Introduces 2K Solvent-based Polyurethane (PU) High Solids and Low Viscosity Adhesive – FLEXBON 162R/162

10 April 2018, Noida, Uttar Pradesh (India): The Chemicals Business of India’s largest fully integrated multinational flexible packaging materials and solution company Uflex Limited has unveiled a general performance 2K solvent-based PU laminating adhesive under FLEXBON Brand for food packaging and general applications. The Chemicals Business of Uflex is a leading provider of adhesives, printing inks and coatings for a wide range of flexible packaging applications.

Reducing the use of solvents is the prime driver behind creating this product. Uflex’s Chemicals Business launched this product commercially at its production unit, located in Noida (Uttar Pradesh, India).

FLEXBON 162R/162 is a General Performance solvent-based product and can be used at higher application solids of between 45% and 50%. This is possible due to lower viscosity which in turn allows reduced solvent consumption. This results in overall reduction in the cost of laminate and makes it more environment friendly.

Benefits don’t end here. This product has good wettability and solvent release during lamination; it offers good adhesion on all metallized and non-metallized films and is easy to handle.

Owing to its great potential globally, the Chemicals Business of Uflex plans to target both domestic and international markets with this offering.

The market for medical devices, in particular, implantable, is expanding rapidly as economies develop, populations get older, health awareness enhances and support policies strengthen. According to data compiled by a Chinese research network, ChinaIRN.com, the size of China's current medical equipment market has exceeded RMB 100 billion, with an average annual growth rate of about 23%, and there is a great potential for a further boom.

It becomes a major focus for medical device manufacturers to search for medical-grade high-tech materials in light of such rapid growth. With “Smart Manufacturing”, “Innovative Materials”, “Green Solutions” being the show focuses, CHINAPLAS 2018 is facilitating the formation of new trends - safety, precision, and smart manufacturing - in the medical industry, introducing high standard materials and advanced technology to the industry.

Innovative materials - help advancing to next level

Among the medical polymer materials available, plastics have the advantages of being light, tough, strongly anti-permeable, transparent and easy to mold. Compared with other raw materials such as cermets, plastics have lower costs and are safer, contributing to its increasingly extensive application. From pharmaceutical packaging to disposable medical equipment such as syringes, tubes, infusion sets and surgical instruments, plastics become ubiquitous. High-tech medical plastics is surely going to have significantly greater market shares and influence as demand in 2018 is expected to reach 6,411,700 tons.

CHI MEI CORPORATION has developed a number of high-quality plastics for the manufacturing of medical devices over the years. Besides the existing materials applied to non-invasive medical devices, recently CHI MEI CORPORATION has successfully developed even higher-quality materials with more consistent quality and better safety for use in invasive devices. The development of WONDERLITE® PC-115P is now complete. It has been verified by ISO 10993 biocompatibility testing and is suitable for sterilization using ethylene oxide (EO), gamma radiation, and E-beam. This chlorine-free, high-flowability polycarbonate is ideally suited for applications such as dialyzers and infusion parts. Visitors will see this exhibit at CHINAPLAS 2018.

TSRC Corporation announces the development of medical SEBS polymers, including VECTOR DP-8101 and VECTOR DP-8227. DP-8101 is a SEBS with median-to-high styrene content and median-to-high Mw SEBS. It passed the test for cytotoxicity and complies with GMP production. DP-8101 is suitable for general plastic modification of articles for medical application. DP-8227 is a high vinyl SEBS with median Mw and with low styrene content. It has excellent miscibility with polyolefins and can make highly transparent and much softer articles including film for medical applications.

ViviOn™ is a family of novel Cyclic Block Copolymers (CBCs), to be displayed by USI Corporation, are fully hydrogenated polymers. The flexibility of tailoring polymer micro-structure provides this advanced material a wide range of properties from rigid plastics to soft elastomers. According to its remarkable features, such as superb purity, extra-high transparency, high UV transmittance and durability, great chemical resistance, low auto-fluorescence, gamma sterilization applicable, enhanced thermo-oxidation stability, low moisture uptake, low specific gravity(0.94 g/cm³), and exceptional processability, etc. ViviOn™ can be used in optical, medical, bio-diagnostics, food packaging/infant care, and deep ultraviolet (UVC) applications.

Medical industry transforming and upgrading to smart manufacturing

The market is constantly posts new demands to medical field, such as greater product accuracy, improved core technologies, enhanced safety, higher intelligence and improved integrated innovation capabilities and manufacturing levels. Accordingly, the advancement of technology in upstream industries directly affects the technological trend of medical devices.

Engel Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. will launch a complete production system for manufacturing pipettes. It is a fully automated production system to manufacture pipette tips consisting of injection moulding machine, mould with 32 cavities and automation to take the pipettes out and place into pipette trays. Capacity of the production cell is more than 15,000 pipettes per hour. Main advantages of the system are clean production which is absolutely necessary for manufacturing of medical products, highest precision guaranteeing best product quality and high energy efficiency.

Medical technology requires great reliability. Haitian International Holdings Limited will bring a medical consumables clean, efficient production technology to CHINAPLAS 2018. ZHAFIR flexible clean room concepts meet the challenging requirements in terms of precision and cleanliness. From valves to syringe barrels, Haitian finds the right injection molding solution for any medical application, especially for products that require a sterile environment, the high production efficiency of our solutions can bring good economic benefits.

The new ELEKTRON, built by Milacron China, offers the advantages of all-electric injection molding technology with higher productivity and reduced power consumption in comparison to hydraulic machines. Innovation driven designs and the extensive engineering experience of Ferromatik Milacron ensure maximum uptime with economical operation. The ELEKTRON is designed for a full range of standard applications and offers outstanding value to manufactures.

More can be discovered at CHINAPLAS 2018, where more than 1,100 global exhibitors offering solutions for the medical and pharmaceutical industries will showcase their new materials, new equipment, new processes, and technologies. Among them are internationally renowned brand names such as Motan-Colortronic, Engel, Kawata, YUDO, Haitian, Fu Chun Shin, Tederic, Clariant, Solvay, Milliken, Momentive, TSRC, Lubrizol, MeHow, Mitsubishi Engineering-Plastics Corporation etc.

"Medical Plastics Connect" to present the latest solutions

In response to the compelling need of the medical industry, CHINAPLAS 2018 will launch a series of medical-related concurrent events, collectively known as “Medical Plastics Connect”, to present the latest medical plastics technologies from renowned suppliers, providing medical device, disposables and packaging manufacturers with the most advanced solutions. Activities include the “Medical Plastics Open Forum”, “Medical Plastic Product Pop-up Kiosk”, the “Medical Plastics Guidebook” and “Medical Plastics Guided Tour”.

“Medical Plastics Open Forum” will be held on 25 April 2018 from 10:30 to 13:30 in 4.2T51 (the venue of Tech Talk). At the forum, topics such as solution for Oncology IV Device, the potential use of novel Cyclic Block Copolymer (CBC) in medical applications, medical plastics application trend – TPE material development and market drive, production of diagnostics - top efficient manufacturing and automation of pipettes, Petri dishes and blood tubes etc. will be included. At the same time, global renowned medical plastics technology suppliers will give in-depth analysis from the aspects of product design, raw materials, components, manufacturing equipment, molding processes and in-field applications of products and share the latest applications of medical plastics and industry trends with manufacturers of medical device, consumables, and medical packaging. Pre-registration for the "Medical Plastics Open Forum" is now open and available at https://www.ChinaplasOnline.com/Medical18.

“Medical Plastic Product Pop-up Kiosk”- a showcase of great variety of products manufactured from the most advanced medical plastics technologies and materials - can be found at booth 5.1P39 and booth 4.2T51.

In the newly introduced “Medical Plastics Guided Tours”, visitors will be led to the booths of selected medical solution providers, so that they can meet the technical experts face to face and get the solutions they need.

“Medical Plastics Guidebook” is now downloadable from the CHINAPLAS official website for visitors to master first-hand technology news. Contents include medical plastics solution highlights, introduction of advanced technology and a list of medical plastics solution providers.

18 Theme Zones to cover all Medical Product Design and Manufacturing Industries

CHINAPLAS 2018 will take place on 24 - 27 April 2018 in a new and huge venue - National Exhibition & Convention Center (NECC), Hongqiao, Shanghai, PR China. It is anticipated that the exhibition area will reach 340,000sqm, congregating more than 4,000 leading exhibitors from 40 countries and regions. More than 120 hot and new technology will make their global or Asia launch at CHINAPLAS 2018. There will be more than 85 technical seminars. The latest plastic and rubber raw materials and more than 4,200 cutting-edge machinery and equipment will be displayed in 18 theme zones, including the 3D Technology Zone, the Thermoplastic Elastomers & Rubber Zone, the Auxiliary & Testing Equipment Zone, the Die & Mould Zone, the Smart Manufacturing Technology Zone, the Injection Molding Machinery Zone, the Plastic Packaging Machinery Zone, the Chemicals & Raw Materials Zone, the Bioplastics Zone and the Colour Pigment & Masterbatch Zone. Together, they provide full coverage of the medical product design and manufacturing industries, providing a one-stop shopping service platform for medical production enterprises.

CHINAPLAS 2018 is expected to attract more than 180,000 local and overseas professional buyers from 150 countries and regions to visit and purchase on site. Many well-known companies in the industry have already registered, including MicroPort, Tuoren Group, SHINVA, Weigao, Baxter, Hanaco, Medtronic, Shanghai Jianzhong, Jiangxi Sanxin, Jiangsu Zhognjin Medical Packing Co., Ltd., Graceheim, Terumo, Silaida, Respironics Medical Products, Dongguan Yongsheng, Shanghai Siemens Healthineers, Changzhou Kangdi, Sealed Air, and Shanghai Kindly Medical Instruments Co., Ltd.

For walk-in visitors, RMB 50 and RMB 80 will be charged for a one-day pass and a four-day pass respectively. Visitors can enjoy admission discount through online pre-registration from now till April 18, 2018, at an early-bird rate of RMB 50 for a four-day pass. To pre-register now, please visit www.ChinaplasOnline.com/prereg. For more information about CHINAPLAS 2018, please visit www.ChinaplasOnline.com.

New Delhi, India, March 26, 2018 – Packaging Connections announces its collaboration with LINHARDT, one of the leading manufacturers of “tubes and cans” for pharma and cosmetic industries. Linhardt has been constantly introducing innovative concepts supported by proven technologies to offer unique value propositions to pharma and cosmetic industries. The product category includes collapsible tubes, cans and rigid tubes.

Under the terms of the agreement between the two companies, Packaging Connections has been officially given rights to establish Indian business of ‘Linhardt’ for their versatile product range. The strategic plan will give 360 degree promotion to Linhardt products in India including participation in events, meeting with potential pharma companies, business development, and team support to manage various projects and 24x7 visibility to Linhardt through specialized content marketing services.

This collaboration with Linhardt represents another milestone in the long-standing relationship between foreign packaging companies and Packaging Connections. “Packaging Connections is delighted to be a development partner for Linhardt’s Indian business and in introducing their innovative products to Indian pharma companies”, says Sandeep Goyal, CEO, Sanex Packaging Connections Pvt. Ltd.

• Visit Archroma at TAPPI's PaperCon 2018, Booth #923, Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, NC, USA, April 15-18, 2018
• Meet OBA expert Andrew Jackson presenting new Leucophor® ACK at TAPPI's PaperCon New Technology Showcase on April 17, 2018
• Join the Archroma team at the TAPPI's 14th Annual Runnability 5k Fun Run/Walk on April 18, 2018

Reinach, Switzerland, 9 April 2018 - Archroma, a global leader in color and specialty chemicals, will be at TAPPI's PaperCon 2018 to highlight Archroma’s solutions and expertise to enhance both the optical and functional properties of board and paper – with a special focus on sustainability.

With a one million square foot facility in Martin, South Carolina, the company is one of only a few specialty chemical and dye manufacturers in the US dedicated to serving the paper and textile industry.

Archroma strongly believes, based on its extensive experience in packaging and paper solutions, that sustainability can generate innovation, performance and can even lead to cost reductions for customers.

Visitors at Booth #923 will be able to explore solutions for:

Eco-advanced brightness and whiteness from concentrated Leucophor® liquids

Archroma will take the opportunity of TAPPI's PaperCon to introduce its new patented disulfonated fluorescent whitening agent (FWA), Leucophor® ACK liquid, to North American papermakers. Bringing a new ecological focus to the field of FWA, Archroma’s ultra-concentrated Leucophor® ACK liquid is free of urea and other additives that increase nitrogen load and COD in back- and wastewaters, while its higher actives content brings advantages of fewer deliveries, reduced freight costs, lower greenhouse gas emissions and better use of storage capacity. Leucophor® ACK liquid enables brilliant whiteness in stock and coating applications, and complies with major international eco-labels.

New patented, urea-containing alternative, Leucophor® ACS liquid, retains the advantages of fewer deliveries, reduced freight costs, better use of storage capacity and a lower carbon footprint.

• Leucophor® ACK liquid has been selected for the TAPPI's PaperCon New Technology Showcase program. Archroma’s global OBA expert Andrew Jackson will deliver a short presentation of the technology on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 around 12:00pm.

Stronger, more sustainable packaging and paper - Cartastrength® & Cartaseal®

Archroma offers a unique system combining: 1) Its Cartastrength® process chemicals to increase the stability of corrugated fiberboard and allow manufacturers to achieve high levels of dry strength with lower amounts of fresh fibers; and 2) the coatings from its Cartaseal® range including fluorine-free alternatives to wax water barriers that facilitate recycling by breaking down during repulping without the need of further additives.

Archroma will present at the booth the latest addition to the range, Cartastrength® HWM liq, which provides high performance wet strength in particular to tissue paper, whist coming in high solids form for low shipping and storage costs. Cartastrength® HWM liq is FDA compliant and displays lower AOX (Adsorbable organic halides) than typical Grade 1 products.

Prevention of stickie and pitch contamination. Pulp & paper deposit control - Cartaspers®

Pitch and stickies are the result of natural resin residues and other adhesive material found in wood fibers and in address labels or self-sealing envelopes. Both can seriously compromise recycled papermaking by clogging up machinery and causing unwanted agglomerations and deposits.

Archroma’s Cartaspers® polymers can solve that problem in different ways. The latest innovation in the range, Cartaspers® PLH liquid, is a single-product breakthrough enabling easy and highly-effective control of pitch and stickies deposition especially in soft water pulp and papermaking environments. Pulp mill tests already report easier application, better performance and significant cost savings compared to alternative deposit control systems.

Cartaspers® is a replacement for talc-based products; it is a liquid form solution offering both consistent quality and easier application than talc. Easy to use and effective in a wide variety of environments, our deposit control polymers reduce downtime, improve end-product quality and bring a host of other economic and ecological advantages.

Eco-advanced, high performance oil and grease barrier for food packaging – Cartaguard®

When applied to products such as fast food boxes and wrappers, pet food packaging, molded pulp plates and boxes containing bouillon cubes, Archroma’s Cartaguard® KST & KMP coatings provide strong and long-lasting barrier against grease and water.

The series includes an additive that has been optimized for the production of molded pulp packaging and can be added to thick stock.

These cationic fluoropolymers have been approved for food contact both by the American FDA and Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR).

Supporting the next generation of papermakers

Last but not least, Archroma is a proud official sponsor of the TAPPI's 14th Annual Runnability 5k Fun Run/Walk that will take place on Wednesday, April 18th, 2018. The event aims at helping bright students achieve a future career in the pulp and paper industry. All proceeds will go to supporting TAPPI's Scholarship Funds.

“At Archroma, we deliver innovative colors and chemicals to safely enhance your products and brands, while respecting the planet. As we like to say: It’s our nature! We strive to show customers how we can develop creative solutions together and reduce the environmental impact of their products and production processes,” comments Robin McCann, Head of Sales, North America, Packaging & Paper Specialties, at Archroma.

Leucophor®, Cartastrength®, Cartaseal®, Cartaspers® and Cartaguard® are trademarks of Archroma registered in many countries.

© 2018 Archroma

Industry Veteran to Oversee N.A. Operations for Leading Manufacturer of Folding Cartons & Printed Components for Healthcare Sector

Camden, NJ – Rondo-Pak, a leading provider of quality folding cartons and printed components for the pharmaceutical, medical device and consumer industries, has appointed Robert Reilley as its latest Chief Operating Officer (COO). In this role, Mr. Reilley will oversee all North American operations, including facilities in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico.

A leader in the company for over six years, Mr. Reilley has been instrumental to Rondo- Pak’s recent successes, including its operational transition into a new technology center in Camden, NJ while avoiding service interruptions. Additionally, he led the effective integration of the 2016 joint venture with Körber Medipak Systems, and has since directed more than 40 pharma-level quality audits through the combined operation.

Prior to joining Rondo-Pak, Mr. Reilley served as Director of Customer Service and Graphics for Clondalkin Pharma and Healthcare and, before that, as Global Director for Catalent Pharma Solutions’ Printed Components division. All totaled, Mr. Reilley has been guiding operations for pharamceutical suppliers for nearly 30 years, during which time he has proven to be a conscientious leader dedicated to customer satisfaction, quality, and innovation.

“Bob’s astounding professional record of innovation and success is sure to drive Rondo-Pak’s mission of developing solutions for the ever-changing packaging industry,” said Mike Pacewicz, Director of Creative & Marketing for Rondo-Pak. “Under his direction, the company will continue to advance as a leader in our field.”

Mr. Reilley holds an A.S. Degree in Computer Integrated Manufacturing. He resides in Mount Laurel, NJ.

Enterprise-level Serialization Software Ecosystem Manages Serialization Data Flow for Pharmaceutical Companies and Contract Manufacturers

Moorestown, NJ – Antares Vision – which, in addition to its standing as the world’s leading provider of serialization-based pharmaceutical track and trace solutions, also provides premium inspection systems – is proud to introduce ATSFOUR, an enterprise-level serialization software solution that enhances its reputation as a leader in the fight against counterfeiting in the pharmaceutical industry. The company is the world’s leading provider of serialization-based track and trace solutions for the pharmaceutical industry, with more serialization systems installed worldwide than all major competitors. 

As new drug traceability regulations continue to be enforced in the United States, Europe and other key global markets, the need for Level 4 software solutions has become increasingly important. The new ATSFOUR integrates the Antares Tracking System architecture, and offers a comprehensive, scalable, solution that allows the widest connection capability available for any traceability framework. The software ecosystem manages the serialization data flow connecting production plants, CMOs, third-party logistics and authorities, and manages high volumes of data through an innovative data storage system.

The versatile, compatibility-minded ATSFOUR creates a unique point of connection enabling interface with healthcare agencies, CMOs and other brand owners operating with a variety of software and hardware solutions. "We believe our ATSFOUR enterprise-level serialization software solution is the best on the market,” says Andrew Pietrangelo, President, Antares Vision - North America, “and that it represents a major step forward toward helping companies comply with increasingly stringent serialization regulations.”

ATSFOUR stands out for offering two different installation options: not only on a cloud platform, but also on- premises in the local server infrastructure of the pharmaceutical company. Moreover, unlike any other solution on the market, ATSFOUR can be configured on an entirely dedicated cloud space that is not shared with other companies. In view of the constant increase in the volume of data to be managed, ATSFOUR is designed with graph database technology: this allows for a significantly faster search of information compared to traditional systems.

A number of companies have already chosen to implement the ATSFOUR solution, including Recordati, Salf, Sit, Fine Foods, Marlex, biomo pharma, Renata, Faes, Saneca, Sovereign, Adhex, Sifi, Dms, Sirton, Promed and Falorni. The software exemplifies Antares Vision leadership in pharmaceutical tracking systems, comprising a comprehensive solution that allows pharmaceutical companies to manage information from the line level (Level 1) to the corporate/enterprise level (Level 4) and reporting to regulatory authorities (Level 5).

Noida, 06 April 2018: In a big boost to its commitment towards sustainability and circular economy, India’s largest multinational flexible packaging materials and solution company Uflex Limited has developed a customised formulation that renders barrier packaging for edible-oil re-processable.

Talking about this major breakthrough in promoting flexible packaging sustainability, Joint President, Packaging and New Product Development at Uflex Mr. Jeevaraj Pillai said, “Edible oil needs to be carefully protected from oxygen that makes it rancid. Barrier properties in a coextruded film for edible-oil packaging are imparted by Nylon and/or EVOH. However, it is the presence of these two elements that makes the packaging of edible-oil non-reprocessable. We at Uflex have developed a specialized formulation that renders barrier packaging for edible-oil re-processable despite the presence of Nylon and/or EVOH.

Now the edible oil manufacturers need not worry and can easily fulfil their recyclability commitments by using barrier packaging having our formulation. According to data from market research firm Euromonitor International, the edible oil category, which had overtaken dairy to become the largest packaged food segment in our country a few years ago, grew at 25.6 per cent to cross the Rs. 1.3 trillion mark in 2017. In fact, edible oil formed over 30 per cent of the Rs 4.34 trillion packaged foods market in India. Thus the potential is huge and we are fully braced up to cater to the flexible packaging requirements of all edible-oil players in the country and overseas in a sustainable manner.”

Expressing joy over this development, Mr. Ashok Chaturvedi, Chairman & Managing Director, Uflex Limited said, “We accord prime importance to sustainable flexible packaging solutions and business processes. I am very glad to share that my R&D engineers have been able to develop a specialized formulation that renders barrier packaging for edible oil re-processable. Considering that edible oil category is the largest packaged food segment in our country, one can well imagine the massive global boost India as a Nation will get in terms of sustainability and promotion of circular economy if it is able to reprocess all the barrier packaging for edible oil. This is a great victory for Sustainability. This is a great victory for India.”

CINCINNATI, OH (April 5, 2018) – Michelman will introduce PaperCon 2018 attendees to its proven line of waterborne and environmentally responsible functional coating solutions. Their variety of compostable, recyclable and renewable coatings help brand owners increase sustainable practices that reduce waste and utilize fewer raw materials.

Attendees to the exhibition can also discuss how Michelman’s collaborative approach with the entire packaging value chain, including paper mills, converters and brand owners, accelerates the concept-to-commercialization cycle. Their innovations produce better and more sustainable packaging with improved product, print receptivity, digital printing, and heat seal protections.

Michelman’s functional coatings produce a multitude of barrier and functional properties that are critical to product protection and brand packaging. Michelman’s well-known brands, including Michem® Coat 525, VaporCoat® 2200R and Hydraban® 430 will be featured at the show. These and other leading Michelman solutions are used as barriers to oxygen and oil migration, and for grease, oil, water, moisture and stain resistance.

Michem Coat 525 is used primarily for its robust grease and oil resistant properties, as well as its water resistance, release, cold and hot melt gluability, and compliance with specific food contact regulations.

VaporCoat 2200R provides water and grease resistance and excellent MVTR properties on kraft liner and other substrates. When properly applied over a base coat, this repulpable coating is recommended as a replacement for some curtain coating applications, poly-laminated board and plastic bags.

Hydraban 430 is a waterborne dilutable coating that provides good water beading and water repellence to paper substrates and is cold set gluable with most adhesives.

These and many other solutions can be discussed at Michelman’s booth #924. The event is being held

April 15-18, 2018 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Pianoro (Bologna) – Preparations are underway for the yearly main event in Frankfurt, Achema. Marchesini’s booth of 800 square meters (Hall 3.1, stand G3) is expected to be one of the busiest at this key German venue. The exhibition area will host six stand-alone machines and five lines, amongst which will be many novelties for the Track&Trace, serialization, Industry 4.0 and aseptic packaging sectors. As is customary, the Group’s high-technology goes hand-in-hand with typical Italian hospitality. Guests may indeed enjoy the gastronomy of the Emilia- Romagna region at the Group’s bar and restaurant. There will also be a new virtual reality area where some major technological developments will be illustrated.

Lines

The liquids and aseptic area will host Capsy, a rotary aseptic cap sealing unit for Small Parenteral Volume vials (SPV). It will be combined with the new Stery LA under Isol-Air unit, which is the first produced by Marchesini Group.

Another aseptic line will include Unica, a robotic machine that integrates the deep-draw forming and cartoning operations into one block. It will be showcased with the syringe and safety device assembler Combi 1 SD.

To represent the solids counting section, there will be the counting and capping unit, Compact 12, with vial feeder Sirio 3 “Code”, which is able to position round, square, oval or rectangular vials. The key features of this solution are compactness, thanks to the fact that two operations arecarried out on just one machine, and the possibility to use possible isolator and laminar flow containment systems to guarantee complete protection of product and operator.

Again for the solids industry, there will be the robotic blister line Integra 320, set up to meet customers’ every need in terms of industry 4.0. The unit will be illustrated for the first time at Marchesini’s booth with a 5- camera infeed system, Valida, to ensure the multi-vision control of the shape, thickness and colour of the pills. It will also have an NIR active ingredient recognition system. Another novelty on this machine will be the SCADA system - developed together with SEA Vision, a relatively new partner of Marchesini Group. This system checks the mechanical and functional state of the machine by constantly monitoring the quality parameters and informs the operator accordingly. To conclude, the line will also be equipped with a predictive maintenance system to pinpoint possible mechanical problems and suggest appropriate scheduled maintenance actions.

For tube packaging, there will be the linear automatic filler and sealer MILL 120 with Robovision, combined with an MA 155 cartoner, featuring a new design of the panelling, electric cabinet and pneumatics, plus new components to comply with new safety standards.

Stand-alone machines

The liquids area will be represented by the vial filler RSF 24 and the ML 618 1T vial filler and capper equipped with 18 syringes and a capping head. It is a very compact and flexible machine, ensuring batching precision, high production performance and total compliance to GMP standards.

Another innovative solution on show for stickpack solids will be a version of MSP 560, which has been upgraded and lowered to boost itsperformance and ergonomics. The MSP 560 exhibited at Achema is the perfect solution for packaging liquids (but also powders or granular products) inside stickpacks, thanks to its incredible versatility, compact footprint and easy-to-dismount and clean batching units.

There will also be some novelties for end-of-line and serialization solutions with three brand new machines, or ones with new functions. The BLH 235 labeller can label products lying flat, such as pens, lipstick and mascara. The carton labeller BLA 525 CW with Track&Trace and weight control is able to produce 520 pieces a minute. It is equipped with a load cell fully integrated into the stepper conveyance system, which checks the position of the cartons and their weight throughout the whole process and rejects feasible non-conforming products according to the “Fail Safe” logic.

Great expectations also for the new Track-Pack single block serialization and accumulation unit made up of the labeller BL A415 and case packer PS 300. Some strongholds are that it can be equipped with Tamper Evident heads to apply self-adhesive tamperproof seals on the closure corners of the cartons. The end result is a compact machine complete with patented timing device that sets the cartons apart and positions them correctly on the adjustable toothed belt, which prevents them from slipping.

To conclude, the TURBO-MEK 500 vacuum turbo-emulsifier will be exhibited. It is used to prepare liquid and creamy products, especially emulsions (cream, milk), serum, oil and balm, gel and lotion. This machine, by DUMEK, proves the growing importance of the cosmetic packaging industry within the Marchesini Group’s production range, which is expected to grow even more thanks to the Group’s new Beauty Division.

FrieslandCampina Thailand, a local branch of the global dairy company, has turned – once again – to Gebo Cermex to install an efficient and cost-effective end-of- line solution, handling its new Foremost plastic bottles, which feature a complex shape. Thanks to a 360° approach applied to wrap-around mechanization, the company achieved the outstanding speed of up to 500+ containers per minute.

FrieslandCampina, one of the world’s largest dairy companies, produces and sells consumer products such as dairy-based drinks, infant nutrition, and cheese in Europe, Asia and Africa. The company’s regional branch in Thailand handles an impressive 300 million tons of milk per year. As part of the local successful performance of dairy-based products, Foremost portfolio stands out as the best-selling group of references. For their newly-shaped Foremost PEHD bottle, running on a dedicated production line in Samrong, the company was looking for a secondary packaging solution able to deliver on great speed and reliability, to keep their total cost of ownership (TCO) as low as possible.

Vertical start-up within a week

Gebo Cermex applies a 360° approach to wrap-around mechanization, underpinned by gentle primary packaging handling, extended secondary packaging knowledge and largemechanization expertise. With more than 1200 machines installed world-wide, the company is the right partner when it comes to material handling. When the team at the plant explains why they chose Gebo Cermex as their preferred supplier, they address the highly structured and professional support received in all stages of the purchasing and installation process: “They helped us in validating different formats in-house first, so that we could guarantee that by the time we received the equipment in our production facility in Samrong we just ‘Plug & Play’ and then we can get the result we wanted. It’s like a vertical start-up. We chose Gebo Cermex because it is the only manufacturer that can deliver the expected performance within a week.”

Excellent technical support throughout the installation process

Renewing their confidence in Gebo Cermex was the natural choice for FrieslandCampina Thailand, due to the long-lasting business relationship between the two companies and the positive experience the customer has had with a wrap-around packer installed as part of a can line at the same plant ten years ago, which – thanks to its high robustness and reliability – is still running today. The driving factors behind the purchasing decision were the core competences in line engineering and material handling shown by the team at Gebo Cermex during the pre- contracting phase – instrumental in determining the best technical solution and layout to suit the customer’s objectives – and the extremely structured and professional approach to commissioning. FrieslandCampina Thailand's team continues, “A big thanks to Gebo Cermex for the technical support along the way: Running a new production line in a big factory like this always involves problems here and there that cannot be controlled beforehand. But the Gebo Cermex team is very flexible and has a high expertise. They are truly willing to support us and that is the key reason why we can start-up this line successfully.”

Outstanding performance

The Thailand-based dairy company recognised the opportunities to optimise the TCO of their end-of- line operations by choosing wrap-around blanks rather than traditional “Regular Slotted Containers” (RSC), therefore meeting the goal of reducing secondary packaging costs by more than 30%. To achieve this, FrieslandCampina Thailand opted for a wrap-around case packer machine, together with a bottle line divider at packer infeed – flexible enough to divide the flow from one lane up to eight lanes, depending on the bottle format – and the conveyors connecting the solution to the production line – both upstream and downstream. This configuration ensures an impressive speed of more than 500+ shaped bottles per minute, equal to 24 cases per minute.

Continuous innovation

The latest addition to the Gebo Cermex portfolio of wrap-around solutions is the WB46. It offers excellent performance in terms of flexibility, hygiene and ergonomics, suiting the needs ofmanufacturers active in a broad range of industries, from food and beverage to pharmaceuticals and home and personal care.

Camarillo, CA – March 2018 – Binder USA, LP, has added the M8 12-pin to their Series 718 & 768 lines of M8 Connectors. The 12 gold-plated contacts allow for more data connections in a small form connector, making it easy to combine multiple connections into one connector to save panel space. The IP67 rated connectors are typically used with automation-related products including photoelectric, proximity and temperature sensors.

The M8 12-pin is an effective solution for smaller devices that require both smaller connectors and protection from liquids and small particles. It is available in male or female molded cable and panel mount connectors with cable lengths 2 m and 5 m and standard single wire length of 200 mm. Gold- plated contacts provide low contact resistance and each receptacle is prewired with 16-gauge wires using UL PUR cable or single wires. The M8-12 is rated up to 30 V DC, 1 amp.

Highlights include:

• 12 Gold (Au) Plated Contacts
• M8 Thread
• Rated current - 1A
• Rated voltage - 30 V
• Degree of protection - IP67
• Termination - PUR cable/single wires
• Configurable according to customer requirements

Elizabethtown, Kentucky (USA) 02 April 2018: Polymeric films with satin soft surface, yet strong and durable are a dichotomy. But not anymore! Flex Films - the global film manufacturing arm of Uflex has developed an innovative bi-axially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET) film with a unique velvety and luxurious surface at its manufacturing plant in Elizabethtown Kentucky in the United States. The new soft touch film FLEXPET TM F-STF exhibits exceptional scratch, heat and scuff resistance which has been a serious need-gap in the industry for flexible substrates. The surface is self-healing from most scuffing and is optimally durable.

Talking about the new soft-touch BOPET film, Dr. Steven J. Sargeant, GM, Technology at Flex Films (USA) Inc. said, “If we scratch the surface of this film, it won’t be scratched. Soft touch is rendered through a robust surface coating, in combination with a proprietary in-line anchor coating on the base polyester film. It is this combination which imparts unique properties of self-healing, toughness and durability along with the soft texture. This effectively increases converters’ yield as they generate less scrap and have less customer rejections or other associated issues.”

Elaborating upon the properties of the film, Mr. Vijay Yadav, Business Head, Flex Films (USA) Inc said, “The film has superior tactile properties. In addition to a soft surface that is heat and water resistant, the film exhibits improved scuff resistance along with ultra-low gloss (5-8 Gloss Units) and robustness superior to commodity matte surface films. All polymeric films tend to stick to themselves. This adhesion is termed as 'blocking'. In the case of our soft-touch film this isn’t an issue to worry about at all. Through the combination of base film and off-line coating design, we have been able to avoid blocking, improve durability of the soft touch at high processing speeds. This in turn leads to higher production throughput. The film as you would see is thinner than previous low-quality solutions currently available in the market. This clearly decreases material costs of the end-use packaging at brands’ end.”

Speaking about the value proposition of the new product, Mr. Anantshree Chaturvedi, Vice Chairman and CEO, Flex Films International said, “This film is FDA compliant for a range of uses making it further unique. It finds extensive use in luxury brand packaging, decorative packaging, labelling, graphic advertising banners, and high-end stationery products among others. F-STF film exhibits lowgloss, excellent matte homogeneity with high haze (>90%) and very high contact (see- through) clarity. This means that the film can be readily reverse printed by convertors to impart deep and rich graphics. The surface maintains its soft and luxurious feel yet being strong and durable enough to withstand the ensuing rigours of handling throughout the value chain. Tactile feel products have an anticipated CGAR of 12-15% and are thought to be the highest growth segment in flexible packaging spaces in the United States. This is an encouraging opportunity that Flex Films is pursuing.”

Sharing his thoughts about FLEXPET TM F-STF film, Mr. Ashok Chaturvedi, Chairman & Managing Director Uflex Limited said, “This is a classic example of value-engineering. My engineers at Flex Films by addressing two rather dichotomous issues of maintaining a velvety soft surface texture of the BOPET film while simultaneously ensuring good tensile strength have given the convertors best of both the worlds. This is one of the very many ways we keep enhancing business value for our clients globally.”

St. Croix Falls, WI March 29, 2018 - Leanin' Tree, 'America's Favorite Greeting Cards', has recently installed a Kluge EHD Foil Stamping, Embossing and Die Cutting Platen Press. The press was fully re-manufactured at the Kluge facility in St Croix Falls, Wisconsin and delivered with Kluge's TRU-TON™ Adjustable Impression System. TRU-TON reduces or eliminates the use of packing material in make-ready and is operated with a simple single point adjustment control. Designed to accommodate sheets up to 17"x 24.75" with up to 40 square inches of die area, the Kluge EHD is known for providing years of reliable service and is well established within the industry as the standard by which all presses in its class are measured.

Leanin' Tree was established in 1949, when Ed Trumble, founder and Chairman, started selling Christmas cards through the mail to western farmers and ranchers. Ed started with four Christmas card designs on a shoe string budget and shipped cards in shoe boxes. Today Leanin' Tree employs over 200 employees, offers over 3,000 unique all occasion cards and ships over 20 million cards a year all over the world. The mission of this family owned company is "To bring the best in art and words together in a way that touches your heart." This simple mission is accomplished with a lot of hard, yet fun work.

Leanin' Tree Greeting Cards has seen a lot of changes over the 69 years that they have been producing greeting cards. A big change has been all the embellishments they have added to their product line. Those embellishments include Foil Stamping, Die Cutting, Glitter, Thermography, Spot Varnish, UV Coating and Embossing. All treatments that are now very common for Leanin' Tree and greeting cards.

"We have used Kluge equipment for over 15 years to make all those "extra" features happen," explains Mike Bognar, Post Press Manager at Leanin' Tree. "Four operators run and maintain two Kluge presses' along with a Kluge UniFold folder gluer and a Heidelberg Windmill. The addition of a third Kluge press in January, has allowed us - increased output, flexibility and machine dependability, as we add those extra's to our product. The purchase of a remanufactured machine was an easy decision knowing Kluge's proven value."

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis., March 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Glenroy Inc., a converter and printer of flexible packaging for over 50 years, has been recognized by the Flexible Packaging Association with a Gold Flexible Packaging Achievement Award. The award was earned in the category of “Expanding the Use of Flexible Packaging” for high-quality spouted pouches and trigger sprayer pouches created for For Life Products’ line of Rejuvenate® MARINE cleaning solutions.

According to the Flexible Packaging Association, the “Expanding the Use of Flexible Packaging” category represents entries that advance the use of flexible packaging by improving upon an existing package, providing a new packaging solution, extending flexible packaging to other end-uses, or creating a new product.

For 60 years, the Flexible Packaging Association has held the Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards competition to recognize excellence and innovation in flexible packaging. Entries are judged by an independent panel of packaging experts. This long-running competition is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious in the industry.

According to Amanda Dahlby, marketing manager for Glenroy Inc., “We are honored to be recognized with a Gold Flexible Packaging Achievement Award. For Life Products is an example of an innovative brand taking advantage of the many benefits of flexible packaging, while adding convenience and value for consumers. Rejuvenate® Marine products are now lighter, more portable, and easier to store on marine vessels. Compared to rigid packaging, these pouches also use less plastic and require less energy to produce, while providing transportation and warehousing efficiencies for the brand (since unfilled rigid packaging can take up to 26 times the space of unfilled flexible packaging designed for the same product).”

The 900g Euro Squeeze multilayer polypropylene bottle from RPC Corby has been selected by leading Greek food manufacturer Provil SA for its new Sandwich Creams range of sauces for the foodservice sector.

The bottle combines safe handling, ease of use and effective product protection to support and maintain Provil SA’s brand image and help build customer loyalty. Its excellent clarity enables the five products in the range –Tartar, Sundried Tomato, Smokey, Wasabi and Sweet and Spicy Mustard – to be attractively displayed, while the large labelling area ensures effective on-shelf branding.

The multilayer PP/EVOH/PP structure provides effective protection against oxygen ingress to deliver an extended ambient shelf for the products.

“The Euro Squeeze bottle is lightweight, easy to use and squeezable, making it the ideal solution for both professional and home use,” comments Mrs Hara Kougiournitzi, Marketing Coordinator at Provil.

The Euro Squeeze range is available in a wide variety of sizes to meet individual customer requirements.

Dresden, 27 March 2018 – More than 80 participants from eight countries visited the Open House of KAMA GmbH for Eastern Europe and Germany from 13 to 15 March in Dresden, including numerous job printers and well-known manufacturers from the high-quality packaging sector. Under the motto “Impress with postpress”, the machine manufacturer showed for the first time the digital networking of their versatile solutions via a central cockpit with the new software “KAMA Job Manager” - KAMA's realisation of Print 4.0.

Customers and interested parties from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria and Germany experienced in Dresden compact workflows from the print sheet to the product ready for delivery - for job printing and packaging.

Versatile and networked

“We connect our solutions for postpress with the network of work preparation and printing press”, claims KAMA CEO Marcus Tralau. “The goal is a networked workflow that manages especially in digital printing the increasing number of jobs safely and efficiently - including the applications in the further processing.” The KAMA Cockpit communicates with the MIS and the machines for die cutting, embossing, stripping and folding and gluing, sends the job-related data and the appropriate setting values to the machines and gives the feedback from the production - such as duration of the set-up time, production time, speed, good sheets, etc. - in real time back to the network.

The production was shown with finished folders with capacity, folded cards with a dispensed sample and different folding boxes from small to large, with straight-line or lock bottom. The particular strengths of the KAMA workflows include inline stripping without tools, software-based setup with minimal waste and record-fast job changes on the ProCut 76 and DC 76 die cutters as well as on the KAMA FF 52i short-run folder gluer for digitally printed folding cartons, partially in less than 5 minutes.

Folding carton pro’s at KAMA

A few days before the demo days, the Fachverband Faltschachtel-Industrie (Professional Association of the Folding Box Industry) FFI visited KAMA and learned about the workflow on demand in finishing. What particularly impressed the participants of the FFI working group “Small but fine”: the versatility of the die cutting and embossing machine ProCut 76 with tool-free stripping and blanking and the high quality of the layouts.

Noida, 27 March 2018: One of the reasons why Uflex is at the Helm while its Founder, Chairman & Managing Director Mr. Ashok Chaturvedi revered as the Father of the Indian Flexible Packaging Industry is the fact that the concept of sachet packs in India was introduced by him back in the mid-eighties. It was for these sachet packs that the expensive FMCG brands for ketchups, shampoos, mouth fresheners etc. suddenly came within the reach of the masses changing the very way these products were marketed.

A lot of water has flown under the bridge ever since! With cutting edge technology and some of the best brains by its side Uflex over the years has evolved to become India’s largest multinational flexible packaging materials and Solution Company. The sachets though small in size have packed quite a punch on several international platforms.

Recently Shudh Plus Ultra - Sparkling Tactile Sachet with 3D Embossing manufactured by Uflex has been conferred with the following prestigious awards:

• Gold Award 2018 – Technical Innovation by Flexible Packaging Association
• Silver Award 2018 – Printing and Shelf Impact by Flexible Packaging Association
• 2018 Product Excellence Award by The Association of International Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators (AIMCAL)
• 2018 Technical Excellence Award by The Association of International Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators (AIMCAL)

Nescafe Sunrise Non-Foil Instant Coffee Sachet has been conferred with the Silver Award 2018 for Sustainability by Flexible Packaging Association.

This year, 66 package entries were received by Flexible Packaging Association with a total of 164 entries (some packages were entered into multiple categories). Twenty packages were honoured with 31 Achievement Awards.

Shudh Plus Ultra ushers into a whole new era of Technical Innovation due to its tactile printing. This printing innovation of depositing high strength solids on to flexible packaging substrates provides aesthetically superior packaging options. Also, this packaging development opens the world of new possibilities in creating packs which could be offered for the visually impaired market with Braille printing through tactile functionalities.

Mouth Freshener market category is inundated with several me-too brands and the Point- of-Sale (POS) impact infused through packaging re-production and design elements drive the impulsive purchasing behaviour. Shudh Plus Ultra Mouth Freshener artwork washanded over to Uflex with a one line objective of creating a never seen before design. The team at Uflex brainstormed about the design elements and came up with print reproduction having a combination of (1) Tactile effect; (2) Glitter Effect; (3) Embossing Effect on the brand and (4) Provide a combination of Gold and Silver anti-counterfeiting 3D embossed effect bearing the logo of the client. All these critical parameters have been achieved with a combination of rotogravure, flexography, and electron beam coating using a surface printed registered application on paper and also entailing hot foil stamping.

Surface printing of the base design was done on coated paper using a combination of rotogravure and flexographic print transfer technologies. A special laser engraved cylinder with specially developed engraving cell configuration was used to transfer the higher solid content and glitter pigment on the surface. The printed substrate was processed through electron beam coating line in register to create the embossed effect on the brand name. The final processing entailed the transfer of 3D embossed effect of the logo using a special purpose machine utilizing hot foil stamping. The speciality of this job was to provide one side gold and another side silver embossed effect to deter counterfeits as this is the first of its kind job where a combination of different metal reproductions have been done simultaneously.

The uniqueness of design is that the printing has been done using high solid content ink imparting the superior tactile effect with a combination of glitter enhancing the shelf impact catching the attention of the customer at the already inundated Point-of- Sale (POS). One can visualize the shimmering effect on the string of mouth-freshener packs hung at the POS.

Nescafe Sunrise Non Foil Instant Coffee Sachet is a portion controlled unit pack of a unique blend of coffee chicory mixture. Instant coffee chicory mixture is extremely hygroscopic and has always been packed in flexible packaging where aluminium foil provides the functional barrier. In order to eliminate the use of aluminium foil to provide a sustainable packaging solution, engineers at Uflex Limited worked on high barrier metallized polyester film which could effectively replace aluminium foil. The new packaging development for replacement of Aluminium foil has been extensively tested with similar shelf life of 12 months (as offered by the erstwhile packaging) for this new packaging. Consumers are able to get the same product delivery with lesser packaging material and are able to simply tear, dispense and consume the product in entirety. The new packaging consists of 10 micron polyester (reverse printed) and is laminated with 12 micron high barrier metallized polyester and 20 micron polyethylene using a tandem extrusion lamination process.

Nescafe Sunrise Non Foil Instant Coffee Sachet development has resulted in a 45% weight reduction in replacement of Aluminium Foil with Metallized Polyester. This significantly reduces carbon footprint (emission of GHG) through all the three critical phases of the packaging product i.e. manufacturing, transportation and disposal. With millions of such sachets in retail circulation, one can imagine the quantum of aluminium replaced by relatively lighter polyester substrate thereby justifying the raison d'être of flexible packaging.

Expressing delight over these prestigious global conferrals Mr. Ashok Chaturvedi, Chairman & Managing Director, Uflex Limited said, “On behalf of my entire team, I amthankful to the Jury of Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards 2018 and that of AIMCAL Awards 2018 for honouring the technological, aesthetic and sustainability quotient of Uflex truly exemplified by the winning entries. These pocket sized power-houses have indeed packed a big punch in the global flexible packaging industry. Many more to come!!!”

Unceasing news and discussions on 5G communication, autopiloting, drones, health care issues and smart cities keep attracting our attention. As high-end manufacturing gains momentum, smartphone technology innovations are designed unflaggingly. OEM is gradually expanding into automotive electronics, medical electronics and other fields, opening new paths for the information technology and electrical appliances industries. Businesses continuously introduce new products to meet changing needs of consumers, and at the same time spend increasing amounts of efforts in the R&D of high-end migration, intelligence, customization, differentiation, lightweighting, material durability, energy efficiency, environmental protection and other areas.

"Innovation is Key to the Future" is the theme CHINAPLAS 2018 is architected around in response to the call for new materials, new technologies and new equipment from E&E industries. CHINAPLAS 2018 will be replete with high-tech solutions for “smart manufacturing”, “innovative materials” and “green solutions”. More than 1,100 leading exhibitors will showcase solutions for the Electrical and Electronics, IT and Telecommunications industries.

Smart manufacturing with high-end equipment

China’s emphasis on the development of smart manufacturing is on the rise, as reflected in the “Made in China 2025” strategy and the “Thirteenth Five-Year Plan”, which outline proposals to build a strong nation with special emphasis on smart manufacturing, a direction towards which manufacturers are upgrading. CHINAPLAS 2018, a platform for the dissemination of new plastics innovations, is going to introduce a legion of cutting-edge technologies together with local and overseas leading exhibitors and by organizing a number of concurrent events.

Engel Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. will demonstrate at CHINAPLAS a technology that enables the efficient production of PMMA optical lenses with thickness greater than 20mm. As the demand for productivity increases, the cycle time becomes more and more of a concern. ENGEL is realizing the reduction of cycle time by a two machines concept. A 1060/400 duo injection moulding machine with a 4-cavity mould for the manufacturing of pre-moulded parts and a duo 600H/600H/500 combi machine with rotary table and 4+4 - cavity mould for sequential over-moulding, saving 87% cycle time. The system includes a 6-axis robot and an external cooling station for the pre-moulded parts.

Modern Precision Plastics & Mould (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. will make a global debut for a new generation of 200T three-color six-station vertical injection molding machine at CHINAPLAS 2018. The machine can produce three products of different colors at the same time, which means one machine can serve the functioning of three machines. Combining with automation technology developed by their R&D, loss of raw materials during production process and production cost can be reduced.

In order to adapt to a more stringent production condition, such as dust-free workshop, auxiliary equipment has achieved technological breakthroughs. Fuji Tekko Co., Ltd.’s independent arm secondary slitter for lithium-ion battery film, a ceramic coated lithium-ion separator film with special dust suction device, is widely used by a large number of domestic manufacturers.

Yudo (Suzhou) Hot Runner Systems Co., Ltd. will make a global debut at CHINAPLAS 2018 for temperature control, sequence control and cloud service and Internet of Things. Comparing to conventional temperature controller, the additional function of the temperature controller is the concept of Internet of Things. Temperature accuracy can be up to ±1℃. With various types of alarm modes and camera, controlled and monitored by multiple types of mobile platforms, work environment can be check whenever possible, keeping the equipment safe and efficient. Big data analysis is possible and hence users will be able to predict the equipment failures and take measures to prolong service life of the equipment, enhancing productivity. Besides, the exhibit helps to inject parts with better appearance and quality.

Concurrent events illustrate automation

To meet the needs of various application industries, a myriad of practical automation solutions has been developed. VDMA, German Engineering Federation, continues to provide their prolonged support to CHINAPLAS, will once again hold the concurrent event “Industry 4.0 Conference” together with the show organizer. Smart plastics processing factories will present real cases of how to achieve lean and automated production and how to increase efficiency of assembling and processing. At another concurrent event, "Tech Talk", technologies related to smart manufacturing will be released at the “Smart Manufacturing Session” and “Intelligent Injection Molding Session”. These include automation/robotics, micro- injection molding, digitalization and utilization of big data, manufacturing execution system(MES), 3D printing and many other hot topics.

Innovative materials and green solutions

Computers, communications, and other consumer electronic products are all becoming portable, thin and light. High-performance materials and composites have achieved breakthroughs in strength, corrosion resistance, heat resistance and antimicrobial properties. Among them, carbon fibre composites have become a "dream material" for equipment lightweighting and miniaturization, securing their widespread and diversified applications in electronics and home appliances, communications and instrumentation, etc.

Arnitel® TPE from DSM provides new camera maker Yi with better grip. The lightweight camera M1, which weighs just 280g, has received praise for its simple controls and its ease of handling. The Arnitel grip makes cameras very comfortable to hold and ensures that it does not slip in the hand when the user takes the shot. Users are taking advantage of the superior touch and feel offered by Arnitel, the fact that it does not cause skin irritation or allergies, its resistance to perspiration and to skin care oils and other liquids, and its inherent high resistance to the sun’s UV rays – as well as its ease of processing in high volumes via injection molding. Arnitel can be used in over-molded structures with other thermoplastics such as ABS and thermoplastic polyesters as well as polycarbonate. It is fully recyclable.

In addition, spray-free technology is also one of the hot spots in the plastics and rubber industries. ColorShine, a special effect metallic color series and pigments (aluminum), from AMERICHEM, INC., is colorful. Its nano encapsulation enables retention of optical properties. As well as contributing to better flow and no flow lines, which was always the main issue with the traditional metallic pigments in the past.

In addition to having outstanding antimicrobial, flame-retarding, micro-foaming and lightweight properties, renewable energy based, high-tech materials which are biodegradable, low VOCs, energy saving, low waste producing, recyclable, etc. are also gaining attention. Taizhou Sodes New Material Co., Ltd. has developed new bio-based materials using cereal fibre, bamboo fibre, coffee powder, etc., and developed and applied these bio-energy sources to other materials, such as PS, TPE, TPR, TPU, and POM. They provide not only alternate solutions to thin-walling, but can also be used in 3D printing technology, providing a wide range of applications.

The design of products like consumer electronics and home appliances is given an unprecedented amount of attention to “Color, Material and Finish” (CMF), in order to create delightful user experience. In response to the industry's need, a concurrent event "CMF Inspiration for Design x Innovation" will be organized at CHINAPLAS 2018. Audience can get all kinds of ideas for CMF design and be inspired by the unlimited possibilities of colour, materials and production processes brought by plastic technology, thus optimizing product design and enhancing product experience.

CHINAPLAS 2018 will take place on April 24 – 27, 2018 in National Exhibition & Convention Centre (NECC), Hongqiao, Shanghai, PR China, with “Smart Manufacturing”, “Innovative Materials”, and “Green Solutions” being the show focuses. This is a not to be missed chance for E&E businesses to gain access to technologies of high standards and develop smart, innovative and green solutions.

It is anticipated 4,000 well-known international suppliers will participate in CHINAPLAS 2018 in an exhibition area over 340,000sqm, including DuPont, Teijin, Toray, AKZO, JAPAN UNITIKA, Clariant, Chi Mei, DSM, BASF, Pret, Mitsui Chemicals, ICL Investment Co., Ltd., Asahi Kasei, JINYOUNG, RTP, SABIC, Samyang Corporation, Baston Ningbo, Haitian, BORCH , Yizumi, Siemens, FU CHUN SHIN, Davis-Standard Co., Ltd., Motan-Colortronic, ABB, Kuka, Fanuc, Sodick, etc.

A wide range of advanced materials, additives and processing technologies that facilitate the E&E industry to become intelligent, high-end and green, will be showcased on the fairground. Highlights include liquid silicone rubber injection molding technology, spray-free technology, antimicrobial and noise reduction materials, automatic optical inspection equipment, high-performance polyamide materials, light weight solutions, carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic resin, advanced industrial "Internet of Things" solutions, etc.

As of today, CHINAPLAS 2018 has already attracted famous companies to join this annual mega show, including Huawei, APPLE, Ecovacs, Skyworth, Midea, Gree, ZTE, Sichuan Changhong, Haier, Opple, AAC Technologies, Goertek, Joyoung, Panasonic, Lenovo, Shenzhen Senior Technology Material Co., LTD, Sanyo Energy, Delixi, Simon Electric, TE Connectivity, Foxconn, Getac Technology Group, Luxshare, Zhongda Electronics, etc.

For walk-in visitors, RMB 50 and RMB 80 will be charged for a one-day pass and a four-day pass respectively. Visitors can enjoy admission discount through online pre-registration from now till April 18, 2018, at an early-bird rate of RMB 50 for a four-day pass. To pre-register now, please visit www.ChinaplasOnline.com/prereg. For more information about CHINAPLAS 2018, please visit www.ChinaplasOnline.com.

Constantia Flexibles Group has agreed to acquire a majority shareholding in the Indian film-based laminates producer Creative Polypack Limited. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed and the transaction is expected to be completed in the coming weeks, pending regulatory approvals.

Creative Polypack Limited is family-owned and was founded in 1986. It is expected to achieve sales of about 75 million EUR in the business year 2017/2018 and currently has about 850 employees at eight production sites in Baddi, Kanpur, Kolkata, Assam and Puducherry, in northern, eastern and southern India.

Creative Polypack is India’s fourth largest flexible packaging group, manufacturing film-based flexible packaging for the food and home & personal care (HPC) industries, as well as paper-based soap wrappers. The company serves the leading domestic and international consumer goods companies in India. Creative’s senior management will remain in their current roles.

Alexander Baumgartner, Constantia Flexibles CEO: “Through this acquisition, we will become the third largest flexible packaging company in India - the fastest growing packaging market globally, with double-digit growth rates driven by the megatrend urbanization and the expansion of the retail sector. In addition, we gain a stronger footprint in the HPC market, which complements our existing customer portfolio, while we are now able to cover the whole of the Indian subcontinent with our extensive production footprint.”

Constantia Flexibles is already a leading supplier of film-based flexible packaging for the Indian market since acquiring Parikh Packaging in 2013, which is based in Ahmedabad, western India. Parikh is investing a double-digit million euro amount in a new greenfield site, which will be home to a polyethylene blown film extruder, high-definition Flexo printing press and laminators that will produce high barrier laminates that can be fully recycled. The extra capacity will come on stream in 2019.

New Delhi, 23 March 2018: Cosmo Films Limited has recently bagged the prestigious SAP HANA Visionary Award for the year 2018 for embracing the leading cloud technology and harnessing and unlocking its true potential. Cosmo Films is a leading global brand, offering value added BOPP and CPP films for packaging, labelling, lamination and Industrial applications.

The company focuses on customer centricity, employee engagement and increasing specialty sales to bolster their growth through adoption of futuristic technologies. Cosmo has decided to adopt cloud only strategy for the growth and innovation roadmap. Cloud computing plays like a catalyst in the company’s IT strategy. The leading packaging firm is steadily moving from automation to prediction and from digitization to innovation. Adopting the SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud is a step ahead in this direction.

Expressing delight over the latest achievement of the company, Mr. Jagdip Kumar, Chief Information Officer at Cosmo Films noted, “Adopting futuristic technologies like - SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud for mission critical applications and advance data processing, SAP Success Factors (HCM) for empowering and improving employee experience, Salesforce (CRM) for enhancing our customer journey has made us more agile as all the applications can be accessed anywhere, anytime via mobile devices. This is helping Cosmo achieve operational excellence and standout as market leader”.

Cosmo’s steps towards embracing such technologies like machine learning, predictive analytics, artificial intelligence, and Internet of Things (IOT) needs the most reliable cloud computing landscape. With this vision and roadmap in place, Cosmo Films has been honoured with “Visionary- Mid Market” by Mr. DebDeep Sengupta, President and MD, SAP India and Subcontinent.