If you’re in a business that frequently transports materials, you probably need industry-grade bulk bags. Bulk bags are heavy-duty and durable bags, and some call them bulk containers or super sacks. Most bulk bags are woven and used in transporting heavy loads, usually carried by a forklift. 

Bulk bags are versatile as they’re designed for different types and uses. As such, these bags are the go-to option when moving and storing agricultural food, chemical, and construction products.

 If you’re still deciding whether you’d need industry-grade bulk bags, this article outlines the benefits of these bags that could help you in your decision. Read on to learn more.

1. Wide Range Of Selection

Typically, there’s a vast selection of bulk bag products made by bulk bag manufacturers. Depending on your industry, you could choose the type of bulk bag that fits your needs. Here are some industry-standard bags you could choose from:

• Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container (FIBC): This refers to heavy-duty bulk containers made of polypropylene woven fabrics. These are ideal for transporting or storing dry and flowable materials such as sand, gravel, flour, and fertilizer.

• Circular Woven Bags: These bags are made of materials and fabrics sewn onto one another with a four-panel bag. Its stability and space are enough to hold heavy products or irregular-sized products.

• Conical Bags: Businesses that use these bulk bags have an opening designed for easy pouring or emptying into a new container—most probably a vehicle to transport or construction space.

• U-Panel Bags: Most businesses purchase these bags because of their affordability, efficiency, and versatility. U-panel bags get its name from its appearance.

• Form-Stable Bags: This type has four panels, extra support, and fixed inserts at each corner. Because of their features, many businesses choose these bulk bags. Form-stable bags are perfect for goods that come in granular form, such as limestone cement, grains, and chemicals.

2. Industry-Standard Qualities

Industry-grade bulk bags are known for their excellent features. Apart from durability, industry-grade bulk bags have durable seams and linings to keep goods intact and secure. They could hold construction products such as sand and cement because of its sturdy material.

Typically, industry-grade containers can carry 400–5,000 lbs. (approx. 181–2,268 kg.) without tearing or leaking. Additionally, these bulk containers have excellent filling properties that make them highly durable even when lifted and transported for long hours.

3. Eco-Friendliness

Industry-grade bulk bags are known for being reusable. Even though these are used to carry and transport heavy products, they don’t lose their sturdiness. In addition, they could hold different industrial products, whether for mining, construction, agricultural, and chemical. However, if a bulk bag is used to store or carry hazardous chemicals, the best way to do with it is to dispose of it properly and not be reused.

4. Safety

There are two points on how industry-grade bulk containers ensure safety.

First, they’re durable enough to hold products. Because of the high-quality materials from which the bags are made, they’re nearly indestructible. In addition, the bags have safety straps and locks that could help in holding the products more tightly and more securely.

Second, industry-grade bulk bags have different safety grades when it comes to carrier density and electrostatic control. In layman’s terms, these bulk containers can hold abrasive, hazardous, and sharp products, depending on their safety grade.

5. Pest Resistance

Since bulk bags are made of durable thermoplastic materials, the products they carry are safe against pests such as rodents and ants. Whether businesses store pet foods, agricultural products, or food, the materials make them resistant to pests.

6. Moisture Resistance

One great quality of thermoplastic materials is that they keep moisture from seeping into industry-grade bulk bags. This way, the products inside are safe from being wet. This is helpful, in most cases, as the quality of some products like cement, flour, and other food items are affected when they get wet. Furthermore, as these bulk bags are resistant to moisture, they prevent mold growth and spoilage.

7. Food-Grade Quality

Because most bulk bags are polypropylene containers, they’re approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. As such, many food and medical industries choose bulk bags for their goods as reliable storage options for food and medicine. This way, businesses know their products aren’t contaminated and retain its high quality.

8. Flexibility

Since thermoplastic materials are mostly pliable, bulk bags can adjust their size to the shape and weight of the products they carry. This way, these bags are easy to move and work with. In addition, they’re easy to lift for forklifts and other vehicles.

9. Inexpensive

Because of their durability, there’s no need to buy bulk bag replacements compared to single-use bags. In addition, businesses could save more with the affordable prices of these containers in bulk orders. Furthermore, bulk bags are considered inexpensive because of its reusability.

10. Lightweight

While bulk bags could carry an impressive number of products, they’re also easy to carry when they’re empty. This is because polypropylene—one of the lightest thermoplastic materials—is one main component of which industry-grade bulk bags are made.

11. Simple Packaging

Bulk bags, especially the smaller types, could also be used for carrying personal stuff that are too big for regular bags yet too small for super sacks. This trend has become popular in many places that most establishments offer mini bulk bags as tote carriers for customers or workers.

Wrapping Up

Industry-grade bulk bags have been instrumental in carrying cargo in the past decades. As such, various industries have used these bags for multiple purposes. The prolonged use of these top-quality materials may reflect its usability and importance to different businesses such as the agriculture, medicine, food, and construction industries.

The benefits mentioned in this article do not prescribe businesses to purchase bulk bags. Instead, they should present what most buyers think are excellent features of bulk bags that could have an impact to any customer or business.

Now that you’re done reading this, you should start inspecting your bulk bags if they meet industry standards for quality and included features. Each detail could show whether industry-grade bulk bags could provide the benefits mentioned in this article. Think about the points that could help you decide which industry-grade bulk container could fit your business and help in storing and delivering your products without any hassle.

UK, September 2021 – After the Australian "Bridgestone World Solar Challenge" was canceled, an adequate alternative route to the flat outback was quickly found with the "Solar Challenge Morocco". Despite the changed route through the desert and along the Atlas Mountains, the dutch racing team of Solar Team Twente is still optimistic that they will be able to win the World Championship for Solar Cars – also thanks to the sponsorship of Leybold.

Promoting efficient use of renewable energies

On 23 October, the starting signal for the international student teams will be given in the port city of Agadir. The 2500-kilometre route will be ridden in five daily stages. In addition to the sporting competition, the event serves not least the worldwide networking of young scientists as well as the sustainable promotion of innovation and research. "In times of climate change, we see a responsibility in concretely promoting the efficient use of renewable energy potentials and thus contributing to the reduction of air pollution," says Ian Dorman, General Manager of Leybold EMEA North East, explaining the sponsorship of the vacuum specialist.

Competitive solar car developed

The commitment of the Dutch team is also worthy of sponsorship for other reasons: after all, the 19 students of the Solar Team Twente had interrupted their studies for a year and a half to develop and build a competitive solar car. Leybold’s sponsorship with the SOGEVAC 16 D vacuum pump allows the team to continue processing carbon and epoxy by means of vacuum infusion and lamination either in-house, or when required locally at the race site, due to the pumps compact and portable design. "This has also been achieved with the help of the support of our sponsors, so we feel well equipped and motivated to compete for the title in Morocco," emphasises Structural Designer, Stijn Louws. After all, the Dutch have already been successful in past world championships for solar cars.

Vacuum for the production of solar modules and lithium-ion batteries

The commitment is an important concern for Leybold: "It is my pleasure to support Solar Team Twente, we see the enormous potential of electromobility and are also convinced that we can push the success of the team with our contribution," emphasises the responsible Sales Engineer of Leybold Netherlands, Andries Verstraeten. With their wealth of experience, companies like Leybold can also significantly promote electromobility and thus contribute to the success of the energy transition. Especially since vacuum systems are used, for example, in the coating of solar modules or in the production of lithium-ion batteries. This is another reason why those responsible for Solar Team Twente choose renowned partners like Leybold to lead such challenges to success.

About Leybold

Leybold is a part of the Atlas Copco’s Vacuum Technique business area and offers a broad range of advanced vacuum solutions for use in manufacturing and analytical processes, as well as for research purposes. The core capabilities centre on the development of application- and customer-specific systems for the creation of vacuums and extraction of processing gases. Fields of application are secondary metallurgy, heat treatment, automotive industry, coating technologies, solar and thin films such as displays, research & development, analytical instruments, food & packaging, as well as a multitude of other classic industrial processes.

About Atlas Copco Group

Our industrial ideas empower our customers to grow and drive society forward. This is how we create a better tomorrow. Atlas Copco is a global industrial group, founded in 1873 in Stockholm. In 2020, we had revenues of BSEK100 (BEUR 10) and at year end about 40 000 employees

Utilized for Well Body foot cream from Steinfels, Neopac’s DigitAll360° offers intuitive ordering of digitally printed tubes with high-quality variable printing, precision color matching, flexible batch sizes and expedited delivery.

Oberdiessbach, Switzerland – Hoffmann Neopac, a global provider of high-quality packaging for a broad array of industries and applications, has won a Swiss Packaging Award in the Marketing category for the company’s initial project involving its recently launched DigitAll360° tube procurement service. Introduced earlier this year with an online marketplace, DigitAll360° offers intuitive ordering of digitally printed tubes with high-quality variable printing, precision color matching, flexible batch sizes and expedited delivery.

The DigitAll360° online shop was introduced to address a longstanding desire to provide exemplary products and services even to start-up and niche brands. Neopac has noticed growing demand from start-ups, indie beauty brands, natural cosmetics manufacturers and pharmacies seeking high quality printed tubes in runs of 2,000-25,000. Via its easy, automatic design-and-order process, DigitAll360° has opened Neopac’s tubes portfolio to smaller, newer brands looking to combine product protection with dazzling decoration. 

The award speaks to the new tool’s potential: Switzerland-based Steinfels was actually the pilot customer for DigitAll360°. The tubes produced were 75ml in volume, 40 mm in diameter, and comprised 64% post-consumer recycled materials. The tubes were digitally printed, and feature a Supersoft flip-top cap. 

Despite being the first commercial order for DigitALL360°, the project was nonetheless a continuation of an existing product for Steinfels, meaning the tubes also needed to enter the market seamlessly.

As showcased by the Well Body foot cream, DigitAll360° can print photorealistic graphics and text on the entire surface of cylindrical containers. Quality control elements include automatic 360° print check with improvement reporting, 360° 3D tube views prior to printing, and test packages for preliminary product compatibility and processability tests. Other highlights include: 

•    Unparalleled all-around decoration: True to its name, DigitAll360° offers 360° decoration with no slit or overlap, and also delivers outstanding seam and shoulder printing. As impressive as where it can print is what it can print: highly opaque whites and glosses, vividly displayed to make products stand out from competitors. On-cap decoration capabilities also are available. The newest release enables Neopac customers to choose between glossy or mat varnish, and between mat/glossy combination and selective printing.

•    Unprecedented digital color matching: DigitAll360° can employ up to 7 simultaneous colors with white and glossy lacquer at up to 600 DPI resolution. This ultra-wide color gamut and micron-level color registration yields photorealistic images and superb color matching ideal for half-tones, gradients and other special hues.

•    Digital-level variability: Digital printing also makes variating decorations or text far more economical. From mosaic printing, promotions and prototypes to packages printed in different languages, DigitAll360° offers unsurpassed versatility.  

•    Quick delivery: Neopac can deliver DigitAll360° products on short lead times – typically within four weeks. This overcomes a consistent industry challenge for printing with this level of style, sophistication and brand impact. 

•    Increased Sustainability: From initial decoration to product manufacturing to consumer recycling, DigitAll360° delivers major sustainability enhancements and reduces environmental footprint throughout product lifecycles. The service offers a mono-material PE and PCR (post-consumer recycled) tube portfolio, and digital printing also helps lower resource waste and consumption as well as energy and chemicals usage. In the near future, Neopac’s  PICEA™ wood tube will be added to the web shop portfolio.

The Swiss Packaging Institute’s Swiss Packaging Awards honor outstanding packaging-related achievements and solutions. The annual competition showcases the robustness and creativity of Switzerland’s packaging industry. Winners are entitled to enter the World Star Packaging Awards, the international competition recognizing the world’s best packaging innovations.

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 CMP tins in Holland; Polyfoil® and plastic tubes with NEOPAC in Switzerland, Hungary and the US; and 3D Neopac in India. Its longstanding customers include internationally active pharmaceutical, cosmetics and consumer goods manufacturers in the European, North American and Asian markets. 

Including its new production facility in the United States, Neopac employs around 1,250 employees and has a capacity of 1.3 billion tubes. The company is dedicated to sustainability in both its manufacturing processes and corporate culture, including a dedicated eco-conscious packaging portfolio. For more information, visit www.neopac.com.  
 

This announcement comes after a successful UK trial last year( see AIPIA newsletter 14-10-20) in partnership with Co-

The global pandemic has affected the packaging solution industry by leading to a significant price increase and shortage of raw materials and components used in packaging equipment. To compensate for the rising costs and continue to provide the highest quality solutions, Sidel is implementing a commodity-induced price adjustment on its equipment by an average of 5% effective September 6, 2021. Deficiency of raw materials and components may impact equipment delivery time as well.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Sidel has been striving to keep the same price level for its equipment despite the fact that the price of raw materials has increased significantly since 2020. Moreover, this increase is not expected to recover in the foreseeable future.

Additionally, the pandemic, combined with other external factors, has resulted in a significant shortage of microchips globally. This shortage is an outcome of supply-related disruptions, including forced closure of factories, together with an unanticipated increase in demand for personal electronics such as cell phones and laptops as people were required to work or study remotely. Both supply shortage of microchips and increase in consumption of personal electronics lead to supplier delays which might impact the overall Sidel delivery channels for the near future.

“We are doing everything that is in our control to ensure the high quality solutions Sidel is known and celebrated for and to acquire the needed commodities whenever and wherever they are available. For this reason, we have increased communication with our suppliers and customers as well as adapted our project execution processes internally, so that the component delays have the minimum impact possible,” says Ko Hoepman, EVP Portfolio, Innovation & Marketing at Sidel, assuring that Sidel is working to mitigate any risks that shortages could cause.

Editor’s Note: The images within this document are for illustrative purposes only and should not be used for reproduction. If high-resolution copies are not attached with the document, please contact Elina Kresa at F&H Communications for copies – see contact details below.

Sidel is a leading global provider of packaging solutions for beverage, food, home and personal care products in PET, can, glass and other materials.

Based on over 170 years of proven experience, we help shape the factory of tomorrow, through advanced systems and services, line engineering, eco-solutions, and other innovations. With over 40,000 machines installed in more than 190 countries, Sidel has 5,000+ employees worldwide who are passionate about providing equipment and service solutions that fulfil customer needs.

We continuously ensure we understand the evolving business and market challenges our customers face and commit to meeting their unique performance and sustainability goals. As a partner, we apply our solid technical knowledge, packaging expertise and smart data analytics to assure lifetime productivity at its full potential.

Advanced tray sealing technology from Proseal is proving ideal for the safe and efficient packaging of a variety of pharmaceutical products and medical devices. Proseal’s clean-room compatible machines have replaced the time-consuming manual placement of the lidding onto the trays for a faster and more efficient continuous sealing operation that can help to reduce material usage without compromising on pack integrity.

Typical applications include medication, syringes both empty and filled, surgical instruments, surgery kits, artificial joints and implants. Proseal tray sealing machines can handle trays in many different tray designs and materials with a wide choice of sealing films, such as Tyvek ® woven material, gas barrier and UV blocking varieties.

In addition, the company’s in-house testing facility enables the trialling of different trays and films to find the best solution for individual products. This ensures that any potential tray format is conducive to sealing and able to deliver the required levels of product protection.

Tests can also be carried out to assess and quantify the peel strength of any tray and film combination. This tells users how much force is required to peel open the film – an invaluable tool in ensuring that a pack meets the required peel-ability standards that will ensure it offers the ideal balance between convenience and protection.

Proseal tray sealing machines can be tailored to the precise requirements of each application to meet the stringent quality and safety standards of the pharmaceutical and medical devices industries. Features that can be incorporated include vision systems for quality checks, production fail-safes to identify and remove ‘out of spec’ products, calibrated sensors, traceability systems and date and lot code marking.

The simple and accurate film feed system and high accuracy tool alignment ensure constant accurate sealing. Consistent seal quality, strength and reliability is delivered by Proseal’s proven Eseal® technology, while the company’s unique ProPosition™ tray positioning system speeds up product changeovers and avoids operator errors during set-up. Ease of operation is further enhanced by the user-friendly menu-driven control panel with step-by-step prompts, error and status displays.

“Safe and reliable packaging is essential for any type of medical products, and a manual operation inevitably carries greater risk of operator error,” explains Simon Cheeseman, Projects Engineer at Proseal. “Our tray sealing machines are able to fully automate the sealing process, providing a faster operation and a more efficient use of materials.”

Founded in 1998, Proseal designs and manufactures high quality tray sealing machines, case packers, conveyor systems and sealing tools for markets worldwide. Proseal is part of the JBT family, and together they remain committed to continually supporting customers’ needs.

The 

Tetra Pak’s 22nd annual sustainability report is highlighting the company’s 70 percent greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)

AEROBAL, the International Organisation of Aluminium Aerosol Container Manufacturers, held its much-acclaimed competition for the world’s best and most innovative aluminium aerosol cans also during the second year of the pandemic. AEROBAL Secretary General Gregor Spengler said he was pleased to find that the innovative strength of the industry had not diminished at all, despite the particularly challenging situation during the crisis and the difficult market situation overall. The members of the international jury also witnessed this achievement. Nine renowned journalists from globally recognised packaging and aerosol industry magazines selected the winners of the World Aluminium Aerosol Can Award 2021.

As this year’s winner in the category of aluminium aerosol cans already on the market, the jury chose the cans manufactured by Trivium Packaging Argentina for Cocinero Fritolim Oliva and Clasico. Cocinero Fritolim Oliva is an edible oil spray that aims to offer health-conscious consumers both quality and controlled portioning. The spray gives consumers who want to take in fewer calories more control over the distribution and application of the oil. This ultimately means less oil is consumed and calorie intake is reduced. The oil comes in three different flavours: Clasico, Oliva and Butter. For each variant, an exemplary design concept highlights and emphasises the product’s iconic brand image: there is a handsome-looking man in an apron and chef’s hat who is smiling at the consumer. Eye contact involuntarily engages the viewer’s attention; at the same time, the handsome man gives the product and the brand an unmistakable face in the true sense of the word.

When designing the packaging it was of paramount importance to achieve this iconic look perfectly. But, given the shape of the can, this also presented a real challenge at the same time, and this was mastered excellently. In the graphic pre-production phase, the distinctive face had to be created precisely in such a way that it would appear perfectly and correctly proportioned despite the deformation of the can during the manufacturing process. The sophisticated appearance was achieved optimally. Other design elements of the winning cans are also striking and eye-catching: a powerful green and a dominant red, which were also consistently picked up in the colour of the respective cap, stand for the different types of oil. Another key to the brand’s success is the use of sustainable materials. Cocinero therefore uses infinitely recyclable aluminium cans with recyclate content. Overall, the cans thus stand for health consciousness, attractiveness and sustainability, which is completely in keeping with the company’s mission.

The winners in the Prototype category were two aluminium cans, ‘Save the Earth’ and ‘The Matrix’, intended for self-marketing purposes and manufactured by CCL Container from the USA. The US manufacturer cooperated with Sun Chemical to develop and produce these attractive aluminium cans with their remarkable and novel spot varnish ink technology. CCL was thus responding to strong interest on the part of its clients for the new option this printing technology offers and their desire for new ways to design aluminium cans. As can be seen from the two prototypes, the commitment, investment and work has paid off. The strong contrast in visual perception between the matt and glossy areas fascinates at first sight and ensures an outstanding presence on the shelf.

The special feature of this promising technology is at the same time a special challenge: it no longer uses a traditional varnish in the conventional sense. Instead, it is integrated into the printing ink as an additive and then develops its function. Deformation of the can would be extremely difficult without a varnish – whether of the traditional type or as an additive in the printing ink. The varnish also protects the cans from scratching, chipping of the printing ink, abrasions and other signs of wear. The extraordinarily successful and fascinating appearance of these two award-winning prototypes gives an idea of the fantastic opportunities made possible by this technology: exciting aluminium cans as irresistible eye-catchers at the point of sale, attracting lots of attention and optimising the glamorous appearance of products and brands via their spectacular design.

In the Sustainability category, the aluminium can from Cien Deo, which is produced by German can manufacturer Tubex, came out on top. According to the manufacturer, the winning can is the first aluminium aerosol can printed with an eco-friendly and sustainable printing ink. The ink used is free of mineral, palm, soybean or coconut oils and thus contributes to protecting the rainforests of our Earth. Furthermore, no genetically modified organic substances are used and all binders are based on renewable sources. Additionally, the printing ink is not subject to mandatory labelling thanks to its natural ingredients.

In addition to the impressive environmental performance of the printing ink used, the winning can also offers a whole range of other positive aspects and eco-friendly properties when it comes to sustainability. These include a patented alloy that leads to a further weight reduction of six per cent compared to the can used previously. Moreover, the use and processing of aluminium packaging from the Yellow Bag or Yellow Bin system allows the integration of 25 per cent certified PCR material in the can. Finally, a water-based coating lacquer reduces the use of solvents by an impressive 60 per cent. When all this is taken together, Cien Deo’s can should indeed be one of the most sustainably produced aluminium cans currently on the market and explains why it was awarded a prize for sustainability by the jury.

“The issue of sustainability continues to play the central role in the aluminium aerosol can industry and, of course, in packaging in general,” explains AEROBAL Secretary General Gregor Spengler. “It’s remarkable and satisfying to see that even in times of crisis, the efforts and investments of our member companies have not diminished at all when it comes to sustainable concepts. Looking at this year’s competition, it rather seems to be the case that our industry is once again stepping up its efforts to create eco-friendly and environmentally compatible packaging solutions.

But that’s not all. The World Aluminium Aerosol Can Award 2021 has also produced impressive and ground-breaking ideas in printing, decoration and finishing that will open up additional opportunities for designers and marketing specialists and further boost the role of the aluminium aerosol can in global packaging markets.”

Alternative and recycled materials, barrier technologies, innovative solutions for the POS, and the circular economy itself will be the focus of Greiner Packaging’s appearance at FachPack this year. The packaging experts will be exhibiting in Nuremberg, Germany from September 28 to 30, giving prospective and existing customers an exciting look at current developments, trends, and innovations.

Offering a unique event experience, FACHPACK, the European trade show for packaging, technology, and processing, is an important agenda setter for the European packaging industry and its customers. The expo provides a platform for exhibitors and visitors from every industry to have conversations, inspire one another, and work together on the packaging ideas of the future. Greiner Packaging will also be taking the opportunity to showcase its broad range of products and services at the event. Taking center stage at this year’s exhibit will be the point of sale, barrier solutions for longer food shelf life, and sustainable packaging solutions that meet the criteria associated with a sustainable circular economy. Those interested in visiting but unable to come to Nuremberg due to continuing travel difficulties will still have the opportunity to attend the trade show virtually. Company exhibits and product presentations can be viewed on the myFACHPACK online platform or digital appointments can be made with the Greiner Packaging trade show team.

POS: first impressions count

Packaging is especially important in a retail setting. It acts as an information carrier, plays a product presentation role, and takes on the tasks of brand communication and sales promotion. Anyone looking to stand out from the competition will need to embrace innovative ideas and fresh approaches – both in terms of the design and decoration of the packaging, but also with regard to logistics and presentation. Plus, the digital revolution has now clearly become a factor at the POS. More and more often, digital elements are a popular part of packaging, and these require greater know-how and expertise from specialists such as Greiner Packaging.

Sustainable packaging solutions

Across the board, almost all packaging today has to meet the criteria associated with a sustainable circular economy. With this in mind, Greiner Packaging will be displaying a broad range of different potential solutions at FACHPACK.

From recycled and alternative materials …

By offering a diverse assortment of materials, Greiner Packaging ensures that customers have a choice between not only the most sustainable options but also the best possible solution for each individual project. One category of solutions the packaging specialists will be exhibiting is alternative materials. These are alternatives to conventional plastics that do not require any new concepts in terms of filling or use and can be easily swapped in. An example would be paper cups for the ice cream market. Another range of potential solutions to be showcased at the trade show will be prototypes made from renewable materials. By using the BornewablesTM range, Greiner Packaging has for the first time integrated renewable resources into the production of food cups made from polypropylene (PP) with inmold labeling (IML) as the decoration technology. The new premium polyolefins come from Borealis.

In addition, Greiner Packaging will be showing attendees a number of recycled materials. By using recycled materials for new packaging, recycling chains can be kept circular in the future. For instance, Greiner Packaging is currently developing prototypes made of r-PET HTS – recycled PET that is suitable for high-temperature sterilization, enabling it to withstand heat and steam. And r-PS, recycled polystyrene, is already used at Greiner Packaging as a drop-in solution for yogurt cups.

When processed, this behaves just like virgin material and does not require any adjustments – plus, the systems remain just as productive. As well as all the environmental and shop-floor advantages of polystyrene, food-quality r-PS offers the additional benefit of being a completely circular polymer with a good environmental footprint.

through cardboard-plastic combinations …

An innovative improvement to the popular cardboard-plastic combinations will also be presented for the first time at FACHPACK. Consumers were previously asked to separate the cardboard wrap from the plastic cup and then dispose of the two items. But with the new K3® r100, Greiner Packaging has developed a solution in which the cardboard wrap separates itself from the plastic cup during the waste collection process – even before they arrive at the recycling facility. This innovative development makes cardboard-plastic combinations substantially easier to recycle, with the cardboard and plastic assigned to the correct material streams during the initial sorting process before being recycled. And the packaging still features the innovative tear-off solution, which makes separating the plastic and cardboard easier and more intuitive. This means environmentally conscious consumers can continue to separate the items themselves and play it safe when it comes to recycling. It was not for nothing that the tear-off was praised by the jury for the Swiss Packaging Awards, among others.

… to digital watermarks

Digital watermarks, which are being used in initial trials on cardboard-plastic combinations, will also be featured at the show. The codes – which are the size of a postage stamp – are unnoticeable on the packaging surface at first glance. Yet they can still communicate a range of information about the attributes of the packaging, from the manufacturer, the waste management system, the article number, the types of plastic contained, and the composition of multilayer packaging solutions through details regarding the packaging product’s use in the food or nonfood sector. In the future, when used packaging is collected and sent to a sorting system that recognizes the digital watermark, the system will be able to detect and decode it on the sorting belt using a standard high-resolution camera. Depending on the attributes communicated by the watermark, the packaging can then be automatically directed to the right sorting stream, which would allow for more homogeneous streams and higher-quality recycled materials in the future.

Barrier for ideal product protection

In the third major theme of its exhibit, Greiner Packaging will be shedding light on the key issue of sustainability from a different angle: using barrier solutions to extend the shelf life of foods. In particular, fillable products that require a high level of protection against outside elements will benefit from barrier solutions. Greiner Packaging’s inert barrier technology (IBT) and multibarrier technology (MBT) give its customers two different options that allow food to be stored for longer – even without the use of preservatives. This, in turn, means less food waste while providing the best possible product protection.

Cardboard-based packaging

Greiner Packaging’s joint venture partner Cardbox Packaging will also be represented at the show. Cardbox produces creative packaging solutions from cardboard, which perfectly complements Greiner Packaging’s product range as a sustainable raw material. FACHPACK attendees can see the impressive solutions jointly developed by the two companies for themselves.

About Greiner Packaging Greiner Packaging is a leading European manufacturer of plastic packaging in the food and nonfood sectors. The company has enjoyed a reputation for outstanding solutions expertise in the fields of development, design, production, and decoration for more than 60 years. Greiner Packaging responds to the challenges of the market with two business units: Packaging and Assistec. While the Packaging unit focuses on innovative packaging solutions, the Assistec unit is dedicated to producing custom-made technical parts. Greiner Packaging employs a workforce of nearly 4,900 at more than 30 locations in 19 countries around the world. In 2020, the company generated annual sales revenues of EUR 692 million (including joint ventures), which represents approximately 35 percent of Greiner’s total sales.

The Freedonia Group finds that, apples and berries will remain the best opportunities for fresh fruit packaging suppliers through 2024, together accounting for 51% of demand:

Growth in apple packaging demand will be above average, supported by a projected increase in domestic apple production and rising demand for apple slices packaged individually for convenience and snacking.
Berries are relatively intensive users of higher cost rigid packaging containers due to their greater need for protection compared to other fruits, and packaging demand will also benefit from rebounds in domestic production and increasing availability of smaller sizes.
Nevertheless, strong increases in ready-to-eat fruit demand will also yield growth opportunities for packaging suppliers in other applications, as well, particularly melons, grapes, pineapple, mangoes, peaches, and pears.

Fresh Fruit Packaging Demand to Climb 4.0% Annually Through 2024
A new Freedonia Group analysis forecasts demand for fresh fruit packaging to increase 4.0% per year to $2.4 billion in 2024. Sales gains will be supported by:

rising demand for fresh fruit sold in some form of packaging, including pouches, bags, and rigid plastic containers
more intensive use of higher value packaging that offers convenience and ease-of-use features, superior performance and shelf life, and/or improved environmental footprint
increasing sales of ready-to-eat (RTE) pre-cut fruit such as apple slices, melon spears, and citrus segments that are typically sold in tubs, cups, or other rigid plastic containers
Continued elevated retail grocery spending in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic will bolster gains, at least in the near term. Nonetheless, increases will be limited by relatively slow growth in overall domestic fresh fruit output, with declines projected for a few key fruit types, including citrus.

Want to Learn More?

Fresh Fruit Packaging analyzes the US market for fresh fruit packaging. Historical data (2009, 2014, and 2019) and forecasts for 2024 are presented for produce packaging demand in current US dollars (including inflation) by product and application.

Products:

retail-ready and other corrugated boxes
plastic containers (clamshells, tubs, cups, bowls, two-piece containers, pails, domed containers, lidded buckets)
bags, including bag liners (e.g., plastic mesh, paper, textile)
trays and platters
pouches (pillow and stand-up)
baskets, punnets, and tills
other products, including rigid plastic containers (RPCs), plastic film, foam boxes, wood crates, folding cartons, sleeves, paperboard partitions, tissue paper, etc.
Applications:

berries
apples
citrus
melons
grapes
other fruit (e.g., avocados, bananas, mangoes, peaches, pineapples, plums, etc.)
In addition, demand is segmented by packaging material (plastic; paper and paperboard; and other materials such as molded pulp, mesh, wood, and textiles), as well as by packaging format (ready-to-eat and other formats).

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“Sustainability has remained a priority in the packaging industry throughout 2020, even as demand for packaging safet

The new segment is designed to help specifiers, converters, compounders and buyers search, filter, collaborate, reque

The initial trials carried out in Switzerland demonstrate that Greiner Packaging is already capable of producing yogurt cups from 100 percent recycled material. Basically, it’s the most eco-friendly and sustainable solution imaginable. 

Kremsmünster, Austria, September 2020. Greiner Packaging is taking active steps to drive the circular economy forward. One great example is its K3® yogurt cup, which is made from an environmentally friendly cardboard-plastic combination that can be printed with an attractive design. This particular cup is now the focus of a project carried out by Greiner Packaging in Switzerland, a move that reflects the company’s strong commitment to highlighting the outstanding recyclability of polystyrene (PS). The goal is to manufacture food packaging from recycled PS. This project marks the first time that 100 percent mechanically recycled PS has been combined with 100 percent recycled cardboard. The complete solution was tested on the typical Swiss yoghurt twin packs – and the results are very promising.

100 percent mechanically recycled PS used for first time

The high levels of purity reached by PS in tests demonstrate its outstanding suitability for mechanical recycling. In fact, mechanically recycled PS boasts 99.9 percent purity and thus has the potential to achieve food-grade status. While the PS recycled plastic used in these tests has yet to be approved for food contact applications, the initial trials offer proof that Greiner Packaging is already capable of producing yogurt cups with 100 percent mechanically recycled PS. Certification of the material is already underway. This pilot project was facilitated by Styrenics Circular Solutions (SCS), the value chain initiative to realize the circular economy for styrenic polymers. As part of its commitment to sustainability, Greiner Packaging initiated joint activities with SCS with a view to developing food contact applications using recycled PS.

Greiner Packaging actively working toward closed loop for PS 

As a member of SCS, Greiner Packaging promotes sustainable measures for r-PS. Currently, these efforts are focused on the benefits of using mechanically recycled PS: a low carbon footprint thanks to sustainable materials and the creation of closed material loops. In other words, the recycled material does not need to be mixed with virgin material – so a sustainable overall concept can be realized without difficulty. “The goal of obtaining food contact approval for 100 percent mechanically recycled PS and its process can only be achieved with the involvement of many companies across the entire value chain. Our activities in this field are currently focusing on our initial tests with a customer in Switzerland,” explains Tobias Strasser, Managing Director at Greiner Packaging Diepoldsau in Switzerland.
 

About Greiner Packaging
Greiner Packaging is a leading European manufacturer of plastic packaging in the food and nonfood sectors. The company has enjoyed a reputation for outstanding solutions expertise in the fields of development, design, production, and decoration for 60 years. Greiner Packaging responds to the challenges of the market with two business units: Packaging and Assistec. While the Packaging unit focuses on innovative packaging solutions, the Assistec unit is dedicated to producing custom-made technical parts. Greiner Packaging employs a workforce of around 5,000 at more than 30 locations in 19 countries around the world. In 2019, the company generated annual sales revenues of EUR 690 million (including joint ventures), which represents more than 40 percent of Greiner’s total revenue.
 

Apemin Tusnad, the well-known Romanian mineral water player, has invested in Sidel’s complete PET line for carbonated and non-carbonated mineral water to meet changing market demand as well as its sustainability goals. Thanks to Sidel’s Combi SF300 solution, running at 18,000 bottles per hour (bph), and to packaging innovations in the form of lightweighting and a shorter neck finish, a smaller carbon footprint has been generated, yielding average savings of 5% on plastic consumption for each bottle and a high standard of hygiene.

Founded in 1999, Apemin Tusnad is one of the main mineral water bottlers in Romania, with investments of over 30 million euros since the foundation of the company in technology and a production capacity of 50,000 litres per hour. The company owns three brands – Tusnad, Artesia and Izvorul Ascuns. Apemin Tusnad uses mineral well water that comes from the depths of the Harghita volcanic mountains, a mountainous area where nature has remained untouched. The high quality of the mineral water has been recognised since the 16th century. 

The privately owned company works in harmony with the environment and aims to provide the purest water to consumers. To sustain this mission, it is crucial not only to protect the water source from its origin, but also to ensure the hygiene of the whole bottling process. 

In 2020, the market share of packaged water in Romania was 51% on the non-alcoholic market in million litres . Additionally, consumers pay more attention to superior water quality and, due to the rising importance of convenience, “on-the-go” consumption is also thriving 

Hygiene goes hand in hand with sustainability

The partnership with Sidel began in 2003, when the first fully automatic PET line was installed in the Tusnad plant. After the reference visit to Italy in 2019, the company came to Sidel again for improving their performance with a new PET line.

The company decided to invest in a new Sidel Combi carbonated and non-carbonated mineral water PET line, owing to its high technical and hygiene standards. All bottle forming, filling and closing operations are performed in an integrated and fully automated system. Thus, the entire bottling circuit of mineral water – from the underground aquifer to the enclosed filling environment – takes place in a controlled system without any external biological interaction. In addition, thanks to the Sidel SF300 filler with reduced filler enclosure, it helps preserve the purity and mineral character of the water keeping the filling environment compact and in consistent overpressure with HEPA filters ensuring the highest hygiene standards.

Responding the homage to Mother Nature, Sidel’s BlendFill integrated filler and carbonator solution also contributes to Apemin Tusnad’s sustainable roadmap, as it requires fewer components and functions and also reduce CO2 consumption, generating a smaller carbon footprint. Moreover, since 2020, all Apemin Tusnad brands have been produced with lightweighting preforms and shorter neck finishes, achieving average savings of 5% on plastic consumption for each bottle.

Production flexibility and local service generate trust

The new complete PET line for carbonated and non-carbonated water can run at up to 18,000 bph and accommodates various formats from 0.5 L to 2.5 L, which increases production capacity up to 40%. 

“We chose Sidel not only because of its strength in PET solutions, but also thanks to the great local service it offers. Throughout the pre-contracting phase and execution, we experienced a high level of professionalism from Sidel’s staff, with clear communication and close support. This is the synergy we are looking for in a partner,” concludes Gyarfas Kurko, the owner of Apemin Tusnad.
 

Sidel is a leading global provider of packaging solutions for beverage, food, home and personal care products in PET, can, glass and other materials.

Based on over 170 years of proven experience, we help shape the factory of tomorrow, through advanced systems and services, line engineering, eco-solutions, and other innovations. With over 40,000 machines installed in more than 190 countries, Sidel has 5,000+ employees worldwide who are passionate about providing equipment and service solutions that fulfil customer needs. 

We continuously ensure we understand the evolving business and market challenges our customers face and commit to meeting their unique performance and sustainability goals. As a partner, we apply our solid technical knowledge, packaging expertise and smart data analytics to assure lifetime productivity at its full potential.

We call it Performance through Understanding.

Find out more at www.sidel.com and connect with us
 

According to data by the National Restaurant Association of India, both social distancing and food safety concerns ha

Developed in partnership with Memjet and ColorGATE, AlphaFlex enables on-demand production of unique single-dose sachets that can be opened with a single gesture using one hand with sophisticated, high quality in-line printing

V-Shapes, the world’s most innovative supplier of convenient, hygienic and sustainable single-dose packaging equipment, will make its debut at PackExpo by showing its latest innovation, the unique AlphaFlex print, form, fill and seal solution. This compact, professional-grade dosing and delivery system will feature high quality synchronized printing on both sides of the sachets, Powered by Memjet’s DuraFlex® technology and ColorGATE Packaging Productionserver when it becomes commercially available later this year. The V-Shapes AlphaFlex dosing and delivery technology makes it possible for vertical integration of high volume production of the patented V-Shapes single-dose sachets. Eliminating the need to outsource printing and giving complete manufacturing control back to the brand owners and co-packers. PackExpo, scheduled for 27 to 29 September in Las Vegas, marks the first time AlphaFlex will be shown in North America. V-Shapes will be located in the Central Hall, Booth C-4703, at the show. Memjet representatives will also be available at the V-Shapes booth.

“We are excited to be able to show our new AlphaFlex dosing and delivery solution to the many attendees expected at PackExpo Las Vegas 2021,” said Charanjit Hayre - President / CEO of V-Shapes North America. “This revolutionary filling/converting machine was made possible through a variety of important partnerships, including Memjet, Siemens and SIHL, as well as the talented V-Shapes engineering team. It was no small challenge to develop synchronized feeds and professional quality printing of our patented single-dose sachets, and we think the visitors to PackExpo will be amazed when they see what we and our partners have accomplished!”

V-Shapes AlphaFlex features integrated in-line printing into the V-Shapes six-lane ALPHA machine, enabling packaging converters/fillers to accomplish the complete manufacturing process of V-Shapes’ unique single-dose sachets under one roof with a compact footprint, full color branding capabilities, in line, on demand and with the industry’s highest quality. In the AlphaFlex configuration, the printing module prints a single side of the single-dose sachets inline, synchronized with each other, and precisely married for die cutting, filling and sealing. 

To learn more about the AlphaFlex vertically integrated end-to-end solution for production and filling of single-dose sachets, and other products and services from V-Shapes, visit www.v-shapes.com

About V-Shapes 
Founded in 2018, V-Shapes is the leading provider of products and services designed to produce and fill single-unit dose packaging that enables product to be dispensed using one hand. Located in Bologna, Italy, V-Shapes manufactures, sells and services innovative vertically integrated systems for single-dose packaging that minimize waste, shorten time to market, offer a more sustainable packaging solution and are a unique and safe means for consumers to dispense single-unit measures of liquid and powdered products. The company partners with packaging converters/fillers around the globe to offer these unique services to brands in a wide range of industries, from food and cosmetics to hand sanitizer and industrial products that are efficiently served up in single-unit doses, producing packaging on demand in small or large quantities.

About Memjet
Memjet is a global leader in the design and development of innovative thermal inkjet printhead technology, supporting modules, and aqueous inks. The modularity and technical components, combined with Memjet’s commitment to customer success, empower OEM partners all over the world to develop fast, cost-effective printing solutions to grow and succeed in new markets. Together, we are building the future of print. Visit www.memjet.com
 

Silver plastics, one of the leading German manufacturers of plastic packaging in the food industry, is now deploying a new solution to connect its machines. The connectivity solution is designed to improve the visibility and use of production data. silver plastics is therefore cooperating with the software company RE: GmbH, a corporate start-up of the Reifenhäuser Group. As an initial step, RE: GmbH has connected two machines at the facility in Troisdorf to the c.Hub platform and has developed a dashboard for data visualization.

"It is very valuable for us to now gain real time insight into the production data of all connected machines. After all, the c.Hub allows us to connect both older and new machinery," emphasizes Daniel Arens, Head of Maintenance at silver plastics. "The dashboard makes it easy to see how production is going - even from the office." Thorsten Reckelkamm, Project Manager at RE: GmbH, explains, " We have the ambition to digitize the extrusion industry. So far, it is still very common to capture data on paper or in many separate systems. This is inaccurate and prone to errors. We are pleased to have now gained a partner in silver plastics that could set a new trend in the industry."

In addition to the management, it is primarily the maintenance department which benefits from the new solution. " We now receive data that is much more accurate and reliable than paper notes," emphasizes Peter Landsberg, Automation Engineer at silver plastics. "Previously, machine operators used to check the values directly on the machine at regular intervals. But if, for example, a temperature fluctuation occurs between these periods, they do not notice it. The new dashboard helps us to identify production errors at an early stage and to better localize them. We can also derive more precisely whether and where maintenance is necessary," says Landsberg. The connectivity solution is initially designed as a proof of concept. In the next step, additional machines will be connected and linked to further apps, for example for Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE).

About silver plastics
Silver plastics® GmbH & Co. KG is a leading manufacturer of plastic packaging. Since 1967, the company has been producing in Troisdorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, on a total of 56,000 m² factory space. With approx. 200 employees and an annual turnover of 50 million euros, an output of up to one billion certified packages is produced annually. Since a social mindset shift from economy to ecology is already taking place in the light of future generations, silver plastics® is aware of its responsibility and has long since aligned its entire strategy as well as its research and development towards sustainability. With the foundation of the Golden Fibres brand, silver plastics® is henceforth setting an example that aligning the company's strategy with the pillars "Circular Economy" and "Naturally Organic" is the right combination for a sustainable future in the packaging industry. 
 

About RE: GmbH
RE: strongly believes that sustainable production is closely linked to data transparency and customer empowerment. The software company helps its customers to gain insights into their processes and optimize production using a single point of truth for all relevant data. RE: solutions enable plastic film, sheet and nonwoven manufacturers to utilize their data to improve their OEE without having a vendor lock-in. As a corporate start-up of the Reifenhäuser Group we combine the best of both worlds – the experience and know-how of the leading machine manufacturer for extrusion lines with the vibrant culture of a start-up

The latest pharmaceutical packaging and devices are supporting the growing trend towards eHealth, according to leading global supplier Berry Healthcare.

eHealth seeks to promote and facilitate health and wellbeing in people, and enhance carer practice, through the use of information management and information and communication technology (ICT).

Berry Healthcare says that eHealth can encourage the shift towards personalised and precision medicine, which allows targeted, individualised care to be tailored to individual patients, based on their specific genetic profile and medical history.

eHealth is also an important part of the move towards telemedicine and remote diagnostics, a trend that has been accelerated by the Covid-19 crisis. According to the US Centre for Disease control, doctors meeting patients via videoconferencing and real-time chat technologies increased by 154% in the early stages of the pandemic.

“eHealth can bring many benefits for patients, with technology allowing diagnosis to be carried out remotely, and the care and treatment to be integrated into their daily lives,” explains Marco Franza, Berry Healthcare’s Sales and Business Development Director - Global Inhalation and Medical Devices. “At the same time, carers can easily share relevant information and data can be analysed as part of disease management or a clinical trial. Ultimately, this can improve patient engagement and encourage positive behaviour.”

As well as greatly improving the patient experience and quality of life, eHealth can also bring major cost benefits through helping to reduce the amount of medicine wasted unnecessarily. For example, a recent study on patient medication adherence found that adherence to asthma and COP treatments was as low as 32%, meaning two out of three people were incorrectly taking their medicine.1

Berry Healthcare has recently launched its RS01X™ single dose Dry Powder Inhaler (DPI) with built-in sensors and digital capabilities that tracks inhaler use and connects to the companion Respiro™ app from Amiko Digital Health, which provides personalised guidance to improve adherence and inhaler technique.

The app acts as companion to the inhaler, reminding patients when it is time inhale a dose and providing personalised insights and tips to help them self-manage more effectively. In previous clinical studies, the Respiro platform delivered improvements in controller medication adherence by up to 37% and in optimal inhaler technique by up to 42%2.

The RS01X is a first of many inhalers from Berry Healthcare which will have digital capabilities incorporated. In addition, the company is currently working on a number of new digital product developments, including pill dispensers that can adjust treatment and dosage based on data provided, and systems for tracking medicines to ensure their safe distribution, storage at the correct temperature and delivery to the right patient.

“Our work on the digitalisation of packaging, medical devices and healthcare products is focused on our emphasis on the patient as a person,” says Marco Franza. “The patient-centric solutions we are developing will support data-based treatment decisions and help patients maintain medicine adherence, which will ultimately lead to a better healthcare experience.”