The rapid economic development and the upgrade of living standard generate the demands for product packaging market. The diversity of needs among different end-users has also brought enormous business opportunities to packaging industry.

“The 24th China International Exhibition on Packaging Machinery & Materials” (Sino-Pack 2017) and “The China (Guangzhou) International Exhibition on Packaging Products” (PACKINNO 2017) will once again locate at Area B, China Import and Export Fair Complex, Guangzhou, PR China on 1- 3 March 2017. Over the past two decades, the fairs have been becoming the industry’s ideal sourcing and information exchange platform. Not only has it provided one-stop packaging solutions for industry buyers, but also effectively brought brand building and business development opportunities for exhibitors.

Innovative Technology as Spotlight

Technological innovation is often a crucial driving force to industrial advancement. while the ability to catch up with the newest production technology is one of the keys to corporate success. Each year, the organizer Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd keeps the fair abreast of the latest market trends and gathers the state-of- the-art equipment which attracted substantial buyers’ interests.

Food and Daily Chemical Products Packaging account for a large proportion of packaging industry. Along with the aggressive growth in the industry, there is an unabated demand for Primary and Secondary Packaging Machines. For Primary packaging machine, it includes Sealing Machines, Wrapping Machines, Vacuum Packaging Machines, Aseptic Packaging Machine, Forming, Filling & Sealing Machines, etc. For Secondary packaging machine, it includes Palletizers, Strapping Machines, Boxing Machines, Shrink Wrapping Machines, Labeling Machines, Automatic Box Filling Machines, etc.

Exclusive New Products at Sino-Pack / PACKINNO

To catch up with the latest trend of packaging industry, the organizer has gathered the newest machines at Sino-Pack and PACKINNO 2017 for buyers, some of them are as below:

Dase-Sing Packaging Technology Co., Ltd. (Booth No. 12.1B15)

Exclusive New Products: Auto Shrinkable Label Inserting Machine i-sleeve ProII

This product has excellent high-speed stability. Thinner membrane could be used with this machine while increasing the speed at the same time, which significantly reduces the cost. Matching with a variety of steam stove, rack and bottom of the package connection can achieve the function of recycle steam system. Also it extends the refueling time, reduces the energyconsumption and improves production efficiency. Its set of standard speed is 1000BPM, which is the fastest set of standard speed in China; the film with 20μm thickness could also save 20% to 30% of the labeling cost.

CHINAPLAS’ exciting concurrent events, in which industrial giants share their experiences and attendees gain insights into industrial trends, have always been the highlight of the trade fair, and well received by exhibitors and visitors alike.

CHINAPLAS 2017 will be held in Guangzhou from May 16 -19. Not only will more than 3,300 exhibitors introduce innovative solutions for the plastics and rubber industries, but also will the organizer hold a wealth of concurrent events to meet the industry’s multiple needs.

Focusing on the theme of “Intelligent Manufacturing, High-tech Materials, Green Solutions”, the organizer of CHINAPLAS, Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd., will administrate three big concurrent events during the exhibition: the 2 nd “Industry 4.0 Conference”, “Design x Innovation”, and the “3 rd Medical Plastics Conference”. Visitors can expect to grasp the cutting-edge technologies and inspiring case studies in these events, allowing them to hop on the bandwagon and understand market dynamics from multiple dimensions, explore more valuable opportunities for collaborations and expand networks to facilitate development.

Industry 4.0 is the prime focus

China has quickly become the world’s second largest national economy, and labour costs have risen sharply. It is no longer a low-wage cost country – all kinds of cost pressures force businesses to opt for more automation equipment and advanced technology in the production processes.

According to Mr. Stanley Chu, Chairman, Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd., China is still a developing country, and has not yet fulfilled the necessary conditions for industrial 4.0.

“Only a few companies are making use of networking production technologies. Industry 4.0 is still a vision for many Chinese companies, but an attainable one, andattainable in the foreseeable future, if it is desired that something be done to cope with cost pressures.” It is to this end that CHINAPLAS 2017 gives Industry 4.0 top priority.

The 2 nd Industry 4.0 Conference, presented with the support from VDMA, the German Engineering Federation, will be held in the afternoon of May 16, in the morning of May 17 and in the afternoon of May 18, 2017, in Conference Room 1, Level C, Zone B, China Import & Export Fair Complex, Pazhou. As a “signature dish” dedicated to visitors, the conference will provide practical and operational solutions for enterprises targeting urgent manufacturing upgrade. Industry 4.0 will eventually move towards the direction of customized, small batch production, which are also the characteristics of additive manufacturing (3D printing) technology which meet the demands for the development of more personalized products. This is the long-term goal of Industry 4.0.

At the 1 st edition of Industry 4.0 Conference, Arburg introduced the technology of additive manufacturing, which will be presented again at the sequel in greater depth and breadth. The Industry 4.0 Conference held last year not only brought together world renowned enterprises such as Arburg, KraussMaffei, Engel, Wittmann Battenfeld, Beckhoff, Volkswagen AG, Haier, and SAP to give presentations, but also attracted nearly 600 local and overseas professionals, who were generally satisfied, and looked forward to more case studies of Industry 4.0, which, combined with their own businesses, would promote the intelligentization of their factories, enhancing production efficiency, improving product quality and achieving lean production status. “The Industry 4.0 Conference was well received by members of the Association, and the delegates agreed that there was quite some useful details,” commented by the Anhui Plastics Industry Association. “We realized that Industry 4.0 is not an achievement overnight, but systems engineering of long-term hard work and perseverance in integrating theory and practice.”

Furthermore, the Smart Manufacturing Technology Zone, a showcase of cutting-edge automation technologies, will provide a boost to the movement from “Made in China” to “Smartly Made in China.”

“Design x Innovation” enlightens the upstream and downstream sectors

Enterprise transformation and upgrading calls for industrial design innovation. Since its inception, “Design x Innovation” has attracted a lot of attention. As visitors’ needs get more sophisticated, the event itself gets more vibrant – “Innovation Gallery”, “Open Forum”, “Meet the Designers” are the programs which introduce success stories of innovative industrial designs to visitors, who gain inspirations on application of new materials and at the same time discuss and exchange solutions face-to- face, further creating value.

At the “Design x Innovation” event in 2016, the “Innovation Gallery” showcased a wide range of creative products for use in everyday life, for example, in the stadium, and at transportation hubs, among which the e-floater received great attention. This solar-powered electric scooter could help solve the “Last Mile” problem when applied to short-distance travel in the city. 80% of its materials come from BASF composites and plastics, thereby reducing weight and increasing flexibility in design.

On the other hand, innovative products such as Elastopave® permeable pavement, Running track with ETPU+EPDM composite, artificial turf, air fryer, Volvo integrated leather PU engine sound absorbing decorative covering and other innovative products have left visitors deeply impressed.

In addition, nearly 400 professionals also participated in five “Open Forum” sessions, “tasting” the “delicious chicken soup” prepared by 16 “heavyweight” speakers.

“Plastics, especially new materials, continue to emerge, providing enormous help to the designing process,” remarked one of the speakers, Mr. Lian Zhen, General Manager of LKK Design Co., Ltd., Shanghai, in the interview after his presentation.

“During its many years of development, plastics have been inspiring and providing an increasing number of possibilities of designs, including innovations in the upstream and downstream industries, which focus on plastics and injection, and have enriched our imagination, realizing creative ideas that once could only be dreamt but not tried.”

“The ‘Design x Innovation’ open forum is a relatively new format, allowing exchangesbetween creative designers and technical personnel, through which different sectors manage to understand each other's needs and demands, and leads to better co- operation. I learned a lot from them.”

“Meet the Designers” provided more opportunities for interaction and cooperation between industrial designers and end-users. Many acclaimed designers were present. Experienced industrial designers and user enterprises looking for product design came into direct communication, enlightening each other, answering questions and discussing cooperation possibilities concerning product designs. What wonders is “Design x innovation” 2017 going to bring to the industry? Stay tuned!

The 3 rd Medical Plastics Conference helps hunters uncover treasures from this sunrise industry

The growing demand for medical devices by the huge population in recent years, the rise of emerging markets and the ageing society is triggering a renewed growth of the medical device market.

China’s healthcare industry is at a stage of abundant potentials, but is at the same time having a low level of technology, prompting manufacturers to find adaptive solutions to existing production lines and cost pressures. New and better materials are the key to the future development of medical enterprises.

The concurrent event Medical Plastics Conference has been held successfully in the past two years, receiving very positive feedbacks from the industry. “At the Medical Plastics Conference, the technical experts shared the state-of- the-art technology of the industry and analyzed development direction of medical applications and solutions,” praised Shanghai Medical Device Industry Association. “At the same time, processing technology related to the production of precision medical polymer was introduced, offering enterprises knowledge of new materials and direction of development.”

The 2 nd Medical Plastics Conference lasted two days, attracting 600 professional visitors. Topics covered: the latest medical polymer materials, 3D printing in clinical and surgical model applications, medical laws and regulations, as well as applicationof surgical models. For instance, Shanghai MicroPort Medical (Group) Co., Ltd. introduced the technology of precision medical polymer tube for invasive medical device, and Wego Holding Co., Ltd. explained the opportunities and challenges of biomedical polymers development in China under the “new normal”. Attendees included delegates from 3M China, GE Medical, Poppelmann, UEG medical, Touren, GM, Renolit, Suzhou Baxter medical and other major enterprises.

The 3 rd Medical Plastics Conference, to be held in the afternoon of May 17 and in the morning of May 18, 2017 in Conference Room 1, Level C, Zone B, will bring together the upstream and downstream sectors of the industry to discuss the latest applications of medical plastics and cutting-edge production technology.

The conference will also be concurrent with a showcase gallery which focuses on exhibitors’ medical products of all types in order to help visitors quickly spot their targets among the massive amount exhibits.

CHINAPLAS 2017 will be held at the China Import & Export Fair Complex, Pazhou, Guangzhou, PR China on May 16 – 19, 2017. The admission fee is RMB 30 (one day pass) and RMB 50 (four-day pass). To enjoy free admission, please visit www.ChinaplasOnline.com/prereg to pre-register before May 9, 2017. Visitors successfully pre-register before March 1, 2017 will receive the visitor badge by mail in advance.

05 December 2016: UV offset printing on non-absorptive surfaces is getting popular by the days. It gives an ultimate packaging solution for Board Lamination and Decorative Printing. The daunting challenge in this segment however remains the availability of right kind of substrate where direct printing can be done without any primer/ treatment.

Let’s try to understand this, a little better. Liquids do not wet surfaces with free energies lower than their surface tension. On the contrary an extremely high surface free energy as compared to the surface tension of the ink will also result in poor wetting and adhesion. Therefore according to printing industry experts, for best wetting and ink adhesion on to non-absorptive surfaces the ‘dyne level’ or the surface free energy of the substrate should be about 10 dynes above the surface tension of the ink.

Unfortunately many polymeric substrates have too low surface energy required for good printing and ink adhesion and therefore the substrate has to be remedially modified in order to make it printable.

This modification is usually done with an adjustable corona treatment or by applying a suitable primer coating. Corona treatment is fast and relatively inexpensive, but surface dyne levels are susceptible to loss or decay during prolonged storage and upon contact with some fountain solutions. Precautions must be taken to obtain a uniform dyne level that is not too high. Corona treatments can at times also dramatically increase troublesome static charges in the material treated. Therefore to avoid this, primer coatings that adhere to both the substrate and to the subsequently applied inks areused. This as one could well imagine is an elaborate and time consuming process that has been posing further challenges for the convertors.

With this problem statement at hand, India’s largest multinational flexible packaging materials and Solution Company Uflex Limited has engineered a speciality polyester film F-UVC film which is suitable for direct UV offset printing without requiring any primer/ treatment. The film is available in both bare transparent and metallized variants, where the un-metallized side is used for UV offset printing and UV curing. The metallized polyester film i.e. FLEXMETPROTECT TM (F- UVC-M) is available in optical density ranging from 1.4 to 2.2. The wide range of optical densities gives choice to customer to use the product for diverse range of applications. The metal bond between the metal and the film is 130-180 gms/25mm.

There are several benefits of Direct UV Offset Printable PET Film:

(a) It is suitable for direct surface printing without primer/ corona treatment;

(b) The lead time is minimum at convertors’ end;

(c) Yields excellent print results, high gloss and clarity with high quality resolution for pictures and half tone jobs with good scuffing resistance;

(d) It is suitable for high speed machines and is versatile, tear proof and crack resistant;

(e) It offers excellent smoothness, flatness and ink adhesion.

Mr. J.K. Sharma, AGM, Technical Service and New Product Development (Films), Uflex Limited highlighting the benefits of the Direct UV Offset Printable PET Film said, “Primer coating for rendering the films printable is a cumbersome and time consuming exercise at the Convertors’ end. The coating machine is a big capital investment in itself. Therefore with this new innovation by Uflex, the convertors can heave a sigh of relief. Not only does the film increase operational efficiencies of convertors but also restricts their capital expenditure.”

Talking about this new speciality film, Mr. Pramod Sirsamkar, President – Technical & New Product Development (Films), Uflex Limited said, “This is a great product for UV curable offset printing giving excellent scuff resistance, adding value for both the customer and the end user. The demand for this film is very encouraging.”

Mr. Ashok Chaturvedi, Chairman and Managing Director, Uflex Limited expressing delight at the new launch said, “Our feedback loop in the global market is very strong. We are always in touch with our clients globally and are promptly responsive to their needs. Convertors had been facing difficulties with primer coating of the films as it takes a lot of time. This had been impeding their productivity. I am happy that the team at Uflex addressed the pain point of convertors by engineering the UV Offset Printable PET Film, which now permits surface printing without any treatment.”

Partnership with CTGA and Asahi Photoproducts contributed to win, increasing quality and sustainability

Tokyo, Japan & Brussels, Belgium, 01 December 2016 – Asahi Photoproducts, a pioneer in flexographic photopolymer plate development, today reported that Orange County based Label Impressions took home the top prize in the Flexography – Line & Screen, Tone/Prime category at the recent 2016 TLMI Annual Label Awards competition, held October 16 th through 19 th at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida. The company had recently completed several upgrades to improve its quality, sustainability and profitability in line with emerging industry trends.

“This recognition validates our investment decisions,” said Jeff Salisbury, CEO. “We have moved to a new 30,000-square- foot facility with electrical and landscaping upgrades that improved our efficiency and sustainability. We have been using Asahi TOP TM Premium flexo solvent-wash plates with Pinning Technology for Clean Transfer, which was a significant contributor to our ability to achieve this prestigious award. Our thanks go to Correct-Touch Graphic Arts (CTGA) and Asahi Photoproducts for their partnership and support.” Salisbury reports that Asahi and CTGA have been important partners as the company reconfigures its business. Both, quality and throughput were improved by the Asahi TOP TM Premium plates, making this award possible.

After a recent installation of a new Asahi AWP TM 230W Water Wash Plate Making System, the company also expects to reduce VOC’s by 85%, setting a new milestone for Label Impressions in terms of quality and environmental sustainability. “In addition,” he added, “gray water from the water wash system will be used to drip irrigate our landscaping, important in California where water is precious and conservation is a must.”

The winning label printed with TOP TM featured high-resolution graphics as well as small type that needed to be extremely legible to comply with regulations and ensure brand integrity. “Our congratulations go out to Label Impressions and our distributor, CTGA, for this honour,” said Dieter Niederstadt, Technical Marketing Manager atAsahi Photoproducts. “We are pleased to be able to support our customers, helping them to stay ahead of the game and maintain a competitive advantage while also being considerate of the environment. Label Impressions is a great example of this partnership at work.”

Reston, Va.; Nov. 17, 2016 — On the 60th Anniversary of its debut, PACK EXPO International and the co-located Pharma EXPO served as the world’s largest and most comprehensive processing and packaging show in 2016.

Show owner and producer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, reported that PACK EXPO International and Pharma EXPO 2016 was the largest show in the history of PACK EXPO. A record breaking 2,512 exhibitors spread over an unprecedented 1.25 million net square feet of exhibit space welcomed more than 47,000 targeted buyers.

“Exhibitors reported that not only were leads up, but the quality of the attendees continues to grow,” says Jim Pittas, sr. vice president of PMMI. “A full audit of the event will be forthcoming, but all initial reports from exhibitors and attendees clearly show PACK EXPO International and Pharma EXPO 2016 was an overwhelming success.”

Long-time exhibitor and Fortune 500 mainstay Sealed Air, Charlotte, North Carolina, supported the anecdotal evidence, calling 2016 one of its finest PACK EXPO events.

“Our senior management has been talking this year's show up for months and, with lots of self-driven planning and promotions, it was one of the best we've ever had,” says Jenn Grubenstetter, executive director of Global Communications/Product Care for Sealed Air. “We secured an average of 200 organic leads per day in addition to hosting 350 customers and channel partners for pre-scheduled meetings.”

The buzz on the McCormick Place show floor also confirmed that exhibitors and attendees from companies of all sizes found a rewarding, and some claim unparalleled, experience at the four-day event.

“This PACK EXPO International was our best show yet,” says Virginia Price, CEO and founder of exhibitor Planet CanIt, Highland Park, Illinois. “We are always excited when we have the opportunity to meet manufacturers seeking a high-end packaging solution. At this show, we [saw] top-level executives, marketers and package designers for brands across the food, toy, personal care and other industries we serve.”

Exhibitors and exhibit space were not the only records broken. In no previous year has PACK EXPO received as many endorsements as this year with the largest ever Partner Program including 31 associations. International pavilion organizers came from all corners of the globe, including Argentina, Bavaria, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Taiwan.

Long-time attendee Preston Jackson, shipping supervisor for LECO Corporation, St. Joseph, Michigan appreciates that a show as large as PACK EXPO offers opportunities for everyone.

“We are a small manufacturing company looking for big ideas and came to the show specifically for sealers for a low-volume project,” Jackson says. “Even being a small company we have been able to find solutions at PACK EXPO.”

The education offerings for PACK EXPO were also the largest in the history of the PACK EXPO portfolio of trade shows. The three Innovation Stages at PACK EXPO and one at Pharma EXPO offered free on-floor education, while The Pharma EXPO Conference Program, produced by International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering, (ISPE) provided three topic tracks covering manufacturing operations, compliance trends and pharmaceutical packaging.

One particularly well-received new addition to PACK EXPO International’s long list of convenience-enhancing features was the NextGEN Networking Fair, the event that connected both supplier companies and consumer goods manufacturers with student talent in the Education and Workforce Development Pavilion. Fourteen teams of students from 10 partner schools also participated in the Amazing Packaging Race, sponsored by ASCO. A team made up of undergrads from Indiana State University, Cal Poly, Virginia Tech and Rutgers University took home iPads for finishing first in the seventh annual competition. ASCO also awarded $5,000 academic scholarships to Nathaniel Weger, a junior at the University of Iowa, and Quinnlan Sweeney, a junior at Clemson University.

As if the show, the educational opportunities and networking weren’t enough, PMMI hosted the 6th annual PACK gives BACK™ featuring the magic and comedy act of Penn and Teller. The sold-out event, sponsored by co-title sponsors Rockwell Automation and DuPont and Bronze sponsor Massman Automation Designs, LLC, had over 1,400 attendees. A portion of the proceeds will benefit No Greater Sacrifice (NGS), a nonprofit organization providing educational scholarships to the children of wounded and fallen military.

“We took the band Chicago to Las Vegas last year so we thought we should bring a little Las Vegas to Chicago this year and raised money for a great cause,” says Jim Pittas. “Thank you to the sponsors and all those who attended and donated to NGS.”

• Dr. Markus Heering is a guest at the Annual Conference of the US American NPES printing equipment association in Florida
• The VDMA Printing and Paper Technology Association and the NPES cooperate in the fields of market research, norms & standards and share information on technological developments in the printing industry

Marco Island, Florida/USA, 16 November 2016 – On the occasion of the Annual Conference of the US American NPES (Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies) in Florida, Dr. Markus Heering, Managing Director of the VDMA Printing and Paper Technology Association, and NPES President Thayer Long continued the dialogue between their associations. Both announced that the ongoing cooperation in the field of international market research would render first results very soon. “At the moment, we are carrying out a joint study of the global packaging printing market,” explained Heering, adding that its results would be made available to the member companies of both associations. Long and Heering affirmed that they will continue the transatlantic cooperation of their two associations regardless of the result of the presidential elections. “We will continue to bolster better political, legal and economic framework conditions in the best interest of our member companies,“ said Long, stressing the importance of agreements about joint norms and standards especially considering the digital networking of printing processes and the growing use of digital printing methods.

Joint approaches for training, market research and technology

The VDMA Printing and Paper Technology Association and the NPES share information on the content of basic and advanced training in the increasingly digital environment. “We can learn from each other – and, in some cases,also prevent that our industry reinvents the wheel two or even more times,” Heering said, explaining that, as a long-term objective, he hopes for joint industrial standards for digital networking, harmonized qualification as well as broad market research that can profit from the assessments and experience made on both sides.

Whether and to which extent their cooperation will be embedded into a strong TTIP agreement, for which the VDMA and the NPES have advocated unabatedly again and again, is uncertain. “Our associations are in agreement that we do not wish to abandon the bonds of cooperation we have established,” said Heering, emphasizing that it would be even better if, in the end, the TTIP transatlantic free trade and investment partnership came into being. “The NPES and the VDMA remain convinced that the harmonization of international standards is a key tool to boost transatlantic trade,” says Long, adding that the machinery manufacturing industry on both sides would profit.

…..new design software helps Ardagh to create the perfect citrus

What feels like a citrus, tastes like a citrus, and is immaculately sculpted to look like a citrus? Not a prize winning piece of art, but, thanks to a creative partnership between the UK's oldest, , family- owned jam and marmalade company Duerr's, and leading glass packaging company Ardagh, a striking new jar that is also perfect to reuse.

Ardagh’s designers were given a specific brief by Duerr’s Managing Director, Mark Duerr, to develop a totally unique jar that looked like, and had the feel of citrus fruit. He provided an image showing what he had in mind, and trusted the long-standing relationship between the two companies to deliver the desired impact .

Sales and Marketing Director, Richard Duerr says: “The shape and format of preserve jars hasn’t changed for a long time – consumer research told us that we needed to do something to shake up the category and appeal to a younger consumer.”

What on paper sounded a fairly straightforward project was in fact full of technical challenges. To create a stunning and tactile “citrus” jar to the right size and scale, and replicate the peel effect. The Ardagh design team had to find the perfect balance between meeting the aesthetic expectations of the customer, the practicalities of volume production and the need for outstanding shelf presence.

Through a combination of 3D printing, Prototyping and CAD sculptured embossing, the project evolved through numerous iterative development stages. Clear models (Perspex) were produced as part of this process to replicate what the finished glass jar would look like, specifically in relation to the peel effect on the surface.

A critical tool in achieving the all-important peel effect was sculptured embossing. This advanced design software uses a haptic device, which gives the designer hands-on control to manually sculpt the most intricate and real-life effects on the surface of the container. In this case, the peel of the orange, in glass. A further decision had to be taken about the labelling, which for all previous Duerr’s products had used conventional paper labels. In this instance, as conventional labels would crease over the jar’s spherical surface, a full body shrink label was chosen.

The Fine Cut Sunny Seville and the Thick Cut Classic Seville launched in-store in October 2016, and comes complete with the Easy-Open ORBIT™ caps that have long been a feature on Duerr’s products, plus an easy peel label encouraging post-use collector appeal.

Richard Duerr, says: “The range is packed full of the freshest, juiciest fruit, with natural, simple ingredients. The new packaging will totally transform the fixture, with shoppers already saying they can’t wait to use the jars as anything from candle holders to cocktail glasses once the contents have all been enjoyed!”

Duerr’s Fine Cut Sunny Seville and Thick Cut Classic Seville are available in Tesco stores now RRP: £1.99 and Duerr’s citrus conserves will follow in 2017 RRP: £2.29.

........... new metal packaging service converts 2D artwork into 3D packaging models and reduces journey time to market

Information

As a world leading metal packaging company, Ardagh is constantly exploring faster routes to market for its customers.

Its latest innovation, a free design service that enables its customers to convert 2D artwork into 3D models, is streamlining a process that can often cause inconvenient and costly delays when developing new packaging designs or making modifications to existing packaging.

Ardagh’s new online 3D Studio service is user friendly and free of charge for Ardagh customers. Without having to invest in additional 3D design software, design or packaging development departments can download a 3D model including their artwork from the 3D studio within a matter of minutes. Ardagh’s main product portfolio has been made available in the 3D library and new formats are added continuously.

The ability to visualise artwork in the form of a 3D model at the very early stage of the packaging development will facilitate discussions with marketing and production colleagues, resulting in a much swifter decision making process.

“Delays at the early stage of any new development can be avoided by various departments having access to a 3D visualisation of shape, shelf appeal or functionality of a design”, explains Martin de Olde, Marketing Manager Metal Europe at Ardagh’s Food & Speciality division.

He adds: “With Ardagh’s 3D Studio you can access 24/7 and in real-time as many versions of a design as you want at the touch of a button. This represents a very powerful tool in anydiscussion with colleagues and markets, with potentially significant savings on launch timelines.”

AMI, Bristol, November 2016 - Specialist plastics research consultancy AMI has released the programme for the 10th anniversary edition of BOPP Film, the only conference dedicated to the interests of the global BOPP industry.

Held every two years, the 2017 event will take place in the U.S. for the first time on 27-29 March 2017 at the Ft. Lauderdale Marriott Coral Springs Golf Resort in Coral Springs, Florida. Over two days, delegates will have the opportunity discover the latest developments in raw materials and film technology for BOPP film manufacture as well as gain unrivalled insight into how the global business is changing and the opportunities this offers.

The event will open with a market overview session including an AMI presentation on market growth and opportunities for the BOPP industry, together with Sealed Air offering the consumer’s perspective on the packaging industry and Vitopel bringing insights on trends and innovations from Latin America.

The advanced materials session features a number of leading raw materials suppliers including Shantou Best Science & Technology, Ineos and ExxonMobil exploring the latest developments in resin, masterbatch and additives for high performance BOPP film production. Meanwhile, Brückner Servtec, Kuhne Anlagenbau and Goebel Schneid-und Wickelsystem will provide updates on manufacturing technologies for efficient, enhanced film processing.

With growing demand for speciality films, the technical developments session focuses on added value opportunities in high barrier films, coatings and new applications in labelling. These topics and more will be examined by expert speakers from Davis Standard, Applied Materials Web Coating and the Cobro-Packaging Research Institute amongst others.

The business forum will give an insight into the external forces acting on the BOPP market, with a presentation from Ernst & Young on macroeconomic trends and mergers and acquisitions, and Mondelez giving a brand’s eye view of BOPP and flexible packaging trends.

In addition to delivering quality papers, BOPP 2017 also offers superb and cost-effective networking opportunities with its extensive table top exhibition area.

Systech Instruments (UK) and Illinois Instruments (USA), experts of gas analysis instruments have launched their redesigned website, www.systechillinois.com.

The newly designed website is fully responsive on all devices – mobile, tablet and computer and showcases their extensive range, which includes: oxygen analysers and moisture analysers for the process industries; gas flushing of food and headspace gas analysers for the food and pharmaceutical industries; and oxygen permeation and water vapour permeation analysers for the packaging industries.

Visitors to the website will find products and information easy to find with user-friendly advanced search functions. Resources such as product brochures, case studies and technology notes are accessible to download as pdf files or to read online and demonstration videos are available for key products. Customers and distributors will find useful support areas offering technical data and services.

Beth Faulkner, Marketing Manager at Systech Illinois says, ‘I am pleased to announce the launch of the Systech Illinois website, which is a great resource tool offering customers and distributors access to expert knowledge and information about our products and services in an easy-to-use way. The website project has been based on fulfilling our customers’ needs and their invaluable feedback.’

In addition to manufacturing operations in the UK and US, Systech Illinois have sales and support facilities in China and Thailand and dedicated representatives worldwide.

Ardagh came out as one of the main winners in the prestigious international 2016 Canmaker Cans of the Year awards with two category gold medals and two silver medals. The feature that is common to all four successes is packaging innovation targeted at maximising customer benefits and consumer convenience.

A patented threaded screw top finish, designed for on the go consumption on the reclosable 250ml aluminium bottle for the Coca Cola Zero and Diet Coke brands earned Ardagh Gold in the coveted Bottle category. This feature also allows The Coca Cola Company to gain maximum efficiencies by filling its products on standard glass bottling lines using market standard closures.

Gold was also gained for Ardagh’s unique metal microwaveable fondue bowl for Emmi, one of Europe’s most innovative premium dairy producers, in the Food Two-Piece category. The drawn tinplate 400g can with its Easy Peel® convenient lid system provides additional consumer convenience and shelf life. The judges were particularly impressed by the collaborative involvement of packaging students from the University of Twente in this project.

A welded tinplate pillar shaped can formed through a process called “mechanical expansion” for the launch by Mead Johnson of its Enfinitas infant nutrition product picked up silver in the Food Three-Piece Sector. Silver was also awarded to the three-piece weldedtinplate pail for Akzo Sikkens paints and coating, incorporating Ardagh’s SpRing Latch® pail closure and re-closure system for increasing production line efficiency at minimum cost.

“We are very dedicated to provide added value packaging solutions for our customers, and to receive such accolades for some of our most innovative products is a much appreciated reward,” said Ardagh’s Woep Möller, CEO Food & Speciality, Metal Europe.

The development of daily chemical products generates the packaging demands. To cope with the market trend, daily chemical products packaging will become the focus of “The 24th China International Exhibition on Packaging Machinery & Materials” (Sino-Pack 2017) and “The China (Guangzhou) International Exhibition on Packaging Products” (PACKINNO 2017), which will be held in March 2017.

Daily chemical products refer to shampoo, body wash, skin-care product, conmestic, etc., in which conmestic,has the greatest business potential.

Transparency Market Research (TMR) from United States estimated that the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of the global cosmetic packaging market will reach a 4.4% over the period between 2016 and 2024. The market value will rise from US$23 billion in 2015 to US$33 billion by 2024. In terms of geography, the cosmetic packaging in Asia Pacific market is expected to account for 32.5% out of the global market in 2016.

25% Growth in China Daily Chemical Industry

The development of China economy and its large population base determine the advantages for the daily chemical industry. With the 25% annual growth rate, China has become a significant country in manufacturing and consuming daily chemical products. Therefore, enterprises actively engage in product development, packaging design and promotion in order to attract more end users.

According to the increasing market demands, the organizer “Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd.” will hold 2 packaging shows namely “Sino-Pack 2017” and “PACKINNO 2017” at Area B, China Import and Export Fair Complex, Guangzhou, PR China from 1-3 March 2017. The shows aim to provide a one-stop trade platform to buyers by showcasing innovative packaging machinery and products. Meanwhile, exhibitors will also display the latest equipment and materials in the industry to facilitate business deals.

Pre-Register to Win Hotel Accommodation

To encourage visitors to pre-register for the shows, a Monthly Lucky Draw has been launched. Visitors who completed the online pre-registration process will be entitled to participate in a Monthly Lucky Draw which will be held for 3 consecutive months (November & December 2016, January 2017). ONE lucky winner will be drawn per month and be awarded ONE twin room for 2-night hotel accommodation in Guangzhou during the Show period, March 1 – 3, 2017. Visitors are recommended to pre-register now at www.chinasinopack.com or www.packinno.com to enjoy additional privileges.

Exhibitors Highligths:

The RMD Series produced by GSK CNC Equipment Co., Ltd. specialize in its speed and strong carrying capacity. It can be applied in different shapes and sizes of packaging goods. The machine is widely used in production line transportation, disassembly and placement of the drinking, dairy industry, food, petrifaction, medicine, rice and feeding, etc.

Qingdao yilong packaging machinery co., LTD

will exhibit the Bag Packaging Machine, which can pack different styles of bag, ranging from flat bag, stand-up bag to side spout bag, and so on. It can match with different dosing system packing including solid, liquid, granule, powder, etc.

Huituo Technology

will showcase its Servo Intelligent Capping Machine SPM series. Its maximum speed reached 200BPM with intelligent control torque value and flexible capping.

10 November 2016, Noida: Ghee or clarified butter is an unmistakably important condiment of South Asian cuisine. Conventionally ghee has been marketed in poly- pouched pillow packs, cartons or tin cans. These types of packaging are functionally not very user-friendly and are thus losing out on both pace and steam in the modern retail arena. Poly pouches are surface printed and pose a chronic problem of ink smearing during handling in the supply chain. The strength and barrier properties of the poly pouch structure itself are poor let alone the machinability of the laminate/ pouch on the filling lines. End users often find it difficult to retrieve the product packed in poly- pouched pillow packs, cartons and tins.

To alleviate all these problems, India’s largest multinational flexible packaging materials and Solution Company Uflex Limited has recently launched ‘Profile Pouch for Liquids with Sonically Sealed Spout’ in India and offered it to Paras Dairy for packing its ghee (clarified butter). The laminate of the pouch engineered at Uflex’s packaging plant at Noida is a three ply structure comprising Isotropic PET/ Isotropic PET/ Co-ex Nylon Polyethylene (PE). Two transparent Isotropic polyester layers provide excellent mechanicals to the laminate that are required to withstand harsh supply chain conditions. Co-ex Nylon PE is considered to be one of the finest sealant layers imparting superior mechanical strength to the laminate in terms of elongation and impact resistance besides also preventing pin-holes and cracks in the final laminate structure. The Profile Pouch for Liquids with Sonically Sealed Spout conforms with the ASTM International Standards for Measuring the Damage Resistance of a Fibre- Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composite to a Drop-Weight Impact Event.

The three ply structure has been especially engineered to optimize the OTR and WVTR for extending the shelf life of the product packed. O 2 is known to spoil the taste of ghee (clarified butter) therefore it is absolutely important to bar oxygen from entering the pouch. Since water is immiscible with ghee, a high barrier against water vapour is not really required for this type of product.

The designed OTR for the ghee pouch is less than 60 cm 3 /m 2 /day under 0%R.H at 23 degrees Celsius; while the WVTR is less than 5 gm/m 2 /day under 90%R.H. at 37.8 degrees Celsius. The conventional poly-pouched pillow packs do not provide adequate barrier from oxygen thereby making the packed ghee (clarified butter) vulnerable to drastic taste change.

The major differentiator in this pack lies in its dispensing mechanism. Conventionally, spouts are heat seal welded to the pouches often resulting in leakage and polymer degeneration, but in this case at Uflex, sound waves at a very high frequency aregenerated and passed between the spout surface and the laminate. These high frequency waves vibrate the molecules of both PE layer of the laminate and that of the spout surface enabling a strong leak-proof seal.

The laminate is reverse printed in high definition (HD) using the rotogravure technology eliminating any possibility of ink smearing / bleeding as encountered in the surface printed poly pouched pillow packs. This renders a high finish to the spout pouch with visually stimulating and outstanding aesthetics. A specially designed bottom gusset has been provisioned for allowing the pouch to stand up on the retail shelf tremendously enhancing its visibility in an already inundated supermarket.

To impart infallible brand protection, a 3D holographic stamp (unique to Uflex) is sandwiched between the two transparent Isotropic polyester layers making the pack counterfeit-proof and assuring the end users of a product that upholds utmost standards of quality. The sandwiched holographic stamp is not susceptible to any rupture by scratching or rough handling in the supply chain. It is next to impossible to body-double or reproduce the 3D hologram created by Uflex owing to the technology involved.

Keeping in mind the pouch integrity and functional ease for the end users, Uflex has fitted a Tamper Locked Spout to the pack. The cap is inter-locked with the shoulder of the spout and this lock is broken when the cap is opened for the first time, ensuring an absolutely tamper-proof pouch. The spout has been internally designed to ensure that the entire product is easily accessed by gently squeezing the pouch. This profile pouch has hourglass contours that further facilitate a firm and handy grip for easy handling and pouring the packed product.

Speaking about the latest launch, Mr. Jeevaraj Pillai, Joint President, Packaging and New Product Development, Uflex Limited said, “This first of its kind Profile Pouch with Sonically Sealed Spout offered to Paras Dairy for packing its Desi Ghee (clarified butter) is currently in the process of reaching the market. Talks are on with some of the popular F&B companies of India for offering similar customised packaging solutions for juices, drinks, milk, dairy products etc. Structural alterations to the laminate (depending upon the barrier properties required by the product to be packed) are quite possible. We also plan to supply this packaging solution to the overseas market in the times to come.

We being a fully integrated end to end global flexible packaging solution provider have also manufactured the Pick-Fill & Seal (PFS) machine required for filling and sealing the product in the pouch. The PFS machine that we have manufactured for Paras Dairy at our Engineering Plant in Noida for packing ghee in the Profile Pouch with Sonically Sealed Spout operates at a speed of 35 pouches/ minute. It is fascinating to note that the already existing filling machines can be slightly modified without prohibitive capital expenditure in order to entertain the Profile Pouches for Liquids with Sonically Sealed Spouts.”

Expressing delight upon successfully launching the Profile Pouch for Liquids with Sonically Sealed Spout, Mr. Ashok Chaturvedi, Chairman and Managing Director, Uflex Limited said, “I am so pleased to offer this unique packaging solution to Paras in its Golden Jubilee year, making it all the more special. Our motto of innovation to create value added differentiation is perfectly exemplified with this offering which is quite superior and unique in terms of enhanced aesthetics; unparalleled functionality; high barrier properties and impeccable anti-counterfeiting features.”

McCormick Place, Chicago; Nov. 06, 2016 — The value of domestic shipments of packaging machinery is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.4 percent reaching $8.5 billion in 2020, according to PACK EXPO owner and producer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. More than half of this growth is expected to come from the food and beverage sector.

The report also notes the value of domestic shipments of U.S.-produced machinery rose 0.3 percent to $7.51 billion in 2015. Exports of packaging machinery in 2015 increased by 3.2 percent, compared to 2014 and are now $1.1B. Backlog orders of packaging machinery grew by 14.1 percent compared to backlog orders at the end of 2014.

PMMI released the findings of its 2016 State of the Industry U.S. Packaging Machinery Report this morning at a press briefing conducted on-site at PACK EXPO International and Pharma EXPO 2016.

PMMI produces the State of the Industry study based on U.S. Census Bureau reports and shipments data provided by association members who manufacture packaging machinery. The report, which analyzes 28 packaging machinery categories, describes trends and the outlook for packaging machinery shipments through 2020.

According to the report, the labeling, decorating and coding and case handling machinery groups are forecast to increase the fastest of all machinery types through 2020, at CAGRs of 3.9 percent and 2.5 percent respectively. The pharmaceutical sector is forecast to grow the fastest of all sectors through 2020, at a CAGR of 2.8 percent. This is followed by the beverage sector, which is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 2.4 percent.

“The forecast for the packaging machinery market is strong. We continue to anticipate growth in major market segments such as pharmaceutical as well as beverage. Factors such as changing consumer habits, new regulations as well as general economic development are fueling this development,” says Jorge Izquierdo, vice president, Market Development, PMMI.

In regards to machinery categories, the rapid growth anticipated in the labeling, decorating and case handling segment is largely a result of new legislation demanding increased labeling and coding, continuing developments in printing technologies and the proliferation of SKUs.

PMMI’s PACK EXPO portfolio of trade shows continuously brings opportunities for the packaging machinery industry to help support and grow the industry. PACK EXPO East 2017, returning to Philadelphia (Feb. 27–March 1, Pennsylvania Convention Center) will bring together suppliers of packaging innovations food, beverage, pharmaceutical/medical device, cosmetic/personal care, chemical/household and other packaged goods that serve companies of all sizes. With one-third of the nation’s consumer packaged goods companies located within 200 miles of Philadelphia, PMMI is expecting another top-tier event for the growing industry.

Next year will also see the addition of ProFood Tech (April 4–6, 2017, McCormick Place, Chicago), the most comprehensive food and beverage show in North America, transcending market sectors and showcasing cutting-edge technologies and innovation solutions. Powered by three of the world’s trade show leaders – PACK EXPO, Anuga and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) – this biennial show has already garnered massive support across market sectors and is unrivaled in its ability to bring the processing industry together and address the most critical issues.

Over 80 visitors from around the world attended this year’s Bobst Manchester Open House held at its Competence Centre on 18 th October 2016.

The event saw the world premiere of the NEW BOBST K5 Expert, the highest productivity metallizer in the world.

The BOBST K5 Expert, the next generation of the successful K5000 metallizer, can run at speeds up to 1200m/min, is available in widths from 2450mm to 3650mm and can house increased roll diameters of up to 1270mm to meet new industry trends for improved productivity.

Once again BOBST is setting new standards in vacuum metallization for the packaging industry; the K5 EXPERT houses the largest coating drum in the industry at 700mm which improves collection efficiency by 16%; this means less aluminium consumption and increased boat life resulting in maximum productivity.

The K5 EXPERT features design innovations throughout the machine including a totally redesigned evaporation source providing the widest coating window in the market, up to 50% wider than some competitor machines which translates in better coating uniformity and collection efficiency, minimising aluminium wire waste.

A more intuitive HMI screen and software interface make the machine easy to operate. The new design of the machine allows the operator to operate everything from the front of the machine and to be positioned much closer to view the evaporation source and metallization process through the strobe window; the new boat power controls are extremely easy to operate and are located in front of each boat,

Another brand new feature, unique in the industry is the Automatic Sequential Control (ASC) system which speeds up start-up of the machine with minimum operator involvement required, making the K5 EXPERT easy to operate.

In addition to the well-known BOBST Winding Mechanism based on “true tension” control, the new model incorporates low friction Ferrofluidic seals for an even better tension control on the rewind; all-in- all producing a virtually wrinkle-free roll-to- roll vacuum metallization process.

The K5 EXPERT has been designed with reliability, serviceability and robustness in mind and as such has a host of new features to give our customers total peace of mind, maximum machine uptime and product quality consistency.

It also has a variety of energy saving and waste reduction features including ECO mode which reduces energy consumption by up to 50% during stand-by and Film Save mode which has a synchronised faster shutter action (opening in just 5 seconds) and aluminium wire ramp up to minimise the amount of un- metallized film (waste) to less than 400m per roll.

As an option, the High Deposition (HD) source has an improved design for higher speed of operation for those metallization jobs that require a high deposition rate of up to 4.0 OD.

The new machine provides significant cost saving innovations to reduce energy consumption, consumables usage and film waste which results in the lowest production costs available in the market. In addition, faster venting and pump down times results in a reduced production cycle which increases the number of batches/rolls per day.

The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of the K5 Expert is reduced by 25% compared to other metallizers available in the market.

About BOBST

We are one of the world’s leading suppliers of equipment and services to packaging and label manufacturers in the folding carton, corrugated board and flexible materials industries.

Founded in 1890 by Joseph Bobst in Lausanne, Switzerland, BOBST has a presence in more than 50 countries, runs 12 production facilities in 8 countries and employs close to 5 000 people around the world. The firm recorded a consolidated turnover of CHF 1.33 billion for the year ended December 31st, 2015.

Marchesini Group inaugurates the new factory in Carpi. The CEO, Mr. Maurizio Marchesini comments: “It will be the biggest thermoforming hub in Italy”. 50 people will be employed over the forthcoming months

Carpi (Modena, Emilia-Romagna) – National and local authorities and the Group’s employees attended the inauguration of the new production facilities of Marchesini Group in Carpi. It covers 14 thousand square meters and is the biggest production hub of thermoforming machinery in Italy. This technology is used to form hot plastic materials to make pharmaceutical blisters. It has taken the work of 300 people to build this factory, in which the Group has invested 14 million Euro; another 150 will be employed to work permanently at the factory once it is up and running, plus 50 workers, among technicians and engineers from Carpi and Modena will be taken-on next year.

Some authority representatives attended the cutting of the tape, among whom the Minister for the Environment, Mr. Gian Luca Galletti, the governor of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Mr. Stefano Bonaccini, the Mayor of Carpi, Mr. Alberto Bellelli, the Bishop of Carpi, H.E. Monsignor Francesco Cavina and Maurizio Marchesini, the CEO of the Group and Chairman of the Industrialists Association of Emilia-Romagna.

The Minister, Mr. Gian Luca Galletti stated that “Marchesini’s new factory in Carpi sums up what the country needs to grow, namely sustainable technology, an investment that brings new job opportunities and local development, strongly focusing on environmental aspects. Following the historical agreement reached during the Cop21 in Paris, the world chose the production model of decarbonisation, regeneration and sustainability: some national businesses realised this before others and this is why they will be immediately and lastingly competitive on the marketplace.

Once again, the Emilia-Romagna region proves that Italy is back on its feet and ready to act as a European leader of green economy”.

Maurizio Marchesini pointed out that: “The factory in Carpi has been built, and will continue to grow, as a modern smart factory. It will produce at industrial rates but with the quality of fine tailored products. The technologies exploited will ensure energy from renewable sources and will minimise harmful emissions. Each workplace has been created using exclusively Made-in- Italy products. Today, we are not just inaugurating a factory, but we are celebrating a way of doing business and of enhancing our land”.

According to Stefano Bonaccini: “Marchesini Group represents a smart business model: research and development, deep roots in the local area, ongoing growth on international marketplaces, social responsibility of the business and strong internal bonds, great awareness toward people and the working environment and continuous training. The fact that the growth of the Group goes through the magnificent factory inaugurated in Carpi - in the area hit by the earthquake of 2012 that has never surrendered but that has started again even stronger and even more competitive - is a great merit that goes also to this land and the people who live here”.

Alberto Bellelli says "it is always a pleasure when our land appeals to important companies, in terms of prestige and turnover, such as Marchesini Group: I cannot but express my satisfaction for what the inauguration of this new factory means for Carpi’s economy and employment opportunities, highlighting the strategic role of the investment for this important business”.

A traditional 5-day Open House event was held just before inaugurating the new factory in Carpi. The Group opened its factory to over 700 national and international customers. During their stay they were able to take part in talks on current topics concerning the pharmaceutical industry. They stayed in the beautiful city of Carpi, tasted recipes of the top chef Luca Marchini andvisited some of the best wine and food producers of Modena, among which were the 4 Madonne Dairy of Emilia and the Del Cristo vinegar factory.

The Open House was also an opportunity to unite the Made-in-Italy of mechanical engineering with that of other two brands of excellence of the Emilia-Romagna region: fashion and car manufacturing. Blumarine created some luxurious accessories for the customers of the Group, while Maserati offered some cars for a test drive. The collaboration of the constructor of the new factory, Garc, was also greatly appreciated.

Brand manufacturers need to protect consumers from counterfeits, follow the latest regulations and avoid FDA sanctions and recalls. Innovations and technology that track and trace a product through the entire supply chain have become increasingly critical as a result. PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examined this trend in depth by interviewing 75 brand manufacturers, industry experts and technology suppliers. For highlights of PMMI’s soon to be released Brand Protection and Product Traceability Market Research Report, download the latest infographic.

Industry professionals can learn more about strategies, solutions and technology to protect their brand at PACK EXPO International and the co-located Pharma EXPO 2016(Nov. 6–9, Chicago).

Dresden/Kuala Lumpur, 24 October 2016 – German based machine manufacturer KAMA expands its sales activities in the Far East and appoints knowledgeable Job van Hasselt to its Area Manager for South-East Asia, Pacific and Japan. Van Hasselt boasts 30 years of experience in the printing business, in particular in Asian markets, as he filled Senior Management positions with Bobst and manroland, to name just a few. As of now, Dutch-born van Hasselt, who is based in Malaysia, will support KAMA’s distribution partners, e.g. P.M. Trading in Korea, Heidelberg Japan K.K., Sinar Grafindo in Indonesia and Ferrostaal in Thailand.

“The Asian markets show a highly dynamic development, and embellishing e. g. with hot foil stamping and hologram is very much in demand,” says van Hasselt. “Having this in mind, KAMA’s modular solutions offer great flexibility and excellent opportunities for adding more value in post-press processing and finishing. This is the decisive ‘step ahead of the competition’. The potential is still not known enough in the region.” The next step will be the presentation of the unique KAMA ProCut die cutting and stamping machines and the multi- talented ProFold folder-gluers for a wide range of products and digital print finishing at Dscoop Asia in Singapore on 17/18 November 2016.

About KAMA

German based KAMA GmbH is a leading manufacturer of highly efficient finishing solutions for both job printering and digital packaging printing. Established 122 years ago as SCAMAG, the company built the world’s first automatic die cutter in 1936 and has made a name for itself in the industry with innovations and worldwide patents ever since. www.kama.info

Strong localization enables Mid Price Product range

• Bosch India is running smart city pilot projects in Bengaluru
• Smart manufacturing can help Indian factories increase productivity
• Smart solutions for the mining sector to improve operational efficiency and productivity
• New range of affordable power tools for the construction, metal and wood working industry
• Solutions to address India’s rapidly growing mass transport requirements
• Bosch offers connected solutions to make agriculture smart

Bengaluru – Bosch, a leading supplier of technology and services, showcased for the first time its extensive range of connected and smart solutions in the business sectors beyond mobility in India. In 2015, the business sectors comprising of Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology contributed around 15 percent to the Group’s turnover in India.

Customers can gain advantage from Bosch’s end-to-end solutions offering “Customers are increasingly looking for suppliers who can offer them end-to-end solutions. Bosch is leveraging the combined strengths of its products to offer integrated solutions to meet the demands of customers across key growth sectors of India,” said Dr. Steffen Berns, managing director Bosch Limited and president of the Bosch Group in India.

In an increasingly connected world, the linkage of the physical and virtual worlds provides the opportunity to offer new applications. “Bosch is uniquely positioned to offer meaningful solutions by harnessing its expertise across hardware, software and services,” mentioned Dr. Berns. Commenting further he said, “India benefits significantly from this aspect as it is home to Bosch’s largest engineering center outside Germany, and we do understand the country’s local market requirements.” Bosch offers connected solutions and services for smart cities,home appliances, smart manufacturing, packaging, construction, transportation, mining, energy and agriculture.

Solutions to streamline and manage India’s traffic

In the smart city segment, Bosch offers end-to-end solutions, drawing knowledge from its core expertise in Mobility Solutions. For a year now, Bosch India has been running pilot projects in this segment in Bengaluru. Solutions from Bosch, such as the Intelligent Parking System, allow commuters to find a space in crowded areas such as central business districts. This solution consists of parking slot occupancy detection through sensors. Bosch’s system further allows the end-user to search, book and pay via mobile for a parking space. Apart from the Intelligent Parking System Bosch India also offers Intelligent Traffic Management Systems and Citizen Safety & Security and Intelligent Transportation Systems.

Software expertise is a key differentiator for smart manufacturing solutions

There is tremendous potential for connected industry in India as the country attempts to position itself as a global manufacturing hub. The Bosch Group offers a broad range of technology solutions and services in this area, such as drives, automation, sensors, software and predictive maintenance. These solutions are for instance suitable for the automotive manufacturing industry, tier 1 component manufacturing organizations, healthcare and pharmaceutical. When it comes to smart manufacturing, Bosch has a dual approach. It is a lead supplier and user in its own manufacturing plants. This strategy enables Bosch to be an industry leader in this sector.

Smart solutions for the mining sector

The Bosch Group has its presence in the mining industry with hydraulics, fuel injection systems for mining equipment and security technologies. To gain a deeper footprint, Bosch will tie-up with local system integrators for retrofit projects to offer end-to-end solutions. The Group is developing value added solutions that help minimize downtime and lower life cycle cost for the user. Using the Bosch Internet of Things (IoT) platform and expertise available across various domains, Bosch India has developed a solution that connects miners and mining equipment. Bosch’s solution can increase the levels of automation in the mining industry. Smart mining improves operational efficiency as it enhances productivity through improved asset utilization. It also increases the focus on accountability by reducing costs thus improving profitability.

Local cost competitive solution for the construction industry

The renewed focus on infrastructure development in India has stimulated growth in the construction equipment sector as well. High performance drive and control solutions are in demand due to needs for improved productivity, low cost-of- ownership, operator's safety and less emission from the machine. In order to cater to these requirements of the off road vehicle segment, Bosch has launched a mid-priced product range which meets the cost expectation of the local industry.

Bosch India also launched a new range of affordable power tools for the construction, metal and wood working industry earlier this year. The Group is focusing on increasing its local customer outreach, especially among the unorganized sectors like carpenters and plumbers as well as in tier II and III cities by offering more affordable products.

To meet the security needs in residential and commercial buildings, Bosch offers forward integration of all video and communication products. Over the mid-term, Bosch will develop solutions around the Internet of Things, cloud and video analytics, thus creating a segment above the conventional IP Video Analytics. Offering integrated systems across security, safety as well as communications, Bosch India is targeting hotels and mixed urban development centers.

Technology solution to address India’s mass transportation segment

Bosch has a strong presence in all the major metros in the country and has deployed technologies pertaining to passenger announcement systems, passenger information display systems and CCTV with end-to-end integration. There are several metros, airport expansion and railway modernization programs underway in the country equipped by Bosch. The company is well positioned to further expand its base in this sector due to its recently launched, locally developed public address systems. Further investments in local R&D are ongoing to localize more products.

The Bosch Group also offers innovative drive and control solutions for railway applications. In India, it offers hydrostatic auxiliary drives, traction drives and diesel engine cooling with roof mounting units. Apart from fulfilling the key requirements such as total cost of ownership, Bosch solutions guarantee reliability, availability, maintainability, and safety. These solutions are locally developed and produced as per global standards

Transforming agriculture through Bosch technology solutions

Bosch India sees considerable growth potential in farm and livestock operations, as well on the supply chain side. Bosch is looking to improve productivity, manage sustainability, and drive optimization along the agriculture value chain. Typically, the portfolio is divided between the pre-harvest and post-harvest phase. Bosch is developing solutions that improve agriculture operations by using sensors, digitization, automation, crop modeling and big data.

24 October 2016, Noida: Amid ever intensifying retail competition, one strategy that no brand can afford to falter upon is ‘Eye Catching’ packaging. In the day and age that we live, ‘Quality’ of product is an absolute MUST HAVE. Beyond quality comes the overall experience that the product offers right from being spotted at the retail shelf up to the time it is consumed. The looks, touch, feel, convenience of carrying the pack, ease of retrieving the product, flexibility of reclosing the pack for deferred use all play undeniably important role in shaping the consumer behaviour. Packaging has absolutely re-defined the narrative of Modern Day Retail.

ALRIFAI – the Lebanese Global Leader in the dry fruit industry approached Uflex with a rather peculiar problem. The pistachios that the brand was selling in pouches manufactured by a European converter were turning rancid much before the expiry date. This resulted in market recall of the product. The R&D team at Uflex delved deeper into the issue and diagnosed the root-cause. Pistachios apart from being hard have extremely sharp edges that rupture the inner layers of packaging thereby disintegrating the barrier. Result-- - Rancidity of the expensive dry-fruit, massive market recall and the associated mayhem.

With this problem statement at hand, India’s largest multinational flexible packaging materials and Solution Company, Uflex after an extensive R&D of over six months engineered the Quad Seal Registered Gusset Pouch with a 3 ply laminate comprising PET (with registered matte coating)/ Metallized Polyester (with registered window)/ Nylon based transparent PE. This worked out to be the Holy Grail for the dry fruit giant. The Nylon based transparent PE layer of the laminate exhibits extensive stretch property and imparts impeccable puncture and tear resistance to the pouch making it strong enough to endure the sharp edges of pistachios besides contributing to the overall barrier to oxygen and water vapour.

The special pouches engineered by Uflex for ALRIFAI have been selling like hotcakes for over three months now and there hasn’t been a single recall.

The Quad Seal Gusset pouch has a brilliant gloss finish on the front and a matte finish with registered gloss on the back giving it a very premium look. The side gussets have de-metallized windows on either side that allow the consumers to see through the pouch and check the quality of the product packed inside before making a purchase decision.

Talking about the unmatched features of Quad Seal Registered Gusset Pouch, Mr. Anup Sachdeva, Joint President Packaging (Global Exports) at Uflex said, “This pouch spells immense functional ease for consumers. The final pull for a product always comes from the end user. Talking about aesthetics – An eclectic combination of gloss and matte finish gives the pouch a very niche look. Certain elements of the imagery on the matte side of the pack have been printed in registered gloss finish with 3D effect further adding to the visual appeal. The windows on both the side gussets are achieved through a special De- Metallization process that we carry out with immaculate precision. The pouch with absolutely stunning looks unmistakably stands out on the retail shelf.

The simple D-punch handle that we have provided within the pouch structure makes it convenient for the consumer to carry the pack. The Press To Close (PTC) zipper on the front of the pack allows easy access to the products packed inside. The most interesting part is the fact that even if you retrieve some dry fruits from the pack and then re-close it properly, the barrier to oxygen and water-vapour remains pretty much intact for the pouch thus extending the shelf life of the product. Anybody would love to place this aesthetically designed pack in the kitchen cabinet without having to decant the dry-fruits in an airtight container.”

Notably the infallible PTC zipper solution provided in this pouch could become possible because of the pocket zipper installation machine manufactured and supplied by the Engineering business vertical of Uflex.

Explaining about the demand of Quad Seal Registered Gusset Pouch, Mr. Sachdeva further said, “This packaging is gaining a lot of traction overseas and many international brands have approached us for similar solution for their products too. No other company in the world has been able to offer this perforated zipper solution. Just to give you an idea about the swelling demand for these pouches, Uflex Packaging has placed an order on the Engineering Business for seven more zipper installation machines to keep pace with the growing demand of Quad Seal Registered Gusset Pouches from across the world.”

Congratulating the team for designing and successfully launching this packaging solution, Mr. Ashok Chaturvedi, Chairman & Managing Director, Uflex Limited said, “The Quad Seal Registered Gusset Pouch is as much a functional delight as visually stimulating it is. This product is the result of a perfect interplay of expertise of Film, Packaging, Cylinder, Engineering, Chemicals and Holography businesses of Uflex. The fact that this superior and innovative packaging solution that is ‘Made in India’ by Uflex is going places and winning adulations from some of the best brands across the world is truly endearing.”