care, household and luxury markets. It currently operates 146 plants in 36 countries and employs approximately 24,000 people.

In addition to the crown cork, Crown has introduced several breakthrough technologies to the market:

• SuperEnd® beverage ends reduce metal use by 10% and make beverage cans even more environmentally friendly. To date, more than 500 billion SuperEnd® beverage ends have been produced by Crown and its licensees, saving over 130,000 metric tons of aluminum, 2,200 metric tons of coatings and 1,000,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases.
• Reveal temperature sensitive inks offer brand owners a unique opportunity to increase engagement with consumers before, during and after beverage consumption. The inks, which allow graphics to change to ‘reveal’ specific imagery and messaging as the cold product inside is consumed, are ideal for use with special promotions and contests and to create shelf differentiation.
• Designed specifically for the dry food sector, Crown’s new Peelfit™ container enhances sustainability and optimizes product protection. Peelfit™ utilizes revolutionary Direct Heat Sealing Technology (DHS) to seal an aluminum foil to a collapsed bead within the can body, eliminating the rigid steel ring typically required in double seaming applications. Removing the rigid steel ring makes the package 16% lighter than cans that use conventional foil seam closures. DHS technology also reduces energy use by 32% when compared to other existing foil seam closures.
• To help McCall Farms bring convenience to the food service industry, Crown developed a unique variation of its 603 diameter (153mm) easy-open end, which eliminates the need for a can opener. Used with McCall Farms’ 6lb (2.72kg) cans of boiled peanuts, the ends help food service customers significantly reduce the time needed to open the large containers while also increasing hygiene and safety. Like all easy-open ends, the 603 diameter (153mm) end is removable in its entirety with a simple, fluid gesture and requires up to eight times less force than a manual commercial can opener.
• Bi-compartmented (or BICAN®) aerosol technology incorporates a plastic inner bag to keep product and propellant completely separate. This separation ensures the propellant is not emitted during dispensing and prevents the product from coming in contact with the aerosol can itself. Available to Crown’s European customers, BICAN® offers consumers excellent practicality due to its ergonomic design and 360° operation and requires little effort to use. The product is dispensed cleanly and accurately, with no shaking required and total evacuation.
• Crown's new vacuum metal closures are ideal for brands considering a switch from glass to PET containers but want to retain the benefits of metal closure technology such as superior heat transfer during the heating or cooling processes. Suitable for use on large mouth (63mm-82mm) PET containers, the new range can be fully decorated and can be applied with the same equipment currently used to apply a metal closure to a glass container.
• Finally, Crown’s seated end technology gives decorative tins a crisp, clean premium look. It is ideal for luxury packaging for whiskeys, wines, spirits, cigars, biscuits, confectionery and other limited-edition products. With a “seated,” as opposed to a “seamed” end, the decorative tin’s bottom curl is invisible when the promotional packaging is placed on a flat surface.

“We are proud to be celebrating this milestone and are excited about the growth opportunities for metal packaging,” summarized Donahue. “For example, some of our latest efforts are designed to help brands add value to metal packaging through digital functionality and applications. We look forward to continuing to deliver innovations that respond to the evolving needs and values of brand owners and consumers alike.”

Brussels, 30 August 2016 – EUROPEN and 35 other associations1 representing a wide range of sectors including major consumer goods brands, packaging producers, material producers and extended producer responsibility (EPR) organisations, announced today a set of joint recommendations for the Circular Economy legislative proposals.

The 36 associations call for a long-term ambitious EU policy framework that enables and facilitates sustainable resource use from a full life-cycle perspective, incentivises economies of scale and takes into account value chains at all levels, each with their different functional needs, supply and demand realities.

“Our proposals aim at reinforcing the current EU policy framework, preserving the environment and re-launching European competitiveness, quality jobs and sustainable growth”, said Martin Reynolds, Crown Europe and EUROPEN Chairman, “Packaging plays a central role in a Circular Economy by optimising resource use and minimising product waste. We call on the EU to recognise its cross-sectoral function by preserving a full life-cycle approach in legislation, since packaging is intrinsically connected to the product it contains and its value chain”, underlined Reynolds.

The joint industry recommendations, announced today, 2 call on the European Parliament and the Council to ensure that the Circular Economy Package:

• Safeguards the free movement of packaging and packaged goods in the EU Internal Market;
• Enshrines a full life-cycle approach;
• Strengthens the EU legal framework for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for used packaging;
• Avoids legal requirements that mandate additional packaging reuse systems alongside existing EPR systems and avoid related national measures that will distort the Internal Market
• Sets realistic and achievable packaging “preparing for reuse”/recycling targets based on known staring points, as well as a harmonised and clarified measurement point and calculation methodology.

“Safeguarding the Internal Market is essential to give companies in the packaging value chain the confidence to invest and innovate to meet the environmental, growth, and competitiveness objectives of the Circular Economy Package. We must avoid measures that could lead to divergent national packaging design requirements, as these would create de facto trade barriers for all packaged goods”, said Virginia Janssens, EUROPEN Managing Director, “Instead, we need a robust, evidence-based European framework that sets ambitious yet realistic targets, is based on a harmonised calculation method and enables operators to build on over two decades of success in growing packaging recycling rates through efficient, transparent and fair Extended Producer Responsibility schemes”, concluded Janssens.

About EUROPEN
EUROPEN -- the European Organization for Packaging and the Environment -- is an EU industry association in Brussels presenting the opinion of the packaging supply chain in Europe on issues related to packaging and the environment, without favouring any specific material or system. EUROPEN members are comprised of multinational corporate companies spanning the packaging value chain (raw material producers, converters and brand owners) plus national packaging organizations all committed to continuously improving the environmental performances of packaged products, in collaboration with their suppliers and customers.

The Packaging Forum within the VDMA promotes investments in high- quality machines and equipment for the production of sophisticated packages for brand manufacturers

22/07/16: The trend to sophisticated packages with an elegant design that attract attention by means of eye-catching colours, metallic effects and elaborate embossing plays into the hands of the German engineering companies and their advanced technologies. According to Smithers Pira, the global packaging market enjoys an annual growth rate of four percent and will reach a volume of 970 billion US dollars (equivalent to approx. 860 billion euros) in 2018. In order to position themselves in this growth market with technology `Made in Germany` and to align their offers to each other in a better way, VDMA member companies from all areas of the total chain – ranging from film/foil and cardboard production to printing and finishing as well as food processing machines, filling equipment and packaging machines – have joined forces in the Packaging Forum.

The continued growth in the packaging market is above all due to two reasons. On the one hand, the population in towns and cities all over the world is growing. Supplying them with fresh food and other necessary goods every day holds huge logistic challenges. The packages are of key importance during transportation making sure that food and goods reach the customers unspoilt and in an immaculate condition. Nowadays, 1.3 billion tons of foodstuffs perish on their way from the field to the consumer. Packaging helps to improve this bad state of affairs.

Besides that, the rise in consumption due to the growing middle classes in development countries and newly industrialised countries as well as the increasing competition in mature markets contribute to the growth in the packaging market. The customers mostly decide which goods they add to their shopping basket on the spur of the moment. Which product they pick, depends more and more on the first impression a package makes and the information it communicates. Packages give information about ingredients, quality and environmental labels; they carry marketing messages of the manufacturers. And, with an elegant design, they also appeal to emotions, which makes a real difference in particular where products are hardly distinguishable from each other.

“Purchasing decisions are made at the point-of- sale. They stand or fall by the first impression a package makes. Therefore, investments in high-quality machines and equipment for the production of sophisticated packages for brand manufacturers not only pay off quickly – but, what is more, they also have a long-term effect because they strengthen the brand,” stresses Uta Leinburg, the Project Leader of the Packaging Forum, from the VDMA Printing and Paper Technology Association.