Bacteria-neutralizing compounds can be utilized to produce various patient-contact products, including catheters, connectors, gas hoses, syringes and needle-free injectors.

TekniPlex Healthcare, which utilizes advanced materials science expertise to help deliver better patient outcomes, has introduced antimicrobial medical compounds that can be utilized to produce a number of patient-contact products, including catheters, connectors, gas hoses, injection systems such as syringes, and needle-free injectors such as pens. Now available for formulation and production, the products can incorporate silver ion technology proven to drastically reduce the risk of contamination due to bacteria buildup. 

Currently, TekniPlex is offering polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) compounds formulated with silver ion technology. To develop its antimicrobial series of products, TekniPlex Healthcare integrates the silver ion additives – which have natural antimicrobial properties – with its broad array of current medical grade flexible and rigid PVC compounds, or its medical grade CELLENE® TPE compounds. Unlike disinfectants that last just a few hours, formulating a medical product with antimicrobial compounds provides protection throughout the product's lifespan.

Silver ion antimicrobial applications stand on a firm foundation of sound science. When challenged by the presence of bacteria on a surface, the release of silver ions inhibit a bacteria cellʼs ability to reproduce. The silver ions enter the cell through its outer layer, block enzymes to  prevent the cell from generating energy, and disrupt its DNA, thereby removing its ability to split and create a duplicate of itself. The technology is effective against a wide range of bacteria from Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella to antibiotic-resistant bacteria like Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). 

Given the perils of healthcare facility-borne infections, the antimicrobial solutions have considerable potential to benefit hospitals and other care centers. Products made with silver-containing compounds can achieve 80% bacteria reduction in 15 minutes, and are over 99.9% effective after two hours. Tested to ISO 22196:2011 standards, TekniPlex Healthcare’s medical grade compounds were shown to reduce E. coli and staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) by over 99.9% in 24 hours.

“Developing ways to reduce the risk for bacterial growth in clinical settings aligns with our longstanding commitment to improving patient outcomes through materials science solutions,” said Chris Qualters, CEO of TekniPlex Healthcare. “A clean clinical environment benefits both patients and staff, and the ability to incorporate this technology in direct patient contact items like catheters, connectors, gas hoses and injection devices is highly valuable.” 

About TekniPlex Healthcare
TekniPlex Healthcare utilizes advanced materials science expertise and technologies to develop and deliver critical solutions for medical and diagnostic devices, drug delivery systems and healthcare packaging applications. With a global reach, the division’s deep understanding of the greater pharmaceuticals and medical landscape helps it produce exemplary barrier properties for drugs and precision medical devices for interventional and therapeutic procedures. TekniPlex Healthcare’s ever-evolving portfolio helps meet demands for high-leverage medicines and mission-critical healthcare products that benefit care providers and patients. For more information visit www.tekni-plex.com/healthcare. 
 

“People buy from people – and we buy from people we trust,” said Mr Pham Van Thanh Quang, Supply Chain Deputy Manager at Vina Label head office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.  He was referring to the company’s recent investment in Vetaphone corona treatment technology on an Indian manufactured Windsor five-layer blown extrusion line.

Commenting on the choice of a of a Vetaphone treater, which is a VE2B-B (DS) 2320 model with a 2.2m web width and 8kW power capability, he added: “The decision was based on several factors: our longstanding relationship with Song Song, the local agent in Vietnam, which has always given us great support, and the ease of cleaning and maintenance of the treater unit with its removeable electrode cassette.  We also really value the R&D resource offered by Vetaphone’s Test Lab in Denmark.”

Vina Aus Labels is a leading manufacturer of high-quality labels and flexible packaging in Vietnam.  With a 20-year history in the industry, the company has established itself as a reliable and innovative supplier of label and flexible packaging solutions for a wide range of industries including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, household, and cosmetics.
Founded by Company Chairman Mr Lam Chi Thien, who has more than 40 years of experience in managing and manufacturing flexible packaging, the company has two divisions.  The North division is headed by CEO Mr Gareth Lewis who has 40 years’ experience working for multi-national corporations worldwide, and 20 years manufacturing labels and flexible packaging in Vietnam.  The South division is led by CEO Mr Phillip Lam, a new generation style leader with an entrepreneurial mindset and a strong vision for the company's future.  
The company has three plants in Vietnam: at Hanoi, where it prints and laminates, Dong Nai, where it has converting, printing capability and laminates, and Ho Chi Minh City where it produces blown film including PVC shrink film, PE shrink film and LLDPE for lamination. 

All printing throughout the group is by rotogravure, which is typical of 90% of package printing in the Southeast Asia region, largely as a factor of the volumes involved and the low cost of a relatively simple print process.  An upcoming investment will see a fourth factory completed in 2024 to produce stretch and cling film.

Vina Aus Labels is currently the largest supplier of labels to the Vietnam brewery sector, but also sends 30% of its output to major brand owners including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Carlsberg in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar, as well as The Philippines.  The company has also just begun to explore the Indian market, which it believes has tremendous potential for growth.

According to Mr Quang: “Vina Australia Packaging Labels has grown rapidly over the years, and now has more than 1000 employees.  This has brought the need for experienced and talented management, R&D, and quality assurance professionals, so the company has assembled a team of over 200 senior officers and experts in these fields who are majoring in masters in project and strategy management, master of polymer engineering, and technical experts from Vietnam and abroad to ensure that our products and services remain top quality.”
The production numbers tell an impressive story.  The three sites have an annual capacity of 25 billion labels, 13 billion shrink and wraparound labels, 12 billion foil or metallised labels, 4,500 tons of blown PVC film and 4,800 tons of blown PE.  It all amounts to annual sales of more than US$ 55 million.  This is no small operation!  
It was the size and capability of the company that first attracted the attention of Song Song, Vetaphone’s agent in Vietnam, whose own portfolio of OEMs makes impressive reading.  Over the years, a close working relationship developed between Vina Aus Labels and Song Song, so when the former was looking for the latest in corona treater technology, Vetaphone was the recommendation, and there are now three of the company’s treaters in the Ho Chi Minh plant.
Looking ahead, Mr Quang said that plans are afoot for two Nordmeccanica lamination lines, each of which will need corona treaters, so Song Song can look forward to more business with Vina Australia Packaging Labels going forward.  
Commenting for Vetaphone, Sales Manager for Asia-Pacific, Holger Selenka said: “I am looking forward to building on the excellent working partnerships we have with both Song Song and Vina Australia Packaging Labels in Vietnam.  We see great potential for our cutting-edge technology in this market, where quality is at a premium and only the best will do!”
 

KRAIBURG TPE is presenting thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) that have a variable proportion of renewable raw materials. By introducing these new compounds, the global TPE manufacturer is expanding its THERMOLAST®R range of more sustainable solutions by adding a line of products from renewable raw material sources. Bio-based TPEs also have a lower product carbon footprint than established alternatives that are not based on renewable raw materials.

Waldkraiburg, 17 October 2023 – Sustainability is a key aspect of the design phase. It is only when the idea of sustainability plays a major role from the very start of a project that it can contribute to the project’s success in the longer term. KRAIBURG TPE’s customers already have access to more sustainable compounds that contain proportions of post-industrial or post-consumer recycled materials, particularly in the consumer and automotive sectors. KRAIBURG TPE is now complementing its range of more sustainable solutions by adding bio-based TPEs made of raw materials that support the transition from compounds based on fossil resources to alternative products based on renewable materials and make this transition attractive.
When evaluating new raw materials for bio-based TPEs, KRAIBURG TPE is focusing on materials that are not used for food production. These are raw materials such as agricultural by-products or waste materials from food production that cannot be used as food even if they are further processed. KRAIBURG TPE critically evaluates the origin of raw materials in order to meet the company’s high self-imposed requirements. By working closely with suppliers, KRAIBURG TPE ensures a delivery capability for bio-based and recycled raw materials comparable to that for conventional base polymers.
 

SÜDPACK received the special award for Excellent Strategy Implementation. This was in recognition of the outstanding results the company has achieved in the area of resource-efficient production. Tharcisse Carl, COO of SÜDPACK, Pascal Bader, Head of the LEAN Division, and Lisa-Marie Schmidberger, Project Manager CSR & Sustainability, accepted the award in Pfronten. They also gave the guests insights into SÜDPACK’s sustainable efficiency strategy in a best-practice presentation.
The Lean & Green Management Award has been awarded annually since 2012. It is an opportunity for “Companies with 150 or more employees to obtain a sustainability and lean management rating and to learn from the best.” The Technical University of Munich and the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt provide scientific analyses for the award. An independ-ent jury of representatives from science/technology, business, and media ex-amines candidates in three-hour assessments, supported by management consultancy T&O (www.tundo.de). The analysis also draws on answers provid-ed by the participating enterprises to questions about their sustainability and lean management strategies. 
“We’re absolutely delighted to have won the special award for Excellent Strat-egy Implementation this year. The prize confirms that we’re on the right track with our sustainable efficiency strategy. It boosts our motivation to achieve even more improvements along the entire value chain,” said Tharcisse Carl during the awards ceremony on October 19, which this year took place at DMG MORI in Pfronten. 
The goal of SÜDPACK’s sustainable efficiency policy is the continuous optimiza-tion of both ecological and business efficiency. The strategy creates a frame-work for closed-loop systems, climate protection, and social responsibility. Tharcisse Carl emphasized that “Lean production, sustainable products and processes, and responsible use of our resources have always been priorities at SÜDPACK.” 
Lean management is a key component of the concept. The successful applica-tion of lean methods and tools, such as policy deployment, shopfloor man-agement, PMO (project management office) as well as Six Sigma, means the company can define and effectively pursue goals in every category. 

About SÜDPACK
SÜDPACK is a leading manufacturer of both conventional and particularly sus-tainable high-performance films and packaging materials for the food, non-food and medical goods industries. All of its solutions ensure maximum prod-uct protection as well as additional pioneering features with minimum material input. 
The family business, which was founded by Alfred Remmele in 1964, is head-quartered in Ochsenhausen. The production sites in Germany, France, Poland, India, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the USA are equipped with cutting-edge plant technology and manufacture to the highest standards, including the capacity to operate under clean room conditions. The global sales and service network ensures a high degree of proximity to the customer and comprehen-sive application technology support in more than 70 countries.
With its state-of-the-art Development and Application Center at its headquar-ters in Ochsenhausen, the innovation-oriented company offers its customers an optimal platform for carrying out application tests and for developing indi-vidual and tailor-made solutions.
SÜDPACK is committed to sustainable development and fulfills its responsibility as an employer and towards society, the environment and its customers. For its particularly sustainable product developments and consistent commitment to a functioning circular economy in the plastics industry, SÜDPACK has re-ceived numerous awards. Further information is available at www.suedpack.com 
 

Smurfit Kappa’s Design2Market Factory will be expanding across Europe after a successful first year in operation. The innovative facility, which enables customers to test and adapt their packaging on a small scale before market launch will be replicated across Germany, Italy, Poland and the UK. 

The 3000m2 original innovation hub in the Netherlands has been home to over 50 successful projects for some of the world’s biggest consumer brands. Smurfit Kappa’s multi-disciplinary team takes a packaging challenge and designs a new solution which is ready to be tested in the market in just two weeks. In addition to reducing risk and turnaround time, Design2Market Factory provides customers with a sustainable packaging solution that reduces their carbon footprint and supports their recyclability targets. 

The user-driven prototypes are designed in collaboration with customers combining creativity, technical expertise and advanced AI models to address specific needs. So far, the team has created, analysed and launched on the market many innovative solutions including shelf-ready packaging for detergent, a paper-based replacement for shrink wrap and a complete range of eCommerce solutions. Design2Market Factory also creates packaging solutions that meet Amazon’s certification standards.

Arco Berkenbosch, Smurfit Kappa’s Chief Innovation Officer, said: “We are thrilled to have reached this milestone. The journey of the Design2Market Factory has been remarkable and the trust placed in us by many industry-leading household names is testament to our commitment to innovation and excellence at speed. Broadening our European footprint will help more customers to stand out in an increasingly competitive landscape and achieve their sustainability goals in line with our Better Planet Packaging initiative.”

Hoffmann Neopac, a global provider of high-quality tins for the infant food, wellbeing and consumer goods industries, has appointed Martin de Olde as the company’s new Sales Director for its sustainably growing Business Unit Tins. Mr. de Olde joins Hoffmann Neopac with more than 20 years of experience in sales, marketing and business development.

Most recently, Mr. de Olde has been serving as the company’s Interim Sales & Business Development Manager since Summer 2023. He joined Hoffmann Neopac from his own marketing consultancy. Prior to that, he was Country Head of Marketing & Business Development at GEA Group, and spent more than 15 years in marketing and sales in the metal packaging industry.

Mr. de Olde’s succeeds outgoing Sales Director, Karin Paldanius, who has decided to leave the company by the end of the year.

“In his interim role, Martin quickly demonstrated his experience and innate ability to lead our sales teams in sustainable growth of our tins business across various consumer sectors,” said Christoph Peternell, Managing Director for the Tins Business Unit. “We are confident Martin’s extensive experience and insight will bring him success in his new role.”

Hoffmann has introduced several novel tins products in recent months, including a fully metal version of its child-resistant high barrier tins. The solution represents the next generation of the company’s CR Tins with special inserts. By converting to a fully metal construct, the tins are not only fully recyclable, but also help lock in freshness and provide protection from light. The completely recyclable, mono-material CR Tins are ideal for a wide variety of dry and semi-dry products.

In addition, Hoffmann offers the awarded “Green Steel” option for all its tins produced in Switzerland and the Netherlands, which reduces the carbon impact of tinplate production by 70%. The company has also recently installed a second 3-piece food can line in the Netherlands under special food-compliant production conditions to expand the supply of infant food cans.

About Hoffmann Neopac

Hoffmann Neopac is a privately-owned company, headquartered in Thun, Switzerland. The group produces high-quality metal and plastic packaging in six locations: HOFFMANN tins in Thun and Holland; Polyfoil® and plastic tubes with NEOPAC in Switzerland, Hungary and the US; and 3D Neopac in India. Its longstanding customers include international pharmaceutical, cosmetics and consumer goods manufacturers in the European, North American and Asian markets.

In the Business Unit HOFFMANN, the company employs around 165 employees and has a capacity of 900 million tins. The company is dedicated to sustainability in both its manufacturing processes with renewable electricity and corporate culture, including a dedicated eco-conscious packaging portfolio. For more information, visit www.hoffmann.ch.

Child-resistant packaging comes in a variety of forms, each designed to serve a specific purpose. Some popular options include: Along with convenience and accessibility, child-resistant packaging has become a vital tool in preventing accidental ingestions and ensuring safety for parents, caregivers, and even businesses. This blog dives into the world of child-resistant packaging, examining its various options, industry standards, and emerging trends that contribute to the well-being of children.

Types of Child-Resistant Packaging

1. 

1. Push-and-turn caps: These lids require a combination of dexterity and force to open, making them challenging for young children.
2. Blister packaging: Commonly used for pharmaceuticals, blister packs keep pills safely enclosed, requiring pushing through the foil to access the contents.
3. Slide and squeeze containers: Commonly used for liquid medications, these containers demand precise manipulation to dispense their contents.
4. Resealable pouches with child-resistant zippers: These flexible packages often house edibles or medications and feature a locking mechanism that thwarts easy entry.
5. Child-resistant bags: Frequently used in the cannabis industry, these bags require specific actions like pinching and pulling to open.
6. Child-resistant boxes: These robust packaging solutions are used for a variety of products, requiring advanced motor skills to access their contents.

Key Features of Child-Resistant Packaging

Tamper-evident closures: These mechanisms make it clear if the package has been opened, providing an added layer of security.
Compliance with regulatory standards: Child-resistant packaging must meet specific guidelines and standards set forth by organizations like the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and ASTM International.
Accessibility for adults: While challenging for children, these packages should be reasonably accessible for adults.
Testing and certification: Products undergo rigorous testing to ensure they meet child-resistant standards, often gaining certifications to prove their effectiveness.

Industry Standards and Regulations

Child-resistant packaging is heavily regulated and monitored by organizations like the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and is governed by laws such as the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA). These entities set forth stringent requirements and conduct regular inspections to guarantee safety.

India, currently, DOES NOT have any specific regulations for child-resistant packaging. 

Advantages and Disadvantages

Safety benefits: These packages effectively reduce the risk of unintentional ingestions, offering peace of mind to parents and caregivers.
User-friendliness: Some forms of child-resistant packaging may pose challenges for adults as well, potentially leading to frustration.
Environmental concerns: The use of plastics and complex packaging can have environmental impacts, which is a growing concern.
Cost considerations: Implementing child-resistant packaging can increase production costs, which may be passed on to consumers.

Emerging Trends

Sustainable materials: A shift towards eco-friendly materials that protect both children and the environment.
Smart packaging solutions: Incorporating technology for added security and convenience.
Customization options: Tailoring packaging to specific products and user preferences.
User experience enhancements: Focusing on ease of use for adults while maintaining child-resistant qualities.

Choosing the Right Packaging

Selecting the appropriate child-resistant packaging is crucial and depends on the nature of the product. Considerations for various industries, including pharmaceuticals, household chemicals, cannabis, and more, are essential in making informed decisions.
Child-resistant packaging isn't just a safety precaution; it's a necessity. With evolving industry standards, innovative trends, and a growing array of packaging options, child-resistant packaging is evolving to protect the ones we cherish most. As we move forward, we must continue to prioritize child safety while adapting to changing needs and preferences.
 

When Digital meets Circular Economy - this is not only the motto of this year's Fakuma, but also captures the essence of R-Cycle. The start-up is competing to make plastics traceable with Digital Product Passports. At Fakuma 2023 in Friedrichshafen, R-Cycle will present itself in hall ÜO, booth 16-3 (Start-Up Area) and shows the first Software-as-a-Service solution for the application of Digital Product Passports, which is based on the new GS1 Germany Guideline "Circular Plastics Traceability".

The plastics industry is confronted with steadily increasing industrial and legal information and reporting requirements. Recyclability assessments, plastic tax calculations, EPR regulations or the upcoming EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR) are just a few examples. In order to provide all necessary information, plastic products must be traceable throughout the entire life cycle. For this purpose, more and more companies are relying on Digital Product Passports (DPP), with which complex information chains can be managed simply and automatically DPP - depending on industrial or regulatory requirements. The R-Cycle DPPs generated in this way can be retrieved by machine or manually via suitable marking (e.g. QR codes or digital watermarks) on primary and end products

R-Cycle is the DPP for plastic products and packaging and offers a turnkey softwareas-a-service solution that enables stakeholders in the value chain to store relevant data in an interoperable system to enable efficient, standardized and secure data exchange across company boundaries. All relevant information, such as materials, product properties, process data and much more, can be recorded in the R-Cycle Dr. Benedikt Brenken, Director R-Cycle, explains: "The special thing about R-Cycle is that, with the help of the Digital Product Passport, we provide plastic products with all relevant information about their composition and use already during production. This means that every subsequent processor, consumer and recycler can use this data to easily fulfill information and reporting obligations, optimize production processes and ensure the best possible recycling."

R-Cycle is based on open and global GS1 standards. GS1 Germany has published the guideline "Circular Plastics Traceability", which offers all players in the plastics value chain a uniform framework for modeling corresponding cross-company processes and exchanging data. R-Cycle was involved in the development of "Circular Plastics Traceability" along with other partners. The underlying technology is the cross-industry and internationally established GS1 EPCIS interface (Electronic Product Code Information Services). GS1 is the leading global network for crossindustry process development. The best-known example of a GS1 standard is the barcodes used in global trade, which are scanned more than six billion times every day.

• Broad competence network and in-house manufacturing of all important core components

• Highly wear-resistant Reiloy screws and barrels for extrusion and injection molding

• PAM flat die automation for easier operation, faster product changeovers and less energy consumption

• EVO Fusion blown film extrusion makes converters independent of highly fluctuating recyclate grades

The Reifenhäuser Group, leading manufacturer of extrusion machinery and components, will be exhibiting at Fakuma in Friedrichshafen from October 17 to 21, 2023. Reifenhäuser will be represented at the international trade fair for industrial plastics processing in Hall A6 - Stand A6-6206 to showcase its latest blown and flat film technologies as well as components for extrusion and injection molding.

At Fakuma this year, the Reifenhäuser Group will focus on its broad competence network combined with a high vertical range of manufacture. Reifenhäuser manufactures all important core components in-house, which means that the customer always receives a perfectly coordinated overall system. For this purpose, the group of companies has highly specialized business units, three of which will be on site at the booth: Reifenhäuser Blown Film, Reifenhäuser Cast Sheet Coating and Reifenhäuser Extrusion Systems.

Reifenhäuser Extrusion Systems (RES) is the expert for melt-guiding and forming components. As a special highlight, RES will showcase its highly wear-resistant Reiloy screws and barrels at Fakuma, which regularly set benchmarks in terms of quality and performance. The components offer a demonstrably longer service life, thanks to precise matching of raw materials and additives. With the alloys developed exclusively in-house at Reifenhäuser and optimized for the process, processors of injection molding and extrusion products benefit from the best cost-benefit ratio in the industry. RES will also showcase its extruder and die portfolio as well as its multi-vendor upgrade and refurbishment program.

Ralf Pampus, Managing Director at Reifenhäuser Extrusion Systems, explains, "From the plasticizing unit to the die, we know all interfaces precisely and design them exactly according to customer requirements. We see ourselves as an independent partner and offer our components and services for both Reifenhäuser and third-party lines from all manufacturers."

Reifenhäuser Cast Sheet Coating (CSC), as a supplier of complete flat film lines, will be exhibiting at Fakuma, among other things, its latest automation option PAM (precise, autonomous, mechatronic) for coextrusion adapters and dies. Using automated screwdrivers, PAM enables autonomous and mechatronic adjustment and control of the flexible lip conveniently via the line control system. Depending on the die design, autonomous adjustment of the dust bar, width adjustment and lip opening via adjustment of the lower die lip is also possible. In combination with the Reifenhäuser Coextrusion Adaptor Pro, PAM can also control the profiling of the individual layers while the line is running. This is significantly faster than conventional control by hand or thermal expansion bolts automation and enables faster start-up of good production, higher output and improved overall equipment efficiency (OEE). Once recipes have been set, they can be stored and recalled at the push of a button - even by inexperienced line operators, which is a decisive advantage against the background of the ongoing shortage of skilled workers. In addition, energy consumption is significantly reduced compared to an automatic thermal expansion bolt system, as the screwdrivers only need to be supplied with power during the adjustment process and not permanently.

Lars Bergheim, Area Sales Manager at Reifenhäuser Cast Sheet Coating, explains: "The advantages of PAM speak for themselves - operation of the line becomes easier, scrap and energy consumption are significantly reduced, and product changes succeed in the shortest possible time. Since we first introduced the system last year, we have already successfully implemented PAM at several customers."

PAM is not only available for Reifenhäuser flat film lines, but also for thirdparty lines as an upgrade via Reifenhäuser Extrusion Systems.

Reifenhäuser Blown Film (BF) is presenting its latest blown film line concepts in Friedrichshafen. With the EVO Fusion technology the company offers a solution to one of the biggest problems in the use of recyclate in film production: on the one hand, ever higher proportions of recycled plastic are demanded, on the other hand, recyclate qualities fluctuate greatly and high-quality material is too expensive for many applications to produce economically. Thanks to twin-screw technology in the extruder, EVO Fusion can reliably process previously unusable, low-cost recyclates. This results in high-performance and, above all, profitable blown films for applications such as trash bags or mailing bags. A special feature of the EVO Fusion is direct extrusion, which eliminates the need for energy- and cost-intensive regranulation of the starting material. This means that fluff (film snippets) as well as all types of production waste and PCR material can also be processed directly.

"With EVO Fusion, we are adapting to the reality on the recyclate market and making blown film manufacturers independent of highly fluctuating recyclate qualities. Sustainability and profitability must go hand in hand - we supply the necessary technology for this," explains Eugen Friedel, Director Sales at Reifenhäuser Blown Film

About the Reifenhäuser Group The Reifenhäuser Group together with its highly specialized business units is the leading provider of innovative technologies and components for plastics extrusion. Founded in 1911, the company is a global supplier of high-tech solutions. With its technologies and the know-how of its 1,750 employees, Reifenhäuser has the world's largest network of expertise in plastics extrusion technologies. The CEO of the Group is Bernd Reifenhäuser.

Cosmo Films a global leader in speciality films for packaging, labelling, synthetic paper, and lamination applications announces the launch of its new business division- Cosmo Plastech.  This strategic move aligns perfectly with the company's vision of offering a diverse range of packaging solutions to its valued partners for a wide array of FMCG products, providing enhanced supply chain efficiency.

Speaking on the launch, Mr Pankaj Poddar, Group CEO, Cosmo First said, “We, at Cosmo First, have proudly pioneered industry-first solutions for the past four decades. As the demand for FMCG products soars, the need for innovative packaging solutions becomes significant. With the launch of Cosmo Plastech, we aim to empower our clients and consumers with cutting-edge rigid packaging solutions, all while upholding our unwavering commitment to sustainability. This marks a significant step in our journey towards a greener future, where a positive change in the packaging industry sets the stage for a circular economy.”

Cosmo Plastech’s containers are well-designed, offer excellent clarity and are manufactured to serve the food and beverage industry especially. Prioritising product recyclability, Cosmo Plastech has also introduced a recycling programme to ensure that the packaging solutions don’t reach landfills, fostering a culture of positive change and contributing to a circular economy.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Sanjay Chincholikar, Business Head - Technical Films & Rigid Packaging said, “Cosmo Films is proud to announce the launch of Cosmo Plastech. Our containers ensure durability, reliability, and moisture resistance thereby setting an innovative benchmark in the packaging world. With Cosmo Plastech, we look forward to meeting the industry's evolving demands eco-consciously. Our strategic move to establish Cosmo Plastech reflects the company's commitment towards excellence in sustainable packaging solutions.”

The packaging containers are made from high-quality materials to ensure durability and reliability using injection moulding and thermoforming techniques. Cosmo Film’s expertise in Rigid packaging solutions combined with state-of-the-art machinery ensures that the products are moisture-resistant and tamper-proof. This makes the solutions of Cosmo Plastech an alternative to traditional packaging practices.

About Cosmo First Limited:

Established in 1981 and founded by Mr. Ashok Jaipuria, Cosmo First is a global leader in specialty films and an emerging player in specialty chemicals (Masterbatches, Adhesive, & coating) along with a digital-first Omni channel Pet care business under the brand name ‘Zigly’.

With engineering of innovative products and sustainability solutions, Cosmo First over the years has been partnering with worlds’ leading F&B and personal care brands and packaging & printing converters to enhance the end consumer experience. Its customer base is spread in more than 100+ countries with sales & manufacturing units in India and Korea and additionally sales & distribution base in Japan, USA, Canada, and Europe.

TekniPlex Consumer Products Introduces Rubber Sheets and Rollstock for Die-Cutting & Converting Applications in Various Markets 

Made in the USA & Europe, and available in a variety of thicknesses, TekniPlex’s polymer constructions are ideal for gaskets, seals, valves, and washers in a broad range of applications.   

Wayne, PA – TekniPlex Consumer Products, a globally integrated provider of innovative solutions through materials science and manufacturing technologies, now offers rubber sheets and rollstock suitable for producing gaskets, seals, valves, and washers used in a broad spectrum of industries – from food & beverage and household products to automotive and lawn & garden. Available in a wide range of thicknesses, the TekniPlex Consumer Products’ 36-inch-wide rubber sheets are produced through custom compounding directed by the company’s dedicated rubber chemists. 

TekniPlex rubber sheets and rollstock are manufactured at production facilities in the United States and Europe. A wide range of base rubber polymers are available, including neoprene, nitrile, butyl, EPDM, and Viton. TekniPlex’s on-site testing environments allow for tight thickness tolerances (from 0.028-0.25”) and expedient development of custom-designed solutions. 

For decades, TekniPlex has been a prominent manufacturer of performance-oriented rubber solutions. Among other recent developments, the company’s investment in a new mixing system has expanded its custom compounding capacity, allowing it to offer upstream formations like rubber sheets and rollstock while meeting growing demand for finished rubber products. 

“TekniPlex has built a strong reputation as a developer and manufacturer of protective rubber products in sectors nearly as broad as our solutions themselves,” said Vaishali Patel, Senior Director of Sales, Integrated Performance Solutions, Americas, TekniPlex Consumer Products. “Now, our unsurpassed rubber engineering capabilities and recent infrastructure investments have made it possible for TekniPlex to supply the base rubber substrates in addition to the final rubber-based products – offering converters and die-cutters a steady, reliable stream of versatile rubber polymers.”

About TekniPlex Consumer Products
TekniPlex Consumer Products specializes in advanced materials science solutions for companies in the food & beverage and CPG industries with a focus on protecting products, strengthening brands, and innovating sustainably. TekniPlex Consumer Products serves companies around the world in sectors including beauty and personal care, household items, and food and beverage.

With an expanding selection of material-diverse solutions – bolstered in recent years, by a series of strategic acquisitions – TekniPlex Consumer Products is leading the way creating next-generation packaging designs that address real-world challenges in the markets it serves. Most notably, the company is focused on developing more sustainable solutions that continue to provide product safety and consumer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.tekni-plex.com/consumer

An investment of seven million Euros. A new site of 5 thousand new square metres, more than half to be used for production. And a doubling - from today’s 42 to 80 - of the workforce in four years. These are the main figures that denoted the inauguration of the new plant of CMP Phar.ma of Costabissara (Vicenza, Italy), a company that specialises in the production of inspection systems for the pharmaceutical industry.

As far back as 1982, little more than 10 years after its incorporation, CMP Phar.ma was one of the first companies to introduce an automatic ampoule inspection machine with laser lighting onto the market. Over time, CMP Phar.ma has consolidated its position by perfecting a product portfolio which today includes a huge range of inspection machines, not only for ampoules but also for vials, pre-filled syringes and freeze-dried products.

Its recent entry into the galaxy of companies controlled by Marchesini Group - the Bologna-based multinational that is one of the world’s leading producers of machines for packaging pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry products - is enabling CMP Phar.ma to contribute its inspection machines to the realisation of entire production lines, including those used by Big Pharma for packaging Covid vaccines and cancer drugs, both types of biological drug requiring an extremely high level of quality control.

The inauguration was attended by Barbara Beltrame, Vice President of Confindustria with responsibility for internationalisation, and Giovanni Maria Forte, Mayor of Costabissara.

The house honours fell to Luigino Pilastro, CEO of CMP Phar.ma, and Maurizio Marchesini, Chairman of Marchesini Group. The new plant also received a blessing from Father Roberto Xausa, Parish Priest of Costabissara.

“The new plant will become the heart of the production operation, while the warehouse and the company’s Research and Development department will remain at the current site nearby,” Luigi Pilastro explained. “At both sites we will work to conceive and produce new inspection machine models to complete the range, to enable us to break into important markets such as North America and China. At the same time, we’ll push ahead with development of our programme based on Artificial Intelligence.”

The reference here is to the futuristic project developed by an in-house team in partnership with Eyecan, an innovative spin-off linked to the University of Bologna, in which Marchesini Group has a stake. The aim of this ambitious project - which will start to produce the first demos as early as 2024 - is to introduce Artificial Intelligence as standard on all inspection machines.

“At CMP Phar.ma and within Marchesini Group, we make use of AI algorithms both for the predictive maintenance of our machines and to improve the vision and inspection systems used during packaging cycles, as well as to increase the intelligence of the robotics needed to handle products on our lines,” Maurizio Marchesini explained. “The already impressive results are helping to improve production quality and to release human beings from repetitive tasks and free them up for more ‘human’ jobs. So when people ask me - also in my role as Vice President of Confindustria - whether technological progress will create unemployment, my answer is nuanced: jobs will certainly be lost, but new professions will emerge. The crucial difference will be between those working with neural networks and those not capable of using them.”

After the inauguration ceremony, the authorities and guests visited the new plant, which will go into production as soon as the celebrations are over, providing the Vicenza area with a new industrial and technological hub.  
 

The smart packaging campaign utilises a web app-based connected experience accessed via QR codes looking to help cons

While printed electronics can be added to packaging to increase functionality through IoT monitoring and asset tracki

Digimarc and Wipak have partnered with both retail groups to print invisible codes onto the surface of their packagin

Berry Global’s technical and manufacturing skills have achieved a significant breakthrough in the packaging of hazardous liquids. The company has now launched the first 20 and 25 litre containers containing 35% recycled material, which have UN Approval for the transport of hazardous goods for five of the six model liquids in the UN assessment.

In addition to the existing UN approval for water, the new containers also have approval for wetting solution, acetic acid, white spirit, and N-butyl acetate.

The introduction of these new containers into the company’s popular Optimum range will support companies both in meeting their sustainability goals and satisfying consumer demands for more sustainable packaging solutions. It will also help businesses comply with forthcoming legislation covering the required minimum amount of recycled material in a pack.

The inclusion of 35% recycled HDPE (rHDPE) into the Optimum containers provided a technical challenge in order to achieve UN accreditation. Typical processing of the material can sometimes produce varying results due to its composition, but UN approval requires processing to be stable and repeatable to ensure the quality and consistent performance of the finished container.

To ensure this, Berry is taking its rHDPE from controlled sources, focusing on post-industrial packaging such as IBCs, drums, and HDPE canisters. This minimises any variations in the material. In addition, the containers retain their low weight, both reducing the amount of material required in production and maximising ease of handling for the end-user.

“We believe these new containers offer one of the highest contents of recycled material with UN approval currently available on the market,” commented Rudolph Pfeiffer, General Manager for Berry Global BMS. “We are very pleased to be able to provide our customers with a solution to the packaging of challenging products that supports their sustainability commitments without compromising on quality or performance.”

The new Optimum containers are available with standard DIN61 and ASTM63 neck finishes, suitable for a range of standard and vented closures, and can also be specified in a range of colours. The containers’ design with interlocking top and base allows safe and easy stacking.

Typical applications include chemicals, hazardous goods, agriculture and horticulture, automotive care and pool care. Berry says additional container sizes are now in development.

 About Berry
At Berry Global Group, Inc. (NYSE: BERY), we create innovative packaging and engineered products that we believe make life better for people and the planet. We do this every day by leveraging our unmatched global capabilities, sustainability leadership, and deep innovation expertise to serve customers of all sizes around the world. Harnessing the strength in our diversity and industry-leading talent of 46,000 global employees across more than 250 locations, we partner with customers to develop, design, and manufacture innovative products with an eye toward the circular economy. The challenges we solve and the innovations we pioneer benefit our customers at every stage of their journey. For more information, visit our website, or connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter.
 

Berry Global has introduced a new range of upmarket reusable plastic cups for the foodservice industry, to meet increasing demand for alternative solutions to single-use packaging. Available in a variety of sizes for hot and cold beverages, including soups, and ideal for both on-site and takeaway requirements, the Berry Cup Range combines reusability with a premium quality feel and high-impact branding opportunities.

The new drinking cups are exceptionally durable and have a reusable feel. All are dishwasher safe and have an inside stacking rim and ribs for with smooth curves for improved cleaning. This also ensures that they retain their premium quality feel even after they have been used several times. The stackable design means they occupy minimal space.

Despite their durability, the cups are lightweight and can be recycled when they finally reach their end of life, as they are made from high-quality polypropylene (PP) which is safe for food contact and easy to recycle.

In addition, the Berry Cup Range has been designed to offer brands full customisation opportunities to further elevate the customer experience.

“We aimed to create a range of plastic cups that is not only reusable but also serve as a canvas for customised expressions for individual businesses,” explained Emma Gundersen, Product Designer at Berry Superfos. “The unique rib structure makes the cups visually appealing and adds a touch of elegance. On top of that, customers can create their own unique look for their brands by playing with the In-Mould Labelling (IML) space and having logos and messages printed on the cup.”

Equally important, the reusable cups can incorporate an RFID chip or QR code to provide additional customer engagement. The RFID chip offers the ability to set up a streamlined automatic return deposit system and refill options. It also ensures efficient cup maintenance through wash cycle tracking and inventory management.

“The Berry Cup Range is an example of how we help our customers to reduce waste and to minimise their environmental footprint and use of virgin materials,” said Josef Björck, Vice President of Berry CPI Food Service.

“Our focus as a packaging supplier is to optimise the design process with sustainability in mind, incorporating elements such as reusability and recyclability whilst still offering our customers the opportunity to make their brand stand out with high-quality packaging solutions.”

The Berry Cup range is available in 250 ml and 500 ml sizes for hot drinks and soups and 250 ml, 400ml and 500ml sizes for cold drinks.

The hot cups feature heat insulated material while the ribs ensure additional heat insulation as well as a secure grip.

About Berry

At Berry Global Group, Inc. (NYSE: BERY), we create innovative packaging and engineered products that we believe make life better for people and the planet. We do this every day by leveraging our unmatched global capabilities, sustainability leadership, and deep innovation expertise to serve customers of all sizes around the world. Harnessing the strength in our diversity and industry-leading talent of 46,000 global employees across more than 265 locations, we partner with customers to develop, design, and manufacture innovative products with an eye toward the circular economy. The challenges we solve and the innovations we pioneer benefit our customers at every stage of their journey. For more information, visit our website, or connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter.