The Association of Plastic Recyclers has recognized three shrink label innovations for their compatibility with PET r
Messe Frankfurt India and MEX Exhibitions Pvt Ltd have joined hands with the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) for the maiden hybrid edition of Gartex Texprocess India, which has now been rescheduled to December 2021. Ahead of the hybrid exhibition, the organisers will keep the garment and textile manufacturing segment players engaged through a series of digital symposiums.
In a bid to provide strong business push to the textile and apparel sector, the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) has signed an MoU with Messe Frankfurt India and MEX Exhibitions Pvt Ltd, organisers of India’s leading textile and garment machinery & accessories fair. The strategic partnership aims to reconnect the textile and apparel value chain for business at the first hybrid edition of Gartex Texprocess India and support the sector as it recovers from the effects of the pandemic by enabling reach to domestic and international buyers through the show’s new multimodal format.
At the signing of the MoU, Dr S. Sunanda, Secretary General, Confederation of Indian Textile Industry shared: “India has shown that it is innovative and self-reliant when it comes to the textile sector, and as the sector is gearing up to demonstrate value added benefits of Indian products, we are happy to partner with Gartex Texprocess India, which has proven to be a credible platform for business. We are confident that with the organisers’ vision and the platform’s hybrid format, we can facilitate the growth, development and business collaborations within the industry.”
Mr Gaurav Juneja, Director, MEX Exhibitions Pvt Ltd, added: “By partnering with CITI, we intend to bring greater participation and product showcases on the show floors of Gartex Texprocess India. The support and reach of CITI will go a long way in bringing the industry together and creating opportunities for trade and investment.”
Additionally, the organisers have also announced that the fair will now be held from 3 – 5 December 2021, instead of its originally planned schedule in August 2021. This move ensures better planning flexibility for exhibitors and will render a stronger B2B engagement experience through its physical and virtual platforms.
Commenting on the developments, Mr Raj Manek, Executive Director and Board Member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd, shared: “We are glad to join hands with the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) and believe that the support and reach of CITI will bring in strong value to the fabric segment of our trade fair while opening doors to lucrative business engagements for the industry. Further elaborating on the decision to host the trade fair in December.” Manek added: “We are optimistic that the increasing roll out of vaccination and setting up of vaccination drives will help in stabilising the socio-economic scenario and provide a healthy business environment to host the fair. It will also give exhibitors more time to prepare for the hybrid edition and bring their best product showcases on stage. However, until the exhibition goes live, we aim to keep the textile and garment industry professionals engaged with crucial learning.”
Being one of the leading industry chambers of the textile and clothing sector of India, CITI represents the major leading regional & industry associations and 18 major corporate members, thus, covering the entire textile value chain from farm to garments & made-ups and the textile machinery industry. It is the only National Association which covers the entire spectrum of the T&C Industry spanning both domestic and export market.
Gartex Texprocess India Digital Symposium series to mark its launch on 16 July
Messe Frankfurt India and MEX Exhibitions Pvt Ltd are set to host a Digital Symposium series on crucial industry topics until the hybrid edition. The symposium will play a significant role in highlighting emerging trends and keeping business players engaged in the field of textile and garment manufacturing so they can prepare themselves according to the changing dynamics of the industry. Given that the landscape of textile & apparel manufacturing is changing with more focus and demand for “sustainable solutions” and circular economy, a wide set of industry topics will be addressed covering the changing trends across global fibre & yarn business, benefits of recycling in textile and retail segments, denim design, as well as insights depicting the way forward for garment wet processing manufacturers.
“The aim of these periodic digital knowledge sessions is to keep the industry closely connected and provide stakeholders with crucial insights to strengthen their knowledge base and channel it towards optimising their business.” added Manek.
While both the physical and virtual platforms will showcase a plethora of products with live demonstrations, it is important to note that the physical show will be divided in major zones - Embroidery Zone, Garmenting and Apparel Machinery, Digitex Show, Denim Show, India Laundry Show and Fabrics & Trims Show. The virtual show on the other hand, will place emphasis on product showcases as well as exhibitor search. Both of these segments will be driven by an “AI matchmaking tool”, enabling visitors to connect with the exhibitors based on their individual product requirements.
With the strategic support of CITI, Gartex Texprocess India aims to reunite the entire textile and apparel value chain and explore business opportunities that can make way for faster recovery and growth of the industry.
Press information and photographic material:
Background information on Messe Frankfurt
The Messe Frankfurt Group is the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organiser with its own exhibition grounds. The Group employs approximately 2,450 people at its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main and in 29 subsidiaries around the world. The company generated annual sales of approximately €257 million in 2020 after having recorded sales of €736 million the previous year. Even in difficult times caused by the coronavirus pandemic, we are globally networked with our industry sectors. We serve our customers’ business interests efficiently within the framework of our Fairs & Events, Locations and Services business fields. One of the Group’s key USPs is its closely knit global sales network, which extends throughout the world. Our comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. We are expanding our digital expertise with new business models. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services. With its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and the State of Hesse (40 percent).
Background information on MEX Exhibitions
MEX Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd. Is an international exhibition company with a strong presence of over four decades in the advertising industry, over 25 years in publishing & 19 years in exhibitions. The company has produced more than 100 market-leading trade exhibitions for various segments in addition to publishing various magazines & advertising trade directories of repute. Successful exhibitions are conducted all over India, Dubai, Singapore and Thailand.
The new WaveGrip Cardboard Carrier from Berry Global has been selected by Oslo-based Amundsen Brewery, the second largest craft brewery in Norway and one of the fastest growing in the country, to provide a ring carrier solution for its range of beer cans.
The WaveGrip carrier has been developed in line with Berry Global’s Impact 2025 sustainability strategy, which aims to work with customers to help meet and exceed their sustainability goals. Each carrier weighs just 7.95g for a standard six-pack and is recyclable in most paper and board waste collection streams. Despite its light weight, it is strong and easy to use, while delivering excellent pack retention.
“Customers are becoming more vocal and involved in the sustainability discussion. They have strong opinions and as a producer we have to listen to these opinions,” explained Geoffrey Jansen van Vuuren, CEO Amundsen Brewery.
“Sustainability and recyclability were therefore key factors when we were looking for our new ring carrier and WaveGrip offered the perfect solution.”
The WaveGrip carrier features a unique, patent pending design that means it does not require folding or manipulation during application. This allows continuous running at high speeds, meeting both the performance and production needs of the most demanding canning lines.
The white fully coated topside offers high quality printability in up to 10 colours, allowing brand messages and promotions to be easily included for enhanced shelf impact. In addition, the naturally brown reverse opens-up to offer a multitude of further design possibilities and enable direct communication with customers.
Amundsen offers eight core beers year-round and produces between 50-80 seasonal specials a year. The brewery exports to 20 different countries with Sweden and the United Kingdom being its biggest markets.
About WaveGrip
www.wave-grip.com
WaveGrip is a multi-packing solution that enables beverage producers of all sizes to securely and efficiently collate their products. Value engineered to offer the lowest cost carrier on the market, WaveGrip provides an alternative that is stronger, more environmentally friendly and economical.
WaveGrip offers complete support at every stage in the specification and supply chain process, based from its Greenock headquarters and through its global OEMs and commercial partners.
Used by the USA’s three leading retailers, HexcelWrap™ cushioning paper ensures product protection and packing simplicity, replacing environmentally-harmful alternatives.
Sedona, Arizona – HexcelPack, a developer of eco-friendly, paper-based protective cushioning solutions to replace bubble wrap and other plastic or foam-based materials, has developed a cost-effective and sustainable wrapping system for a wide array of product shipping needs. Now used by the United States’ top three retailers, the company’s HexcelWrap™ cushioning paper delivers unsurpassed product protection and packing simplicity for e-commerce, retail catalogue, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products, as well as third-party logistics (3PL) and contract packaging applications.
Utilizing groundbreaking slit paper technology, HexcelPack converts extensible paper into a three-dimensional, internationally patented cushioning product by making precise cuts at specific angles. This method makes the paper “flex,” expanding its volume while maximizing the strength and stiffness of its fibers. The result is a superior cushioning product proven to outperform environmentally-harmful product protection alternatives – including plastic-based bubble wraps and pillows.
HexcelPack protective cushioning is easily dispensed through the company’s compact options, including a standalone and completely recyclable tabletop dispensing station. The most popular of these, the Mini Packing Station™, is an easy-to-use, human-powered dispenser requiring no electricity, zero maintenance, and a mere fraction of the tabletop space required for competing solutions.
Available in both white and Kraft paper, benefits of HexcelWrap™ and the Mini Packing Station™ include:
Completely paper-based, HexcelWrap™ cushioning paper is made of 100% Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) Canadian Paper for exemplary sustainability and little to no impact on the environment – all while delivering protection proven to outperform plastic bubble wraps and pillows. Unlike single-use plastic bubble wrap, the paper used to produce HexcelWrap™ is fully curbside recyclable and biodegradable.
“At HexcelPack, we’re passionate about developing simple, cost-effective and sustainable packing solutions that minimize our carbon footprint without sacrificing outstanding product protection performance throughout the supply chain,” said Lorne Herszkowicz, Partner at HexcelPack. “Our paper-based solutions like HexcelWrap™ and the Mini Packing Station™ offer companies an easy way to increase packing efficiency without the need for automation, while also showcasing to end consumers that their production and logistics practices are as green as possible – a key selling point in today’s hyper-competitive e-commerce landscape.”
In addition to HexcelWrap™, HexcelPack also offers void fill products that can be used in conjunction with its wrapping products. For example, the company’s Hex-a-Fil™ is an engineered void fill that expands to 24 times its original volume. The solution is dispensed via the company’s corrugated, manually-operated Fil-in-a-Box™, which prompts the material to spiral as it comes off the roll, creating the bulk required for efficient void fill.
About HexcelPack
HexcelPack is the developer of eco-friendly, paper-based cushioning solutions designed to replace bubble-wrap and other plastic or foam-based protective materials. The company's internationally-patented HexcelPack™ portfolio provides sustainable, superior product protection for retail packages, corrugated shippers, envelopes and other containers. Notably, its curbside recyclable HexcelWrap™ cushioning wrap is used by the top three retailers in the United States, as well as several of the world's 10 largest consumer goods companies.
HexcelWrap's UltraStretch™ technology comprises unique paper with inherent characteristics that enhance the company’s slit paper technique, which maximizes paper's volume and strength through precision, angled cuts. The result is a three-dimensional product whose substantial cushion outperforms plastic and other paper-based competitors.
Together with the recently introduced Hex-a-Fil™ void filler, HexcelWrap™ can meet the packaging and shipping protection needs of a wide variety of consumer products. Each is handily dispensed through the company's compact, standalone and completely recyclable tabletop Mini Pack™ stations. For more information, visit www.hexcelpack.com.
Among other benefits, ZERO Technology tools allow food manufacturers to easily break monomaterial multipacks into individual cups – a longstanding obstacle to more eco-friendly packaging.
Leominster, Massachusetts – IMA DAIRY & FOOD USA, whose equipment solutions comprise the long-established brands Gasti, Hamba, Hassia, Fillshape, Corazza,Erca and Intecma, has introduced a set of tools ideally suited for food brands utilizing sustainable mono-material packages. The company’s patented ZERO Technology tools are designed for manufacturers hoping to transition their packaging to more eco-conscious materials, such as PET, PP and PLA.
Ideally suited to IMA’s Erca, Hassia, and Intecma brands of form-fill-seal (FFS) machines, ZERO Technology utilizes a patented punch process providing high-quality cutting and precutting of PET, PP and PLA. This allows for easily breaking multipacks into individual units – a notoriously cumbersome process that has limited the use of eco-friendly, mono-material packaging materials in many applications.
ZERO Technology uses independent sleeves that allows cup design changes without the need to manufacture an entirely new thermoforming mold. The solution can be easily dismantled for hassle-free maintenance, which can significantly extend the mold’s lifespan while maintaining peak performance.
Notably, outfitting a formed cup with a PET lid and label creates a completely recyclable package for premium sustainability. In addition, the use of transparent monomaterials makes the product visible to consumers, enchancing on-shelf aesthetics.
Other equipment in the ZERO Technology range includes special pre-heating plates, which can be easily dismantled for simple maintenance. Additional material savings can be realized by using special thermoforming molds that allow the use of thinner materials.
“As consumer expectations and regional regulations change, manufacturers are confronted with a growing demand for more environmentally friendly, sustainable packaging solutions,” said Patrick Carroll, President for IMA Dairy & Food USA. “The ZERO Technology tooling range helps overcome certain manufacturing challenges that have historically limited the number of applications for which monomaterial packaging can be utilized. The result is an expanded range of items that can be packaged with reduced environment footprints.”
About IMA DAIRY & FOOD
IMA Dairy & Food USA serves the dairy and food industries with several brands of the IMA group (Corazza, Erca, Fillshape, Gasti, Hamba, Hassia and Intecma) and offers a portfolio covering nearly all areas of packaging machine application, including:
FFS machines for packaging single portions of coffee, honey, jam, etc.
Versatile module ideal for packaging development,
rapid prototyping and small-scale production.
Norwell, MA –– Maruho Hatsujyo Innovations (MHI) – the U.S. subsidiary of Maruho Co. Ltd, a Japanese healthcare company with subsidiaries in Europe and the U.S. with global sales of $800 million – will showcase its EAGLE-Omni blister machine with an upgraded printer configuration at Pack Expo 2020, September 27-29 in Las Vegas. Ideal for packaging development, materials testing and production, the versatile unit performs forming, sealing and punching operations at sequential stations. MHI will be located at Booth SL-6738, in the Healthcare Packaging Expo section.
Measuring just over two meters in length and 1.6 meters tall, the reasonably compact EAGLE-Omni offers a format area of 150x95 mm, and a forming depth of 30mm (3cm) with an upgrade available to 40mm. The machine handles a wide range of forming materials – including PVC, PVDC, ACLAR, PP, PET and ALU – and all typical lidding substrates including ALU, paper, PVC, PET, and laminates. The EAGLE-Omni can produce up to 20 blisters per minute, and is suitable for packaging solids, powders, liquids or devices.
At Healthcare Packaging Expo, the thermoformer will be outfitted with an upgraded printing setup, whose attributes include a print area of 75X128mm. This allows you to cover the majority of your blister with pertinent information, such as lot codes, batch numbers, expiration dates and more.
The cost-effective, deep-draw EAGLE-Omni is capable of everything from manual prototyping to fully automated operation. The option of a 40mm forming depth makes it ideal for nutritional products larger than traditional tablets or capsules, such as gummies, devices and other delivery formats. The machine allows seamless development and production combined with rapid, low-cost prototyping, and features recipe-driven format change, easy changeover, and various feeding solutions.
Among the Eagle-OMNI’s differentiating benefits is the ease and expediency with which prototypes can be produced, thanks to the company’s recently launched 3D-printed blister tool prototyping capabilities.
“Combined with our cost-effective 3D-printed tool prototyping, the EAGLE-Omni allows new packages to be tested for barrier, stability, and durability quickly and at a fraction of the usual expense,” said Hideo Yonenaga, President of the MPM division for MHI. “Previously, lead times were measured in weeks or even months, and prototyping was often prohibitively expensive. The new 3D-printed tool prototyping allows us to expediently showcase the wide array of high-quality blisters that machines like the Eagle-OMNI can produce.”
About Maruho Hatsujyo Innovations
Maruho Hatsujyo Innovations (MHI), the U.S. subsidiary of Maruho Corp. Ltd., was created in 2014. MHI distributes the high quality medical packaging machinery produced by Maruho Hatsujyo Kogyo (MHK). With more than 220 employees, MHK has over 60 years of experience in the manufacturing sector, including the design of high-performance blister machinery and high-precision metal components. MHK is Japan’s second largest medical packaging machinery company.
For more information, visit www.mhi-innovations.com.
Xaar has completed the acquisition of print systems and printbar specialist FFEI Limited. The deal will accelerate the company’s existing growth strategy and will enable Xaar to capture additional opportunities in vertically integrated solutions.
FFEI is a leading integrator and manufacturer of industrial digital inkjet systems and digital life science technology with many years of experience in managing technical integration and engineering projects. Its highly innovative and advanced imaging solutions and printbar manufacturing have enabled the business to establish several joint ventures with world leading organisations in both digital inkjet and life sciences.
The addition of FFEI strengthens Xaar’s capabilities and skills and will help to provide a more comprehensive solution for its growing number of OEM and UDI (User Developer Integrator) customers.
Based in Hemel Hempstead, UK, CEO Andy Cook and CFO Julian Payne will remain in their current roles and report to Xaar’s CEO John Mills. Bob Wilson, FFEI’s CTO, will join Xaar in a senior position within the printhead business, where he will focus on delivering technologies for the company’s UDI customers.
John Mills said: “Having restructured and stabilised our core printhead business, the acquisition of FFEI will accelerate our strategy and expand our customer offering in a range of markets. As well as providing a number of ready-made solutions, the acquisition will further enhance Xaar’s world class expertise.
“I’ve personally known the FFEI team for many years and have long admired their capabilities having previously worked closely with them. We are very excited to welcome them to Xaar and look forward to integrating the business as we continue to deliver on our strategy.”
Andy Cook commented; “We are delighted to become part of Xaar which represents a fantastic opportunity for the business to develop and grow. Xaar has been a long-term market leader with great technology and great people and is a perfect fit for the business.”
FFEI employs over 60 people and in the year to 31 March 2021 generated revenue of £9.9 million. The initial cash consideration of £3.7 million was paid on completion, which reflects existing FFEI free cash reserves, with an additional £5.4 million deferred consideration to be paid out over three years. The Board expects the acquired expertise and resource to be utilised for projects that will drive long term profitable growth in Xaar’s core printhead business.
About Xaar
Together with our partners and customers, Xaar has been transforming the world of inkjet technology for 30 years – and we’re just getting started.
With a new leadership team, new technology and new products, we have an exciting roadmap for the future – that will help our partners unleash the true power of inkjet printing and open up a world of opportunities for their business.
We believe true innovation comes from collaboration, which is why all our teams work together in Cambridgeshire where industrial inkjet was born.
Collaboration is at the core of our global partnerships too - whether we’re helping customers enhance their uptime or create production efficiencies from high-speed digitisation - we’re always innovating together.
We know that inkjet technology can not only maximise the efficiency of our partners’ businesses but help them evolve too. That’s why we go on a journey with our customers - offering expert insights and technical support every step of the way. Just like our printheads, Xaar’s partnerships are built to last.
Approximately 65 editors and business journalists registered and logged in to the first virtual SÜDPACK press conference on 7 July 2021. The film manufacturer deliberately chose the digital format in order to provide both the national and international press with comprehensive information about “Sustainability at SÜDPACK” even during the corona pandemic. The first virtual SÜDPACK exhibition also launched at the same time and its digital doors are now open to customers and interested parties around the clock, 365 days a year.
In addition to the corona pandemic and the persistently critical situation in the raw materials markets, the current economic situation of the SÜDPACK Group and the paradigm shift in the packaging industry were the starting point of the highly informative press event. Erik Bouts, CEO of SÜDPACK, outlined the political, legislative, environmental and economic conditions in this context – and directed the participants attention to the challenges that producers, packers and retail face now and in the years ahead. The guiding principle: Sustainability must be thought of holistically on all levels of the process chain and as part of a continuous optimization process of an entire industry.
The main focus of the event, however, was the SÜDPACK Sustainability Report. For the third time now, the film manufacturer voluntarily published an extensive report, which documents the sustainability objectives that have been achieved in the fields of environment, economy and social responsibility while also defining current and future projects. SÜDPACK is concentrating on the further development of its product portfolio with a focus on the four main aspects of recyclability, material efficiency, renewable raw materials and a circular economy.
Early on and as one of the first suppliers in the market, the Ochsenhausen-based company has focused on the development of concepts that are particularly resource-conserving, efficient in their use of materials and, above all, recyclable. This is because for specific fields of application, such as the food industry, high-performance plastic films will continue to be essential in the future for various reasons.
The film structures of the Pure-Line portfolio, for example, set standards in the market. The Pure-Line family includes mono-materials made of PE, PP and PET that provide the same protection and convenience as conventional film structures.
By 2025, roughly half of the company’s turnover is to be generated by sustainable products. The current share of turnover is approximately 35%.
Sustainable production processes
SÜDPACK has put particular emphasis on the implementation of efficient material management. The site in Schwendi serves as its Competence Center for Processing and Recycling Reusable Materials. Integrating in-house regranulation is a milestone on the path to sustainability and demonstrates the company’s commitment to an internal circular economy without compromise. The film waste that results from production in the German sites is collected in sorted groups and then processed in Schwendi for purposeful recycling.
This has made it possible to reduce raw material consumption and waste quantities in nearly all stages of manufacturing at SÜDPACK in recent years.
Solutions for a functioning circular economy
In its position as a leading manufacturer of high-tech films, SÜDPACK also sees itself as a driving force in the industry and feels responsible for the entire life cycle of its packaging materials. The goal is to firmly anchor a functioning circular economy for flexible packaging not only in its own processes, but also in the market – and to make a pioneering contribution to a circular economy as well as to decarbonization and CO2 reduction. It is in this context that the film manufacturer is pushing in particular for the recognition of chemical recycling as a complementary recycling technology to mechanical recycling. “By doing so, we are making a massive investment in a future that is characterized by the responsible use of valuable resources,” said Erik Bouts.
Chemical recycling makes it possible to take multilayer, mixed or even contaminated film composites that could not be mechanically recycled up to now and extract new, high-quality base chemicals in a way that conserves resources. The plastics that are recovered are then suitable for producing high-performance films, which can be used to package demanding products with high quality and hygiene standards, for example in the food industry.
Excellent information and communication platform
A brief overview of SÜDPACK’s social involvement and a view of what is to come from SÜDPACK in the months ahead in terms of sustainability completed the successful event.
A key platform for information and communication is SÜDPACK’s first virtual exhibition. It is open 365 days a year, 24/7. The virtual exhibition can be visited at any time with this link https://exhibition.suedpack.com.
About SÜDPACK
SÜDPACK is a leading manufacturer of high-tech films and packaging materials for the food, non-food, and medical product industries. Our solutions ensure maximum product protection as well as additional pioneering features with minimum material input.
The family business, which was founded by Alfred Remmele in 1964, is headquartered in Ochsenhausen. Production sites in Germany, France, Poland, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the USA are equipped with the latest plant technology and manufacture to the highest standards, including the capacity to operate under clean room conditions. The worldwide sales and service network ensures a high degree of proximity to the customer and comprehensive application technology support in more than 70 countries.
With its state-of-the-art Development and Application Center at its headquarters in Ochsenhausen, the innovation-oriented company offers its customers an optimal platform for carrying out application tests and for developing individual and tailor-made solutions.
SÜDPACK is committed to sustainable development and fulfils its responsibility as an employer and towards society, the environment, and its customers by developing packaging solutions that are unparalleled in their efficiency and sustainability.
Metsä Board, the leading European producer of premium fresh fibre paperboards and part of Metsä Group, is proud to ha
The boxes maintain inside temperature without electricity at desired levels for
As one of the leading bottled water producers in Iraq, Durrat Al Khaleej aims to provide the best experience to consumers. Sidel’s packaging solutions successfully fulfilled its goal by delivering a complete water line with a lightweighted and simultaneously stable PET bottle design, weighing only 10.5 grams for the 500 ml bottle format, at a time of very high travel restrictions in Iraq.
Durrat Al Khaleej, established in 2007, has become familiar to consumers as a symbol of good-quality water in Iraq. The company is adapting advanced production technology not only to adhere to national and international regulations and standards, but also to stay at the forefront of innovation and sustainability. Ensuring the highest levels of quality and safety throughout the supply chain, from raw materials to the point of consumption, Durrat Al Khaleej has a laboratory that systematically checks the water produced to ensure it meets stringent standards to achieve its ambition for progress and development in Iraq.
Lightweight and stable PET bottle design and cost-effective line solution
To optimise bottle design as well as line performance, Durrat Al Khaleej chose Sidel for its expertise in packaging solutions. The collaboration between Sidel and the customer was crucial to develop a new PET bottle design and to manage the installation and commissioning of the equipment, as the site for the line was a greenfield project. After the meeting in Dubai, Sidel’s packaging experts met the customer’s expectations by proposing the lightweight solution, while also incorporating the original premium look. The lightweight PET bottle in the 500 ml bottle format, weighing only 10.5 grams, has high stability and has proved to be very successful on the market. In light of its sustainability and low total cost of ownership (TCO), Sidel’s complete water line has become the perfect solution, with a speed of 24,000 bottles per hour (bph) for
500 ml. It has not only helped the customer save water on bottle cleaning, but also no air conveyer is needed.
Great service that exceeds expectations
“Sidel provided extra support well beyond the scope of delivering the equipment to Europe, by choosing trusted shipping companies and recommending approved experts for installation and commissioning of the line in Iraq. The entire logistic flow was thus well planned and smoothly implemented,” comments Mr. Ibraheem Ghudaib, CEO at Durrat Al Khaleej. The installation and commissioning was very successful, achieving 98.1% line efficiency during the customer acceptance validation (CAV). Thanks to Sidel’s great teamwork, the project kick-off was in March 2020, and the first sellable bottle was launched in December 2020
Troisdorf, July 2, 2021 With effect from July 1, the Reifenhäuser Group is merging its blown-film business units Reifenhäuser Blown Film and Reifenhäuser Blown Film Polyrema, which have so far operated independently, in order to cope with ongoing growth in this sector. This move consolidates the Group’s competencies even more than before to form a joint brand, Reifenhäuser Blown Film.
Initially the change is purely organizational and will give the new business unit more leverage in developing new technologies for standard and special machine tool manufacturing. The change will be incorporated in the company’s statutes as of next year on July 1, 2022.
Bernd Reifenhäuser, CEO of the Reifenhäuser Group, says: "We have exciting tasks to solve, especially when it comes to the digitalization of blown-film production and the resource-conserving use of plastics in keeping with the concept of a circular economy. Jointly, we can then speed up developments in this direction without the delay of internal barriers - and this will also bring our customers enormous benefits."
The joint managing directors of the merged business unit Reifenhäuser Blown Film are Dr. Andreas Neuss and Marcel Perrevort. Both have several years of experience in executive positions in the blown-film business segment of the Reifenhäuser Group.
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 1600 employees, Reifenhäuser has the world's largest network of expertise in plastics extrusion technologies. The CEO of the Group is Bernd Reifenhäuser.
Muri bei Bern/Switzerland, July 1, 2021 – Ulrich Litterscheid is being appointed today by the Administrative Council to the Management Board of the international polymer distributor Meraxis AG as Chief Financial Officer. The financial expert has long-standing management experience in international commerce and the chemicals industry. Litterscheid will be primarily responsible for bolstering Meraxis’ growth trajectory as well as operational excellence within the group.
“Meraxis is a dynamic commercial enterprise that has tremendous growth potential thanks to the combination of its full-service offering and innovative digital solutions,” said Litterscheid. “One focal area that I am particularly looking forward to is the optimization of IT processes and structures. The international environment makes me relish this task all the more.” The Meraxis Group, which emerged as a result of a merger, entered the polymer market two years ago and now operates worldwide with over 25 locations. Unlike conventional material distributors, the company offers end-to-end solutions from a single source as a “one-stop shop”. This includes an extensive portfolio of polymers and compounds for prime and recycled materials which is constantly being expanded. Customers can also purchase tools, machinery and equipment for the polymer processing industry through Meraxis. The offering is rounded off by comprehensive services – for example in the areas of logistics, financing and digitalization.
“With Ulrich Litterscheid’s arrival, we have gained not only an experienced financial manager, but at the same time also an expert in transformation and digitalization projects,” emphasizes Dr. Stefan Girschik, CEO of Meraxis. “His experience in the introduction of standardized digital solutions for financial processes in the company, but also in the implementation of digital interfaces with business partners and end-to-end trading processes is a perfect fit for our corporate strategy.” In addition to Dr. Stefan Girschik and Ulrich Litterscheid, the Management Board consists of Philipp Endres (Deputy CEO) and Katrin Volery (CHRO). Litterscheid replaces the previous CFO Marco Zahnd.
Litterscheid has many years of experience in the management of commercial, agricultural and chemical companies with global operations: most recently, he was Head of Group Financial Reporting & Controls at COFCO International, the trading platform of China’s largest food and agricultural company, COFCO Corporation. Among other things, he managed the post-merger integration of all finance functions at COFCO following the acquisitions of Noble Agri Group and Nidera Group. Litterscheid previously held the position of CFO of the international commercial enterprise VA Intertrading AG, where he was responsible for trading in chemical and pharmaceutical products. He also spent 16 years in management positions with the U.S. agribusiness group Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) and A. C. Toepfer International.
About the Meraxis Group
With a sales of over EUR 2 billion, Meraxis is one of the leading international distributors of polymer-related solutions. The Swiss trading group offers their customers tailor-made solutions for each requirement in the polymer value chain thanks to their worldwide logistics network and access to global polymer markets. The full-service provider combines many years of experience in global trading and the development and processing of polymers as well as sound material and product knowledge of the polymer converting industry. Meraxis supplies companies from all industrial sectors – from the automotive and construction industries to packaging companies.
The product portfolio of the company, located in Muri bei Bern (CH), includes classic polymers (PE, PP, PET, PVC), engineered and high-temperature thermoplastics, masterbatches, additives plasticizers, coating and printing inks and recycled materials. Trade parts and components (e.g. metail, foils, electrical) as well as machines, systems, and tools for various plastic processing technologies, all accompanied by service and consulting related to the required product properties round up the portfolio.
The polymer distributor is committed to driving the continued development of sustainable and innovative polymer-related solutions. With its unique one-stop-shop approach, Meraxis adds customer value by offering complete solutions for prime materials, recyclates, recycling compounds, and digital supply chain services
By applying its new remote service solution, Siegwerk optimizes its customer service once again. The new assisted reality-based solution allows the company to support its customers over distance with even faster response times and easier accessible expert knowledge.
Siegwerk, one of the leading global providers of printing and coatings for packaging applications and labels, deploys remote service solutions to further increase productivity and ensure its customers precisely fitting sales and services. The new remote service solution referred to as ‘INKonnect’ are proving to be viable solution, not only during the current crisis but also in the everchanging global service landscape. They enable Siegwerk to further enhance its high standards of supporting its customers even over distance.
For more than a year, a cross-functional and transregional project team at Siegwerk has been working intensively to evaluate and implement modern digital support tools for Siegwerkers based on their specific business requirements. The whole project comprises the selection of the suitable software and the gradual implementation of IT-infrastructure, a learning platform, and responsible key users.
INKonnect is based on assisted reality (aR) technology. A suitable visualization device, for example smart glasses, is connected via a software application, thereby allowing Siegwerk experts to interact remotely with customer or inhouse technicians in real time. The device provides the users with an immediate field of vision and enables the expert to see what the technician is looking at. This way, technicians can use both hands for troubleshooting on site while being advised and instructed by Siegwerk experts. All in all, productivity and efficiency are increased while waiting time, machine downtime, and thus costs are reduced. What is even more important: hands-free solutions lead to higher safety.
The new remote service allows Siegwerk to support its customers even over distance. Beyond that, the remote services will lead to faster response time for Siegwerk customers and will ensure Siegwerk’s expert Know-how is always and everywhere accessible.
For Siegwerk's customer service, INKonnect is a great leap forward. “We are very proud that we have managed to make remote service a standard Siegwerk offer and that we will be able to provide customers with our expertise in an even closer and more efficient way”, said Peter Steinmetz, Head of Global Technology Excellence and INKonnect Product Owner at Siegwerk. “With this modern solution, Siegwerk further strengthens its high-quality standards in customer service and has once again positioned itself for the future.”
The new solution was first tried and tested in pilot projects. From now on, it will be available to targeted groups of Siegwerk employees around the world. Going forward, the work of the INKonnect project team is not finished. The next focus is to encourage the usage and further implementation, support key users, and evaluate the potential future external roll-out directly to Siegwerk customers.
About Siegwerk
Siegwerk, a sixth-generation family-owned company, is one of the leading international manufacturers of printing inks and individual solutions for packaging, labels, and catalogs. With more than 180 years of experience, the company has solid expertise in and knowledge of many printing procedures. A global manufacturing and service network ensures customers consistently high-quality products and services. In keeping with the company’s philosophy “Ink, Heart & Soul,” Siegwerk seeks long-term cooperation with its business partners. Siegwerk employs some 5,000 people worldwide in more than 30 country organizations and is headquartered in Siegburg near Cologne. Further information on Siegwerk can be found at www.siegwerk.com
Company sees India demand soar for Key-Pak child-resistant, eco-conscious paperboard blister card.
Keystone Folding Box Co., a designer and manufacturer of paperboard packaging solutions, has seen a surge in demand for its line of child-resistant, paperboard-based blister cards from pharmaceutical companies in India. The sales spike for its Key-Pak series comes amid two parallel occurrences: new sustainability guidelines in India, and increased demand for child-resistant (CR) pharma packaging in the US, to whom India supplies some 40% of packaged OTC and prescription drugs.
Earlier this year, India’s federal government issued a proposal to phase out single-use plastics from many products by 2022. While the drafted resolution does not impact the pharmaceutical sector directly, a shift toward more eco-friendly pharma packaging is expected as Indian pharma manufacturers and packagers look to get ahead of the sustainability curve.
Against this backdrop – and considering the increased demand for CR packaging – Keystone’s Key-Pak blister card is proving an attractive solution for everything from clinical trials and compliance dosing to physicians’ samples and full-scale retail applications. Comprising up to 75% lass plastic than bottles or amber vials, Key-Pak® has a highest-possible F=1 child-resistance rating while also offering premium senior-friendliness. Its novel, back-side “zipper” design provides clean, simple removal of the rear blister card panel for damage-free product dispensing, while its broad, flat surface gives ample room for usage instructions or drug information.
Crucial for the high-volume, efficiency-minded manufacturing in India’s pharma landscape, Key-Pak also is easy to produce. Its single-component composition means fewer specifications, inspections, assembly, graphics, engineering and tooling are needed, and the package is compatible with industry-standard thermoforming and heat seal equipment, making its adoption exceedingly hassle-free.
Keystone also offers a comprehensive line of blister cards made from 100% recyclable and compostable paperboard. Its Ecoslide Series of blister packs features a push-button safety mechanism that provides exemplary child-resistance while eliminating the need for two-step “peel/push-through foil,” which many consumers find difficult to open. Including Ecoslide-OTC™ for over-the counter medicines as well as several generations of its signature Ecoslide-RXÒ pack for prescription drugs, the solutions contain a mere fraction of disposable plastic compared to peel/push blisters or plastic bottles.
About Keystone Folding Box Co.
While Keystone continues to be a leader in the manufacturing and design of paperboard packaging, they are also a design center and source for non-paperboard packaging components. To learn more about Keystone Folding Box Company, please contact Ward Smith at Keystone Folding Box Company, at (513) 871-4747, ward.smith@keyboxco.com or visit www.keyboxco.com.
Sedona, Arizona – HexcelPack, a developer of eco-friendly, paper-based protective cushioning solutions to replace bubble wrap and other plastic or foam-based materials, has developed a cost-effective and sustainable wrapping system for a wide array of product shipping needs. Now used by the United States’ top three retailers, the company’s HexcelWrap™ cushioning paper delivers unsurpassed product protection and packing simplicity for e-commerce, retail catalogue, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products, as well as third-party logistics (3PL) and contract packaging applications.
Utilizing groundbreaking slit paper technology, HexcelPack converts extensible paper into a three-dimensional, internationally patented cushioning product by making precise cuts at specific angles. This method makes the paper “flex,” expanding its volume while maximizing the strength and stiffness of its fibers. The result is a superior cushioning product proven to outperform environmentally-harmful product protection alternatives – including plastic-based bubble wraps and pillows.
HexcelPack protective cushioning is easily dispensed through the company’s compact options, including a standalone and completely recyclable tabletop dispensing station. The most popular of these, the Mini Packing Station™, is an easy-to-use, human-powered dispenser requiring no electricity, zero maintenance, and a mere fraction of the tabletop space required for competing solutions.
Available in both white and Kraft paper, benefits of HexcelWrap™ and the Mini Packing Station™ include:
“At HexcelPack, we’re passionate about developing simple, cost-effective and sustainable packing solutions that minimize our carbon footprint without sacrificing outstanding product protection performance throughout the supply chain,” said Lorne Herszkowicz, Partner at HexcelPack. “Our paper-based solutions like HexcelWrap™ and the Mini Packing Station™ offer companies an easy way to increase packing efficiency without the need for automation, while also showcasing to end consumers that their production and logistics practices are as green as possible – a key selling point in today’s hyper-competitive e-commerce landscape.”
In addition to HexcelWrap™, HexcelPack also offers void fill products that can be used in conjunction with its wrapping products. For example, the company’s Hex-a-Fil™ is an engineered void fill that expands to 24 times its original volume. The solution is dispensed via the company’s corrugated, manually-operated Fil-in-a-Box™, which prompts the material to spiral as it comes off the roll, creating the bulk required for efficient void fill.
###
About HexcelPack
HexcelPack is the developer of eco-friendly, paper-based cushioning solutions designed to replace bubble-wrap and other plastic or foam-based protective materials. The company's internationally-patented HexcelPack™ portfolio provides sustainable, superior product protection for retail packages, corrugated shippers, envelopes and other containers. Notably, its curbside recyclable HexcelWrap™ cushioning wrap is used by the top three retailers in the United States, as well as several of the world's 10 largest consumer goods companies.
HexcelWrap's UltraStretch™ technology comprises unique paper with inherent characteristics that enhance the company’s slit paper technique, which maximizes paper's volume and strength through precision, angled cuts. The result is a three-dimensional product whose substantial cushion outperforms plastic and other paper-based competitors.
Together with the recently introduced Hex-a-Fil™ void filler, HexcelWrap™ can meet the packaging and shipping protection needs of a wide variety of consumer products. Each is handily dispensed through the company's compact, standalone and completely recyclable tabletop Mini Pack™ stations. For more information, visit www.hexcelpack.com.
Acquisition expands company’s global footprint to include the Balkans and strengthens existing Mediterranean business
MILAN (June 22, 2021) - Berlin Packaging, the world’s largest hybrid packaging supplier, announced today the acquisition of Elias Valavanis S.A., a supplier of glass packaging for the food and beverage industry.
Based in Larissa, Greece, with locations in Bulgaria, Romania, and throughout Greece, Elias Valavanis has been synonymous with glass packaging in the region and is a key supplier of bottles and jars for olive oil, wine, spirits, soft drinks, and water. Elias Valavanis has long-term relationships with its supplier partners and its 1,500+ customers, who benefit from the company’s value-added services, including package structural design, decoration capabilities, and the company’s own glass recycling facility.
“Elias Valavanis is the perfect partner for Berlin Packaging as we expand our operations to the Balkans and continue to augment our Mediterranean glass business,” said Paolo Recrosio, CEO of Berlin Packaging EMEA. “Elias Valavanis shares our passion for glass design and artistry and our commitment to help our customers grow their business by offering industry-leading packaging products and services.”
“We take tremendous pride in all aspects of our business, and we know we’ve found a like-minded partner,” said Elias Valavanis, CEO of Elias Valavanis S.A. “I am excited about combining our company with Berlin Packaging, as I know together, we can accelerate investments in our products, capabilities, and employees like never before.”
“As we enter important new regions like the Balkans, Berlin Packaging looks for industry-leading companies that share our strategic focus, growth mindset, our dedication to customer thrill, and our winning culture,” said Bill Hayes, CEO and President of Berlin Packaging. “Elias Valavanis checks all these boxes and more, and they will help us extend our Mediterranean coverage, while adding an exciting new customer base.”
This is the 15th acquisition that Berlin Packaging has completed in Europe since 2016, and its 5th acquisition in Europe during 2021.
All employees and locations for this acquisition will be retained.
Berlin Packaging
Berlin Packaging is the world’s largest Hybrid Packaging Supplier® of glass, plastic, and metal containers and closures. The company supplies millions of items annually along with package design, financing, consulting, warehousing, and logistics services for customers across all industries. Berlin Packaging brings together the best of manufacturing, distribution, and income-adding service providers. Its mission is to increase the net income of its customers through packaging products and services.
See BerlinPackaging.com for more information.
About Bruni Glass, a Berlin Packaging Company
Bruni Glass, the largest packaging distributor in Europe, has 40+ years’ experience supplying premium and specialty glass packaging to the wine, spirits, food, and gourmet markets. Headquartered in Italy and with locations across Europe, Bruni offers thousands of custom-designed products along with popular standard items. The company has a world-class design studio, a network of high-quality manufacturing partners, a team dedicated to thrilling service, and is certified by CISQ-IMQ (Italian Institute for the Quality Mark) to ISO 9001 standards.
See BruniGlass.com for more information.
For more information:
Press Office – Omnicom PR Group Italy Barbara Papini, barbara.papini@omnicomprgroup.com, +335 6113555 Ilaria Sala, ilaria.sala@omnicomprgroup.com, +39 335 8112968
Berlin Packaging - Elena Franzetti, Elena.Franzetti@BruniGlass.com, +39 02 48436611, +39 3401204145 Julie Saltzman, Julie.Saltzman@BerlinPackaging.com, +1 312 869 7554 for North America
By launching the new sustainable ink and coating range UniNATURE, Siegwerk builds on its proven track record of innovative inks containing biorenewable carbon, introducing a new generation of inks with renewable content as part of its strategy to develop circular packaging solutions.
Siegburg, Germany, June, 23, 2021. - Siegwerk, one of the leading global providers of printing inks and coatings for packaging applications and labels, is now offering a new generation of sustainable water-based inks for paper and board applications: UniNATURE. The new product range is formulated with renewable and natural components, providing an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional inks without impacting the recyclability of paper, and board packaging taking a step towards reducing the microplastics which can be found in inks.
“UniNATURE is our third generation of sustainable water-based inks and coatings for paper and board applications meeting the requirements of brand owners and packaging converters,” says Hanns Martin Kaiser, Vice President Business Units Paper & Board EMEA and Liquid Food Packaging at Siegwerk. “With its launch we again deliver on our commitment to enabling the development of new packaging innovations in line with a circular economy.” The new water-based ink and coating solutions are formulated with a high Bio Renewable Content (BRC) measured according to the ASTM 6866 method. Products in the UniNATURE range incorporate up to 50% renewable carbon content – often 8 to 9 times more compared to standard water-based inks.
Siegwerk’s new sustainable water-based ink range comes along with excellent ink performance and color strengths offering similar levels of resistance as current water-based technologies. User tests have shown improved dot shape, comparable dot gain, high resolubility, and easy cleaning on press, meaning it can be easily exchanged with current products without the need to change equipment, processes or color matches. Furthermore, high printing speeds runs on both coated and uncoated papers can be achieved with UniNATURE. The new ink and coating series is applicable for many paper & board applications including corrugated board boxes, trays and displays, fast food packaging, sacks and bags, as well as cups and wraps. It supports various printing applications whilst meeting the highest market and regulatory standards.
“Paper is not only already one of the most recycled packaging materials globally, but it also holds great potential to offer a viable substitution for plastic for several packaging uses,” explains Paul Pain, Head of Waterbased Technology at Siegwerk. “And with UniNATURE we concretely support the defossilization of fibre-based packaging by reducing the use of fossil based raw materials in inks.” Together with Siegwerk’s sustainable and functional barrier coatings, UniNATURE forms a solution for the development of innovative and circular fibre-based packaging solutions. With the Finnish paper and paperboard manufacturer Kotkamills, Siegwerk has already been able to prove the high performance of UniNATURE utilized on a fully recyclable paper cup made of Kotkamills’ innovative ISLA® Duo barrier board – to just name one best practice usage of the newly launched product series.
Designed for use with Siegwerk’s Unibase and Uni T colored bases UniNATURE inks can be supplied as ready to use inks directly from Siegwerk. However, UniNATURE extenders and Unibase or Uni T colorbases are more frequently supplied to customers to be mixed on demand at dispense equipment directly at the customer. “We provide our customers with clear formulation guidelines compliant with relevant regulations for the end use of the packaging,” adds Pain. “Training and support provided to customers through our OPS program enables the most efficient use of our products in their operations.”
By providing a combination of best-in-class ink performance, high product safety and extensive sustainability know-how linked with a holistic understanding of packaging, Siegwerk is always supporting its customers to address upcoming trends by meeting their individual needs with cutting-edge solutions and services.
About Siegwerk
Siegwerk, a sixth-generation family-owned company, is one of the leading international manufacturers of printing inks and individual solutions for packaging, labels, and catalogs. With more than 180 years of experience, the company has solid expertise in and knowledge of many printing procedures. A global manufacturing and service network ensures customers consistently high-quality products and services. In keeping with the company’s philosophy “Ink, Heart & Soul,” Siegwerk seeks long-term cooperation with its business partners. Siegwerk employs some 5,000 people worldwide in more than 30 country organizations and is headquartered in Siegburg near Cologne. Further information on Siegwerk can be found at www.siegwerk.com
Bologna, Italy. 22 June 2021. V-Shapes, an innovative supplier of vertically integrated products and services for convenient, hygienic and sustainable single-dose packaging, today announced the launch of the V-Shapes AlphaFlex fill and seal packaging/converting machine for on-demand production of its unique single-dose sachets that can be opened with a single gesture using one hand. This compact, professional-grade system features high quality synchronized printing on both sides of the sachets, Powered by Memjet DuraFlex® and ColorGATE Packaging Productionserver. This unique machine now brings vertical integration of high volume production of single-dose sachets on site, speeding time to market and eliminating the need to outsource printing or accomplish it as a separate offline step.
“The introduction of AlphaFlex takes our solution to the next level in a way the market has never seen before,” says Jesper Gustavsson, Business Development & Founding Partner of V-Shapes. “As promised, we have now integrated in-line printing into our six-lane ALPHA machine enabling packaging converters/fillers to accomplish the complete manufacturing process of our unique single-dose sachets under one roof with a compact footprint with full color branding available on both sides of the sachet, in line, on demand and with the industry’s highest quality. We are grateful for the collaborative efforts of both Memjet and ColorGATE in helping us bring this sophisticated and very unique configuration to market.”
AlphaFlex represents the first inline execution of Memjet’s DuraFlex® multicolor A3+ printheads and water-based pigment inks, as well as the first dual integration of the Memjet DuraFlex printing system into a single device. The advanced features and color management capabilities of the ColorGATE Packaging Productionserver, a RIP and color management solution for industrial packaging printing, are also a key element of this breakthrough product.
“The marriage of these technologies into a single, high-performance system is a testament to the skill, knowledge and dedication of the respective R&D teams,” says Russell Boa, Senior Vice President of Sales – North America and EMEA at Memjet. “Memjet DuraFlex was selected because of its compact footprint and 1600 dpi printing, as well as the ability of its inks to dry quickly on inkjet receptive substrates and compliance with food safety regulations. The V-Shapes AlphaFlex is a truly transformational product in this market segment.”
“ColorGATE, unlike many other RIP and color management vendors, has focused on industrial markets for the past decade, making this additional collaboration with V-Shapes and Memjet perfectly in line with our strategies and capabilities,” said Oliver Luedtke, Chief Marketing Officer at ColorGATE. “The bespoke Output Management Set we developed for V-Shapes’ Vs dflex nearline printer has been enhanced to accommodate the dual printing technology incorporated into AlphaFlex and brings all of the appropriate ColorGATE capabilities to the system for the utmost in printing productivity and quality.”
In the AlphaFlex configuration, each 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. Buffers are used to ensure alignment of printing speed with the manufacture of sachets by the Alpha six-lane machine. This is an achievement unique in the marketplace brought about by the talented V-Shapes engineering team, in collaboration with partners Memjet and ColorGATE.
“The prototype AlphaFlex is currently installed in our Bologna factory,” Gustavsson added, “and is performing per our expectations. We are looking forward to placing AlphaFlex systems in customer sites by the end of the summer. There has already been extreme interest in AlphaFlex from both converters and brand owners who see this as a way to diferentiate themselves as well as to achieve faster time to market and faster time to revenue in a highly competitive and rapidly evolving marketplace.”
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 or watch the video below.
With this acquisition Nemera establishes an operational footprint in Brazil and expands its product and services offering to better serve the pharmaceutical industry in Latin America.
Nemera today announced that they have entered into an agreement to acquire Milfra. Milfra, based in Jaguariuna, state of São Paulo, Brazil, specializes in the development and production of both vaginal and rectal applicators, as well as oral dosers for the pharmaceutical industry. A family-owned company founded in 1966. Milfra is known for its expertise in high quality and high volume molding and assembly of devices and applicators.
This strategic acquisition expands Nemera’s global footprint in Latin America, extends its product offering and provides a foundation for future contract manufacturing services; thereby reinforcing its overall commitment to serving local markets. By integrating a key applicator pure player, Nemera will now be able to address specific patient and customer needs in the fields of gynecology and urology in Brazil.
Nemera has appointed Roberto Restivo as the General Manager of the new Nemera manufacturing facility in Brazil. As a seasoned international leader, Roberto brings in a wealth of experience in several industry sectors, including medical, plastics and aerospace. Roberto has held management positions with responsibility for a wide range of fields including sales & business development, finance, industrial operations and strategy & acquisitions. Roberto, supported by the previous family owners, will ensure a smooth transition with Milfra’s existing leadership team, and he will continue to develop and grow the local Nemera team and business in the future.
Marc Hämel, CEO of Nemera said, “This acquisition opens-up new opportunities for Nemera in Brazil and Latin America in general. It will enable us to better understand and serve even more patients with different needs. We feel privileged by the opportunity to integrate a new and unique culture to our already international company. Despite the tough sanitary situation and the restrictions to travel, we have already established a very good relationship with the Milfra leadership team and we have a very good feeling about their strong company culture and expertise.”
“Since we began our first discussions with the Nemera team, I was convinced that becoming part of the Nemera family was the perfect match for Milfra. We fully align with Nemera’s vision of becoming the most patient-centric drug device solutions company in the world. After a long history of manufacturing in Brazil it is fantastic to enable Nemera to operate in Brazil.” added Francisco Pofirio, owner of Milfra.
About Milfra
Founded in 1966, in the city of Santo André, SP, Milfra became one of the leading manufacturers of eletro-mechanical devices for OEM manufacturers for audio and video equipment. With the changes in market dynamics in the 2000s the family decided to leverage Milfra’s advanced manufacturing capabilities – in particular in tool making and injection moulding knowhow – to service the pharmaceutical packaging industry, with a strong focus on vaginal applicators. It has quickly become the leader in the segment.
In 2007 Milfra successfully expanded its product portfolio with a complete line of oral dosers. In 2020 Milfra launched a new line of products, including droppers, even with the challenges brought by the pandemic.
The focus on quality and automation has led Milfra to become a leader in this market, always focused on how to best meet the specific needs of its customers.
About Nemera
As a world-leading drug delivery device solutions company, our purpose of putting patients first enables us to design and manufacture devices that maximize treatment efficacy.
We are a holistic partner and help our customers succeed in the sprint to market of their combination products. From early device strategy to state-of-the-art manufacturing, we’re committed to the highest quality standards.
Agile and open-minded, we work with our customers as colleagues. Together, we go the extra mile to fulfill our mission.
For more information, visit www.nemera.net.
