Hardly any development in packaging technology offers so much potential for innovation and applications as printed electronics. Typical applications are the protection against product counterfeiting or product piracy, the monitoring of medication in pharmaceuticals, further product and usage information for consumers as well as promotion campaigns and events to increase customer loyalty. To see it work, visit the VDMA Technology Lounge in hall 5 / J38, where the VDMA presents ideas and solutions for tomorrow’s machines in cooperation with partners from industry, science and research.

The increasing international product piracy is a key driver of the growing interest in printed electronics in the packaging sector. According to the OECD, product piracy alone causes a damage of more than € 250 billion per year, with German companies complaining about losses of around € 50 billion annually. However, product pirates do not only steal the proceeds of original manufacturers’ research and development work, they even endanger human life through their fake products – for example, in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors. In the age of industry 4.0, protection against such criminal activities is therefore one of the most important tasks for manufacturers – and this is where intelligent packaging plays an increasingly important role.

The technical basis of intelligent packaging is made up of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), RFIDs (radio frequency identification) and NFC systems (near field communication). These electronic components are lightweight, thin, flexible, and can be attached to any place of the packaging. While the focus of OLEDs in packaging is more on the aspect of advertising, RFID and NFC tags focus on the fact that customers can access more detailed information about the individual products via their smartphones. The information gained can be for example, authenticity, freshness and shelf life, origin or regionality, nutritional values, recipes, etc. But also in terms of advertising and marketing, manufacturers and retailers profit from the diverse possibilities of the wireless chips by attracting the attention of the customer to special events or promotion activities of the manufacturer or the distributing supermarket chain. In health care, smart blisters remind patients or nurses of the timely use of prescription drugs according to medication specifications.

The OE-A (Organic and Printed Electronics Association) provide an insight into these fascinating perspectives with numerous demonstrators and products at the VDMA booth in Hall 5 / J38.

The exhibition on will we accompanied by a series of lectures. Key theme of the lectures: “Packaging Pitches: Smart, Smarter, Printed Electronics”. OE-A members, experts of the industry, will discuss the countless application possibilities of printed electronics in the packaging industry. The lectures will take place on May 04, 05, 08 and 09, at 14:00 o’clock at the VDMA booth.

The PicknPack project aims to provide the food industry with new perspectives for a more flexible, more automated, gentle and robot-based production where smart factories are concerned. A PicknPack system consists of different modules, which can be configured as desired, or extended by additional units depending on the order and customer requirements. The QAS module (QAS, Quality Assessment and Sensing) here plays a central role. To see it work, visit the VDMA Technology Lounge in hall 5 / J38, where the VDMA presents ideas and solutions for tomorrow’s machines in cooperation with partners from industry, science and research.

Quality assurance is one of the most important prerequisites for guaranteeing customer satisfaction. The universities of Leuven (Belgium), Wageningen (the Netherlands) and Manchester (United Kingdom) as well as the Danish company InnoSpexion ApS all were involved in the development of the QAS module. It contains several submodules for different test and control procedures. This includes five scanning methods: an X-ray scanner, a hyperspectral imaging system, an RGB line scanner, a 3D imaging system and a microwave sensor unit. Based on the experience gained from previous projects, the developers have created a food database that allows the QAS module to be easily trained to recognize quality features of different products. The demonstrator shown in the VDMA Technology Lounge demonstrates working with the methods of hyperspectral and 3D imaging.

The Hyperspectral Imaging Sensor used here detects wavelengths from 600 nm to 1000 nm and covers spectral bands in the visible red and near infrared (NIR) regions. The information obtained from the image analysis makes it possible, for example, to evaluate the degree of maturity as well as surface defects of tomato panicles or grape vines or other fruit and vegetables. The advantage of the Hyperspectral Imaging method is the excellent detection rate of surface defects compared to conventional RGB cameras or the human eye.

The 3D Imaging System, on the other hand, operates with two 45° inclined sensors based on the principle of laser triangulation, which capture 50 percent of the product surface (the upper half). The data obtained in this way can be used, for example, for the exact calculation of the size and weight of the scanned products. Another use of this data is controlling the pick robot. On the basis of the recorded data, the robot knows the exact position, size and orientation of the products on the conveyor belt or in the transport boxes. This allows it to align its gripper perfectly, to take the products gently and place them in trays.

Interested visitors will be able to find out about these and other innovations as well as practical research results from the partner companies at the VDMA booth in Hall 5 / J38.

Cyberattacks are now part of any company's daily business worldwide and they continue to rise in number. They range from factory espionage to the introduction of malware. The damage caused by such attacks on the economy is in the billion range. The most important step towards protecting against such attacks is the deliberate investigation into possible risks. And this requires intensive training using the latest didactic methods. To see it work, visit the VDMA Technology Lounge in hall 5 / J38, where the VDMA presents ideas and solutions for tomorrow’s machines in cooperation with partners from industry, science and research.

A decisive factor for the success of Industry 4.0 is a reliable, and above all permanent, secure operation of the worldwide networked machines and systems. The German word “Sicherheit” has two meanings, safety and security – these, however, are not the same but pursue entirely different objectives. Whereas safety describes the functional safety to protect people from potential hazards from the operation of machines and equipment, industrial Security, on the other hand, focuses on the protection of the information technology of industrial production plants, machinery and systems from attacks by cyber criminals. Security thus has to be integrated right into the design as such and must be an integral part of projects over their entire life cycle. A key step towards greater security is to sensitize and train employees in IT security.

Together with the Munich start-up "University4Industry (U4I)", the Mechanical Engineering Industry Assicoation (VDMA) has begun a cooperation in the area of digital advanced training for industry 4.0. In doing so, U4I took over the implementation of the VDMA Guideline Industry 4.0 Security in video-based learning units for online tuition. The focus is on practical knowledge as well as actual examples from industry and business with the goal of closing existing skills gaps. Instead of acquiring general knowledge, the students are to acquire specific knowledge through specific applications for their individual needs. Each participant can decide for themselves which tuition modules are currently of interest to them and then include them in a play list. The focus is on topics such as risk analysis, network segmentation, safeguarding of wireless technologies, monitoring and attack detection, safe remote maintenance as well as the design of safe product lifecycles and much more.

Interested visitors will be able to find out about these and other innovations as well as practical research results from the partner companies at the VDMA booth in Hall 5 / J38.

With its patented Cera2Heat technology, Watttron GmbH allows a targeted heat transfer into thermoplastic films and sheets for thermoforming. The process convinces through its significant process improvements as well as material and energy savings. To see it work, visit the VDMA Technology Lounge in hall 5 / J38, where the VDMA presents ideas and solutions for tomorrow’s machines in cooperation with partners from industry, science and research.

The problem with conventional heating equipment for thermoforming systems is that, depending on the process, cups or trays can be produced either with relatively stable side walls, but critical thin bottom plates – or vice versa. This is mainly due to the homogeneous heat distribution generated over the entire thermoform film. The engineers at watttron GmbH use their Cera2Heat to tackle precisely this problem. The company is a start-up spin-off from the Institute for Processing Machinery and Mobile Work Machinery at the Dresden University of Technology and the Fraunhofer Institute for Processing Machines and Packaging Technology Dresden.

The core of the Cera2Heat process consists of ceramic heating plates, which can be individually controlled, for the purpose of heating thermoplastic thermoforming films and sheets. The small dimensions of the heat pixels of only 5 mm x 5 mm allow generating precisely defined heat profiles. To achieve this, Watttron has developed a calculation and control program. Thanks to their modular design, several of these ceramic heating plates can be combined just like Lego bricks to form virtually any heating surface.

The specifically inhomogeneous heat distribution improves the moulding behaviour of the plastics, so that manufacturers of thermoforming systems can dispense with preforming stretch rods. This, in turn, saves equipment and energy, reduces the complexity of equipment and avoids stamp marks. Due to the better shaping behaviour, operators can also use thinner wall materials. This means material savings of up to 30 percent and – as a result – lower material and transport costs, less resource consumption, more sustainability as well as significant savings in energy costs. The latter can be further reduced by pulsed operation. Where flexibility is concerned, Cera2Heat also convinces as new temperature profiles are calculated within seconds. The subsequent installation of these intelligent heating modules in older thermoforming systems is an economically highly interesting option that will improve the performance and output quality of these systems, for example in the context of retrofit measures.

Interested visitors will be able to find out about these and other innovations as well as practical research results from the partner companies at the VDMA booth in Hall 5 / J38.

A new cleaning device with intelligent sensor technology detects the actual cleaning requirements of systems and adjusts the cleaning parameters to meet the respective situation. This saves time, energy and resources. To see it work, visit the VDMA Technology Lounge in hall 5 / J38, where the VDMA presents ideas and solutions for tomorrow’s machines in cooperation with partners from industry, science and research.

The cleaning system developed at Fraunhofer IVV Dresden essentially consists of an intelligent, highly flexible cleaning device and a mobile docking station. The latter contains a charging station for the batteries of the WLAN-controlled cleaning device and a hose reel synchronized with it for the supply of cleaning media. Attached to the cleaning are device task specific nozzle systems that can be exchanged quickly and can be controlled separately via valves. This means that only those nozzles needed for the job at hand are active. At the same time, the cleaning device will independently adjust the nozzle pressure and the feed speed to the respective situation. The technical highlights include an optical residual-dirt detection system that will determine the cleaning process, and the optional final inspection of the cleaning process.

The advantage is: While CIP systems work with defined cleaning procedures, the cleaning device presented here always adjusts the cleaning process individually to the degree of soiling found at each particular place. In addition, it avoids spray shadows even on complex geometries. This leads to better cleaning results – while using fewer nozzles than static systems do. This allows a considerably higher cleaning efficiency as well as reproducible cleaning qualities at any time. The test results speak for themselves. In a comparative assessment, the cleaning device operated with only one rotating surge cleaner, while the CIP system had two jet nozzles integrated into a robot with the same nozzle pressure. The cleaning device needed a little more time for the job, but its volume flow was 50 percent lower with a total resource efficiency of about 20 percent.

Interested visitors will be able to find out about these and other innovations as well as practical research results from the partner companies at the VDMA booth in Hall 5 / J38.

Intelligent assistance systems are designed to help plant operators quickly resolve production interruptions due to unscheduled plant shutdowns. To see it work, visit the VDMA Technology Lounge in hall 5 / J38, where the VDMA presents ideas and solutions for tomorrow’s machines in cooperation with partners from industry, science and research.

Despite the increasing degree of automation in processing and packaging systems, process disruptions cannot be completely avoided, which is why experienced plant operators with high process understanding are still needed for a stable process management. Precisely these, however, are missing in the job market. The reasons for this are high staff fluctuation and often enough the very low level of training new employees have to offer. To tackle this problem, researchers from the Fraunhofer IVV Dresden, in collaboration with the Department for Engineering Psychology and Applied Cognitive Research as well as the Department for Process Control Technology at the Dresden University of Technology are developing an operator assistance system capable of learning.

Different states of an installation can lead to anomalies in the switching patterns of the system sensors. Using machine learning algorithms, the researchers bring these patterns into stochastic relationships with the machine and process states. Using condition monitoring data, they classified records with up to 20,000 entries on the basis of specifically created disturbances. It is decisive here to define relevant features and to exclude spurious correlations. The goal is an assistance system that will increase its own vocabulary and knowledge about causal correlations. To achieve this, the system will stay in dialogue with the operator using conversation and interview strategies. As a result, the system will provide appropriate suggestions for problem-solving – like an expert system. Furthermore, it is intended to accelerate the learning process of the operators and thus enable them to understand more complex disturbances more quickly and to develop independently suitable solution strategies.

Advantages for operators: The assistance system greatly increases the efficiency of plants. In addition, it provides valuable information on the optimization of production, subsequent plant expansions and, based on the information stored in the database, it offers measures within the context of predictive maintenance.

Interested visitors will be able to find out about these and other innovations, as well as practical research results from the partner companies, at the VDMA stand in Hall 5 / J38.

Everyone is talking about Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and the Internet of Things (IoT), but when it comes to implementing it many still hesitate. However, already with today’s state of the art machinery and components it is possible to realize the vision of Industry 4.0 and the individualization of products up to lot size 1. This is exactly what VDMA as the client plus ITQ GmbH as the idea generating and project-oriented company have implemented with the smart4i demonstrator. In collaboration with partners from industry, science and research, ideas and solutions for tomorrow’s machines, will be presented in detail in the VDMA Technology Lounge in Hall 5 / J38.

The smart4i demonstrator shows how the customer can individualize a Powerbank on the Internet via smartphone or tablet PC. The configuration options include colour selection of the Powerbank, its accessories (with or without USB cable) as well as a personalized text for labelling both the Powerbank and the packaging. The customer sends the order to the central order management system of the demonstrator and from there to is passed on to its sequence control. With this direct route from the customer to the shop floor the order can be processed much faster.

The demonstrator at a glance

The demonstrator consists of several modules or stations. The central element is an intelligent transport system operating according to the principle of the linear drive. Its shuttles are individually controllable. Carriers for different blisters as well as for the Powerbanks are mounted on these. Depending on the order, the transport system carries the shuttles to different modules. The blister module separates the appropriate blisters depending on the order (with or without a cable) and places them in the corresponding carrier of the shuttle. The transport system then carries them either to the cable module for inserting a USB cable or directly to the laser module. At the same time, the Powerbank module uses an articulated robot with its vacuum gripper to select a Powerbank in the chosen colour and place it on a shuttle which then takes it to the laser module. Here, a worker takes the Powerbank as a "Cyber-Physical-System" and places it in the laser station for engraving the personalized text as well as a data matrix code. The operator then places the printed Powerbank in the blister pack, which is also present at the station. Once the blister is completely filled, the shuttle moves to the lid module which places a cardboard cover on the blister. From there it is transported to the sealing station. The sealed and finished packaging travels on to the output module.

A look behind the scenes

It should be emphasized that it took ITQ only a few weeks to introduce a nearly 40-member student team of five universities to the latest engineering methods and tools. From different locations in Germany and Gran Canary these teams conceived and realized the smart4i demonstrator using nothing but standard components. All modules were completely simulated during the development phase and tested with a virtual control run. The subsequent implementation and commissioning was therefore extremely short. The students also proved how efficiently complex tasks in virtual teams can be solved across national borders, and what modern training or the new way of working in the virtual world can look like where Industry 4.0 is concerned.

Interested visitors will be able to find out about these and other innovations, as well as practical research results from the partner companies, at the VDMA stand in Hall 5 / J38.

At the VDMA Technology Lounge you can see how this can work: By means of special exhibits the VDMA will present ideas and solutions for the tomorrow’s machines in cooperation with partners from industry, science and research.

smart4i: A very special highlight is the “smart4i-demonstrator”. It shows, how the IoT-concept of production in batch size 1 can be achieved even with today’s components and machines. Visitors can order an individualized powerbank concerning color, packaging and inscription via the internet and then watch its production and packaging process in a live demonstration. Further core issues are seamless networking via universal interfaces (OPC UA) as well as the development and virtual commissioning of the demonstrator by means of a digital twin.

Intelligent assistance systems: They are designed to assist plant operators solving problems with machines, plants or processes – similar to expert systems – by means of conversation and interview strategies. The assistance system was developed by researchers from the Fraunhofer IVV Dresden in collaboration with the Department for Engineering Psychology and Applied Cognitive Research as well as the Department for Process Control Technology at the Dresden University of Technology.

Sensor-controlled cleaning system: The cleaning system developed at Fraunhofer IVV Dresden essentially consists of an intelligent, highly flexible cleaning device and a mobile docking station. Due to its intelligent sensors, the cleaning device always adjusts the cleaning process individually to the degree of soiling found at each particular place. This saves time, energy and resources.

Cear2Heat: With its patented Cera2Heat technology, Watttron GmbH allows a targeted heat transfer into thermoplastic films and sheets for thermoforming and is able to create any desired temperature profile. The process convinces through its significant process improvements as well as material and energy savings.

Industrial security: Defense against cyber attacks is the greatest challenge for the security of the Internet of Things. The Munich start-up "University4Industry (U4I)", in collaboration with the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), took over the implementation of the VDMA Guideline Industry 4.0 Security in video-based learning units for online tuition. All participants can decide for themselves which tuition modules are currently of interest to them and then include these units in a play list to enlarge their expertise fast and targeted.

QAS-Modul: Quality assurance is one of the most important prerequisites for guaranteeing customer satisfaction. The QAS-Module (Quality Assessment and Sensing) developed by the universities of Leuven, Wageningen and Manchester as well as the Danish company InnoSpexion ApS offers different testing methods. The demonstrator shown in the VDMA Technology Lounge illustrates working with the methods of hyperspectral and 3D imaging.

Intelligent packaging: Due to integrated printed electronics (OLED, RFID and NFC) intelligent packaging offers numerous fields of application. Typical applications are the protection against product counterfeiting or product piracy, the monitoring of medication in pharmaceuticals, further product and usage information for consumers as well as promotion campaigns and events to increase customer loyalty.

Interested visitors will be able to find out about these and other innovations, as well as practical research results from the partner companies, at the VDMA stand in Hall 5 / J38.

Dusseldorf, May 4, 2017 - The German food processing and packaging machinery manufacturing companies look forward to the interpack trade fair full of confidence. “For years, our industry has shown a positive development and the German manufacturers can look back on a record year," said Richard Clemens, Managing Director of the VDMA Food Packaging and Packaging Machinery Association, at interpack 2017 in Düsseldorf.

Last year, the companies generated machines and plants worth 13.3 billion euros, an increase of 2.4 percent compared to the previous year. "The current development of the industry is a good thing for us, so we expect a growth in sales of between 3 and 4 percent for the entire sector covered by the Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association," Clemens added.

Demand from abroad is the driving force of the industry. A large proportion of German production is sold to more than 100 countries worldwide, last year’s exports amounted to 8.3 billion euros. This was an increase of almost 4 percent compared to the previous year.

Europe still remains the most important sales region. In 2016, the German manufacturers exported food processing and packaging machinery worth 4.1 billion euros, equivalent to half of the total exports.

After Europe, Asia is the most important sales region for German food processing and packaging machinery. In 2016, machinery and equipment worth 1.4 billion euros went to Asian countries: 17 percent of German exports.

North America was in 3rd place. Deliveries in 2016 rose by 8 percent to 1.14 billion euros. Latin America was the fourth largest player with deliveries of 587 million euros, followed by Africa with 501 million euros. Increasingly it is the emerging and developing countries, whose industries need to be established, expanded or modernized, that give growth impulses. Here, production mechanization and the packaging of the products is often still at a low level. The potential of these markets is high due to population growth, a growing middle class with young people who are ready to consume and have increasing demands on the safety and quality of food and beverages.

"Smart Future" is the header under which the Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association within VDMA gives partners from industry, research and development the opportunity to present their latest developments in packaging technology. The exhibits show ideas and solutions for tomorrow's machines.

Are there any more questions? Vera Fritsche, Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association within VDMA, will be happy to answer them. Phone +49/151/14644049 VDMA Stand: Hall 5 J38

The field of manufacturing and packaging machines for medicinal products is a small, highly specialized sub-sector of the German mechanical engineering industry. Within the international competition this sector holds its own very successfully. For this industry, interpack is the world's leading trade fair this year. Customers from all over the world are coming to Düsseldorf to find out about the latest developments in the production, filling and packaging technology for medicinal products. There are good reasons for this. After all, the supplier industry of what was once termed “the pharmacy is the world” is still the most sought-after supplier of production and packaging machinery. With a production volume of 1.7 billion euros (according to VDMA estimates) and a world market share of about a quarter of world production, the German pharmaceutical machinery industry leads the world market.

The industry is expecting further growth

Over the past few years, this industry has continuously built up production capacities. The industry is responding to the business situation and the good structural conditions of the pharma sector which continue to be good. The most important group of customers, the internationally active pharmaceutical corporations, has meanwhile successfully steered passed the so-called 'patent cliff'. Their “research coffers” are well filled and new products will compensate for declines in sales through expiring patents. Demographic factors, such as the growing obsolescence in the industrialized countries and the increase in civilization diseases in the emerging countries, as well as the increasing cost pressure on drug manufacturers by healthcare providers, ultimately stimulate the demand for pharmaceutical production and packaging machines.

Classic markets boost the industry

The current VDMA spring survey has confirmed the good standing of the industry. Demand is also being supported by the "traditional" markets (Germany, Western Europe and North America), above all the stable positive domestic business. On the other hand, in the so-called emerging countries demand has decreased somewhat, partly due to an installed overcapacity, as in China, and partly because of structural weaknesses such as in Latin America and Russia. For the coming months, our members expect the demand for the "old" markets to remain stable on a high level. In addition, there will be a stabilization of the demand in the Far East. Overall, the economy can be expected to remain good.

Interpack: "Conti" and "Single Use" shake up the market

Let us highlight two foci from the multitude of trade fair topics: “continuous production "and" the use of single-use components ".

The topic of continuous production "has been discussed in specialist circles for years. Meanwhile, the technology has hit the market. The number of projects has grown, and more and more manufacturers are offering new technical concepts. Conti has established itself as a technical alternative to traditional batch processes. However, a breakthrough is not to be expected too soon. The pharmaceutical industry is known to be very conservative when it comes to manufacturing processes. The example "insulator technology" shows, however, that once a technology has proven its worth, it can also be successful in the long term. In the middle of the 80s, the first insulator lines were installed. Since then, the discussion about the pros and cons of this technology has been going to and fro. Now the pro-arguments seem to have prevailed in the market: The bulk of current projects are manufactured with insulator filling lines.

In the production of sterile and biotech products, installations with single-use components are rapidly gaining in importance. Advantages in cleaning validation as well as shortened cleaning and change-over times ensure that more than half of the new installations in the biotech sector are now single-use concepts. For filling plants, the question of retrofitting or the actual option to change over to single-use concepts is still a brand-new topic. However, the classic stainless steel installations also score points. Their benefits are: inert materials, no limitation of batch sizes, greater choice and less dependency on suppliers. Without any doubt - both concepts have their justified place in the market, merely their roles have changed in the last few years. Today, single use is the top dog, stainless steel is increasingly pushed back into niches.

VDMA "Machinery and equipment for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics" at interpack

Please visit us in Hall 5 / J38. Your contact: Dr. Peter Golz

Düsseldorf, May 04, 2014 - The past year has been a success for German packaging machinery manufacturers. The approximately 250 predominantly medium-sized companies produced machines and systems worth almost 6.4 billion euros, an increase of 3 percent compared to the previous year.

In 2016, the companies sold almost 20 percent of the production within the local market. Demand rose by 4 per cent compared with the previous year and reached a value of EUR 1.1 billion. Sales in the home market rose by 32 percent between 2010 and 2016.

The most important source of stimulus: foreign demand

For years, the German companies have been dominating the international market not only in production, but also where exports are concerned. On average, they generate more than 80 percent of their sales abroad. Last year (2016), they exported packaging machines worth almost 5.4 billion euros to more than 100 countries in the world, an increase of 3 percent compared to the previous year. This means that six years after the global financial and economic crisis, exports now exceed the high level of 2008, the year with the highest deliveries to date.

Europe continues to be the largest regional market: In 2016, Germany delivered machinery and equipment worth 2.5 billion euros to European countries, an increase of 9 percent compared to the previous year. However, Europe's share of total German exports has declined over the past 10 years. 10 years ago, deliveries to Europe still accounted for 52 percent of total deliveries, the figure has sunk to 47 percent.

Packaging machinery exports to Asia have doubled and reached a value of 1 billion euros in 2016. This makes Asia the second most important sales region for German companies after Europe, even if deliveries were almost 7 percent down compared to the previous year. The weak demand from China, the largest customer of packaging machinery "made in Germany" in Asia, had a negative effect here.

North America is the third largest sales region for German manufacturers. Of the total German packaging machinery exports, 14 percent went to this region (€ 764 million, up 9 percent).

Africa comes fourth with deliveries of 331 million euros (minus 7 percent). Latin America follows in fifth place. Here exports fell by almost 5 percent to 330 million euros. This was mainly due to the slump in demand in Brazil. The Middle East came sixth with 308 million euros (plus 16 percent).

Increasingly it is the emerging and developing countries, whose industries need to be established, expanded or modernized, that give growth impulses. Here, production mechanization and the packaging of the products is often still at a low level. The potential of these markets is high due to population growth, a growing middle class with young people who are ready to consume and have increasing demands on the safety and quality of food and beverages.

Are there any more questions? Vera Fritsche, Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association within VDMA, will be happy to answer them. Phone 0151/14644049

VDMA Stand: Hall 5 Stand no. J38

Ochsenhausen / Düsseldorf, 04 May 2017 – Veraplex films from Südpack Verpackungen GmbH & Co. KG are a world of their own and set new standards. These films are extremely thin with outstanding technical properties, including puncture resistance, effective oxygen/aroma barriers, and extreme tear resistance. This makes the films ideal for products with high mechanical requirements and demanding bulk goods. A high-quality, transparent appearance attracts attention at the point-of-sale.

Veraplex films offer outstanding performance and technical properties – with minimal film thickness. As pioneers in the field, they are characterized by sustainability and excellent barrier properties along with a diversity of design and presentation options. High transparency and gloss attract attention at the point of sale. Thanks to extreme tear resistance, Veraplex ensures simple, tear-free opening of the packaging.

The product groups in the Veraplex World are named according to their unique properties. "Thanks to the straightforward naming system for the Veraplex World, customers no longer have to ask which film best suits their product or matches another packaging component," explains Südpack Managing Partner Johannes Remmele. "With the Veraplex World, we showcase all of the options that clients have in terms of product protection, design alternatives and sustainable packaging production. Each Veraplex World subgroup is tailored to a specific packaging format."

The Veraplex World comprises five film groups: Veraplex, which serves as a base film for standard applications, Veraplex Plus, Veraplex Drum, Veraplex Craft and Veraplex Protec. With these five packaging groups, Südpack covers a wide range of applications, from nuts and other sharp-edged goods, to more demanding products like fresh meat and technical articles.

Flexible, highly technical and eye-catching

Veraplex serves as the basis. This highly transparent film can be used for lid films, Flowpacks, etc. Characterized by its defined shrinkage properties and high mechanical strength, Veraplex Drum is ideal as a top film for modified atmosphere packaging trays. Veraplex Craft shows its sustainability on the outside. Lined with paper for a more natural look, it can be used as a lid film as well as for packaging concepts and as a Flowpack.

Veraplex Protec: Innovative transport packaging

Thanks to its excellent barrier properties, Veraplex Protec is best suited as transport packaging for perishable food or technical articles. Derived from the word 'protect,' the name also alludes to the 'tec' component of technical products. Veraplex Protec can be processed into prefabricated bags for product protection during transport.

Veraplex Plus: For the big jobs

Veraplex Plus properties are further improved by laminating multiple foils. This new Veraplex Group is tear-resistant and easy to open. In addition to this convenience, the films attract attention on the supermarket shelf with their high-gloss surface and transparency. Veraplex Plus can be finished in intermediate layer, flexographic and gravure printing. This robust film also makes life easier in production. It is ideal for large packs and for use on wide packaging systems.

Sonoco's plastic packaging and composite cans are versatile all-rounders that can be adapted to individual products and their uses.

Spread out your picnic blanket, apply your sunscreen, and you're all set! Preparing for a picnic is as easy as it gets. For her meal in the park, Kira Brown is looking for food that is just as easy to take along and eat. At the supermarket, she picks out yoghurt, sandwich spreads and miniature mozzarella balls – all in plastic packaging made by Sonoco Europe (NYSE:SON). The packaging is manufactured in the In-Mould labeling process (IML), offers the same protection as cans, and is easy to open. Thanks to the different product sizes, Kira can limit her purchases to the amount of food she actually needs. And if there are any leftovers, the resealable lids make it easy for her to take them home.

The right packaging for every occasion

Before the practical plastic packaging reaches Kira's picnic blanket, it undergoes an extensive development process at Sonoco. With its clients, the packaging manufacturer runs through simulations of where, when, how and by whom the product will be used. Through these simulations of purchase and consumption situations, Sonoco puts its packaging to the test. For instance, in the company's own iPS Studio (Innovative Packaging Solutions Studio), test subjects examine how easy it is to open and close different types of lids, or which snack packaging is best for munching on the couch in the evenings.

In addition to the US-based iPS Studio in Hartsville, South Carolina, Sonoco will open a second testing environment at its European headquarters in Hockenheim, Germany, in 2017. It's the ideal place for the company to work with its customers on developing the right design and optimizing the materials, shapes, linings, lids and ends for their packaging. The customer ultimately receives a packaging solution that lives up to the brand image while meeting consumer needs.

For cozy evenings at home

Packaging also plays a big role in Paul Müller's purchase decision. He usually enjoys snacking on a few stackable chips after lunch. The snack-sized rigid paperboard container is easy and safe to transport in his briefcase. For the European Football Championship, he's invited over some friends to watch a game. His favorite chips have to be there, too; and today's his lucky day, since the full-sized container is currently being sold with 20 percent more chips – a special offer connected with the European Championship. Paul goes for the deal and there's plenty for everyone. But just to be safe, he adds an extra snack to his cart: paprika rings, also packaged in a composite can.

The sturdy packaging stands firmly on Paul's coffee table throughout the match – with no need to transfer the snacks into serving bowls. It's almost kickoff time, and the round containers are conveniently in place for everyone to serve themselves as they wish. And what about the leftovers? Even after the membrane has been removed upon opening the container, the tightly fitting snap lid is designed to protect the contents – particularly moisture-sensitive products like snacks. Aluminum linings and tin bases serve as an additional shield, keeping the snacks crisp. So Paul can still enjoy what's left a few days later.

Making an impression on the supermarket shelf

Like most consumers, Kira Brown and Paul Müller make their food choices in the supermarket at the spur of the moment. Large-scale illustrations whet their appetites, while unique packaging formats vie for their attention. In the case of plastic packaging, consumer goods manufacturers are able to design the shape quite freely. The shapes may imitate traditional paper and metal packaging or use a completely novel design to embrace their brand identity. Sonoco's rigid paperboard containers also attract consumers’ attention, such as Kira and Paul, thanks to high-quality printed images and effects. Modified package sizes or special designs that are quick to implement are constantly offering new aspects that appeal to consumers. Designing packaging is all about planning ahead; and smart manufacturers start thinking of recycling very early on.

Where planning pays off

Kira and Paul have no need to worry: IML plastic packaging and its labels are composed of the same material and can be disposed of together. Composite cans consist largely of processed recycled paper. Lids and bases are processed separately and the source material can be reused or is even biodegradable.

A packaging that is convenient and fits every situation, an eyecatcher on supermarket shelves and sustainable at the same time: It is no surprise that consumers come back to products that are marketed in Sonoco packaging. According to a survey conducted by Sonoco, 95 per cent of all consumers would purchase a product in a composite can again. Plastic packaging can contribute to consumers’ loyalty through a high level of convenience as well. Kira and Paul will very likely opt again for goods in the kind of packaging that fits their lifestyle perfectly.

Hockenheim, 4 May 2017 – (NYSE: SON) What began decades ago as simple paperboard containers with labels attached by hand now shines in the supermarket spotlight as a faithful companion and ambassador for a variety of brands. Rigid paperboard containers look great on the shelf, in shipping parcels, or at home. Today, they can be decorated with high-quality all-around labels from the base to the high-tech lid – and are rapidly replacing other types of packaging for a growing range of products all over the world.

Rigid paperboard containers represent a contemporary classic form of convenience packaging. Sonoco's round and non-round containers have been on chain store shelves and in consumers' pantries for more than half a century. Old fashioned? No way. They are everywhere and familiar to all: "Our packaging is found in almost every household," explains Séan Cairns, Vice President and General Manager at Sonoco Europe in Hockenheim. "Our statistics show that 95 percent of consumers would buy a product in a rigid paperboard container again. This is an unusually high approval rating and shows how popular this packaging still is today."

The basic concept has hardly changed over the last six decades. Rigid paperboard containers primarily consist of finished recycled paper. Base and closures are made of plastic, paperboard or metal. Their versatility in terms of overall look is unparalleled. Hardly any other type of packaging has adapted so well to changing tastes by setting new trends and winning over generations of consumers.

Today, rigid paperboard containers represent one of the few types of packaging capable of meeting the needs of very diverse consumer groups, from young hipsters to senior citizens, and snack lovers to health-conscious superfood lovers. Stacked chips in Mongolia? Tricky in a bag. Nut mixes for Qatar? Why use metal cans when rigid paperboard containers can do so much more? Powdered milk, granulated tea, seeds, superfoods – all packed in paperboard containers. Fine whisky? Delicate fragrances? Perfectly packaged in luxury tubes.

Convenience meets design

Convenience features are one of the keys to success. Durable and resealable, composite cans are ideal for storage or use on the go. "Over the past years, we have invested substantially in research and development. This has resulted in a wide range array of closures designed to match the container to the product, from simple snap lids to sophisticated mills," says Cairns. "Our packaging offers consumers real added value coupled with a contemporary look."

In many cases, the container's outer appearance is almost as important as what's inside. Creative design freedom offers key advantages – especially for food manufacturers. With an all-around label firmly bonded to the body of the container during the manufacturing process, the outer surface can be used for design purposes. The classic, sleek form is preserved. And the options for designers when it comes to the label are virtually limitless. The container height can also be easily adjusted to suit the product volume, for instance for special offers. "This is a significant advantage over other rigid packaging solutions. Such an adjustment would be far more difficult with plastic, glass and metal packaging or even folding boxes,” Cairns confirms.

The container as an integral part of the brand image

Combining convenience with all-around design, rigid paperboard containers become an integral aspect of the brand image for many products. The ever-popular stacked chips are just one example. Snack manufacturers often use a variety of different designs that can be adapted to seasons and specific markets. While the contents remain crisp and tasty as always, the design is variable.

Clients have a variety of options for the label design. This starts with the choice of paper – from simple, gravure-printed glossy paper, to eco-friendly uncoated paper – and continues to include elaborate decorations and embossing. Anything is possible when it comes to creating the right impression for the product at the point of sale.

Precious fleur de sel is put on the table in a paperboard container with a natural look and a high-quality cork lid. Chocolate milk from a Munich cocoa manufacturer comes in an elegant container with a golden surface in the shape of a cocoa bean – made possible with hot gold foil embossing. A sugar substitute made to look like sugar cubes? Metallic lacquer and cold foil with six-color printing and a protective coating allow the packaging to command attention on the coffee table. The base is genuine metal, the lid is injection-molded with inlaid metallic flakes in a matching color.

All-around labels – from the lid to the base

Branding doesn't stop with the label. Embossing on the plastic snap lid is a popular way to extend the branding to the top of the container. Transparent lids allow a clear view of inserts for campaigns or the printed membrane underneath. Sonoco now uses the in-mould-labelling (IML) technology for plastic lids. "Our expertise in manufacturing attractively decorated IML plastic cups is a key advantage when it comes to IML lids," Cairns explains. "In the future, this technology will even make it possible to have photorealistic images on the lid."

But that's not all – the bottom of the rigid paperboard container is also available for designers to express their creativity, at least when it is made of paperboard. "We can now print this largely unused area," Cairns says. "With this step we have achieved our major goal: a container that is decorated all over, from head to toe."

Hockenheim, 07 April 2017 – (NYSE: SON) High-quality packaging really starts to shine when consumers use it in their everyday lives. At this year’s instalment of the leading packaging trade show Interpack (Düsseldorf, 4th – 10th May 2017), Sonoco Europe will present its packaging solutions in real-world consumption situations. This brand-new, interactive concept will turn the booth in hall 9, C34.D31 into an apartment-like living space. In its “natural surrounding”, Sonoco’s portfolio of rigid paperboard containers – also known as composite cans – and plastic packaging solutions will come alive, inviting visitors to pick up products and interact with them. The booth design is based on Sonoco’s new iPS studio in Hockenheim, where packaging will be tested in a living space environment. In addition to consumer product packages, the booth will showcase a diverse range of customized cores, tubes and spools for different industries from the divisions Sonoco Alcore and Sonoco Plastics.

At this year’s event, the Sonoco booth will be all about the real-life benefits of packaging solutions. The packaging experts will present ‘Packaging Designed for Individuals’ – composite cans and plastic packaging solutions in a “natural environment”. Individually designed areas of the booth will allow visitors to get up close and personal with the packages and discover them hands-on. A living area consisting of a kitchen, a living room and a dining-room-like seating area will display packaged products in the settings where they’re normally used. A separate supermarket space will allow visitors to see how various packaging solutions appear on retail shelves. “Around the booth, trade show visitors can explore the advantages of our packaging solutions,” says Séan Cairns, Vice President and General Manager, Sonoco Consumer Products Europe. “This entirely new booth concept brings our packaging even closer to the visitor, just as this year’s motto ‘Packaging Designed for Individuals’ promises.”

Various customising options

At the booth, a wide variety of customer samples will display a key strength of Sonoco’s packages: customisation. Sonoco can individually adapt its rigid paper containers and plastic packages for each customer, allowing the premium solutions to stand out from the competition and respond to diverse consumer needs and lifestyles. Trends like on-the-go consumption call for new features – and so do new focus groups, like single households. A snap lid for example ensures that customers can reclose the package to preserve the product’s freshness, while sprinkler lids make rigid paperboard containers a convenient packaging solution for herbs and spices.

A broad range of individual solutions

In addition to examples of its customers’ packages, Sonoco will display the SquareCan – a new attractive composite can with a nearly rectangular shape and a hinged lid. This new product development demonstrates how an unusual shape can attract consumers’ attention at the POS. Eye-catching ends, membranes, and lids provide further customising options, and are available for round, oval, and rectangular rigid paperboard containers. Together with partners like Vegeplast, Sonoco designs solutions such as Vegetop®, a sprinkler lid made from biodegradable plastics. The completely compostable sprinkler lid is an ideal fit for eco-conscious consumers.

When it comes to plastic packaging, in-mould labelling (IML) provides unique opportunities for optimal brand placement, such as colourful displays and all-around branding of the container. The label is usually made from the same material as the packaging container and injected directly into the packaging’s wall during production. In this way, Sonoco can ensure that it doesn’t slip or slide during transport or in use. Bi-Colour Injection moulding additionally contributes to a premium look and allows for even more differentiation on the shelf.

Thanks to Sonoco’s Permasafe technology, IML containers can lock in their contents hermetically, ensuring a longer shelf life at ambient storage conditions. Compared to traditional glass or metal containers, Sonoco’s rigid plastic solutions offer lower weight, impressive durability and reclosability – and are microwave-safe. These features make for an attractive alternative when packaging products like fish, sausages or ready meals.

The iPS Studio – a real-life testing ground

Sonoco’s product developers are constantly improving solutions to better meet consumer needs and provide real added value. One part of Sonoco’s i6 innovation process focuses on gaining insights by simulating how actual costumers will interact with the packaging. The testing environment is essential to doing so: Later in 2017 Sonoco will open its new iPS (short for Innovative Packaging Solutions) studio in Hockenheim, a satellite to Sonoco’s innovative packaging solution studio in Hartsville, South Carolina. At both sites Sonoco subjects its packaging solutions to rigorous testing. Customers profit from the comprehensive know-how gathered in the process, through expert consulting and individually tailored packaging solutions.

Sonoco Alcore and Sonoco Plastics present high-quality industrial solutions

The Sonoco subdivisions Sonoco Alcore and Sonoco Plastics will also be represented at the Interpack booth in hall 9, C34.D31, where they will showcase packaging solutions for industrial uses. Sonoco Plastics will display its broad portfolio of plastic spools, precision winding cores and tubes – solutions that are frequently used by customers in the paper, textile, glass yarn, optical fibre yarn, fibre optic cable and medical industries. In turn, Sonoco Alcore sells its completely recyclable tube and core solutions, which are optimally suited for storing synthetic fibre yarns, foils, labels and metals, in more than 65 countries worldwide.

Snack producer Vico introduces Hula Hoops in Sonoco’s rigid paperboard containers to the French market

Hockenheim, 04 May 2017 – (NYSE: SON) When it comes to products for quick and on-the-go snacking, the right packaging makes a difference. The French snack giant Vico relies on rigid paper containers from Sonoco Europe for the introduction of the ring-shaped, three-dimensional Hula Hoops snack to the French market. The handy containers in three distinctive colors, one for each flavor, stand out at the point of sale (POS) with their trendy design and satisfy customers’ demand for convenience and freshness with their aluminum lining and reclosable snap lid.

Founded in 1955, the Vic-sur-Aisne based brand Vico has decades of experience when it comes to savory snacks. Potato, dough, rice and nut snacks have allowed the company to establish itself as one of the major snack producers in France. The latest addition are Hula Hoops, small ring-shaped snacks made from potato dough. Based on one of the most popular British snacks, Vico’s Hula Hoops set out to conquer the French market in 2016 with three popular snack flavors: Original (salted), Cheese and Barbecue. The potato snack is available in all major French supermarkets in a 115-gram rigid paper container.

A packaging that stands out and preserves taste

Thanks to their package design, Hula Hoops stand out at the POS: Each flavor has its own distinctive color. The all-around label shows stylized yellow Hula Hoops in motion, reflecting their intended use – on-the-go consumption – while the reclosable snap lid in classic red echoes Vico’s brand color. “The high visibility of our rigid paper containers is one of their key features,” said Rolf Regelmann, Sales Director at Sonoco Europe. “Having a packaging that stands out on the shelf is a crucial advantage, especially when it comes to introducing a new product to the market and attracting impulse buyers – which is of the utmost importance on the highly competitive snack market.”

More than just a pretty face, the aluminum-lined container, with a diameter of 83 mm and a height of 150 mm, also preserves Hula Hoops’ freshness and flavor. Once the container has been opened, it can easily be closed again to retain the snack’s crispiness thanks to the reclosable snap lid. Particularly for on-the-go snacking, consumers benefit from being able to close the container again easily.

A strong partnership on the European snack market

Hula Hoops are the latest result of a long and successful cooperation between Sonoco and Vico’s parent company Intersnack, which have worked together for years to introduce savory snacks in attractive packaging to European markets. Hula Hoops have been available in French supermarkets for nearly a year. After the successful introduction, Vico is already planning to soon add two new flavors, Bacon and Sour Cream & Onion, which are very popular choices among snack fans.

Sonoco Europe expands its product line with plastic packaging based on in-mould labelling (IML) technology, a high-quality packaging solution for perishable foods like sausages, fish and milk products. Some well-known examples are Monte desserts from Zott, Rügenwalder Teewurst, Goldsteig Bambini Mozzarella and ice cream by major brands. Sonoco produces plastic packaging using thin-walled injection techniques. Polypropylene (PP) granules are used almost exclusively as raw material and packaging is decorated with IML. 2007 saw the launch of PermaSafe, the world’s first plastic packaging solution for sterilized and pasteurized food products. As a "reinvention of the can", it offers a creative alternative for marketing durable foods.

Sonoco plastic packages are made at the Sonoco plant in Zwenkau near Leipzig, Germany. Production focuses on cups, cans and oval containers with volumes from 100 ml. Sonoco utilizes high-performance equipment, the latest technology and robotics. The IML process mentioned above is a relatively new packaging technology – the main advantage being that manufacturing and decorating are now combined in a single production step. Another benefit is that labels applied during the injection process are usually made of the same raw material as the actual packaging, so there is no need to separate materials for recycling. Adhesives are not necessary because both components are melted together during processing.

More design freedom with IML

In-mould labelling opens up a wide range of design possibilities for decorating packages and producing outstanding tactile and visual effects, and even highly realistic photographic images. Labels are available with a matt or glossy surface, and provide additional product protection against UV rays and light. They can be printed using either offset or gravure printing.

The PP that is used as packaging material has a myriad of potential applications. It will not crack when it freezes and can be used in microwave ovens. If required, it can offer a high level of transparency, enabling consumers to view the packaged product. There is almost no limit to the shapes that are possible with plastic packaging, which allows for unique, tailor-made packaging solutions.

In addition, the thin-walled injection process used by Sonoco ensures a high degree of hygiene. Prior to injection, the granular base material is melted at approximately 250° Celsius, which makes it ideal for food packaging. A further advantage of the production process is that freshness seals can now be created in a single step because opening tabs are integrated into the body of the can. Another common alternative is to seal the package with a plate made from aluminium or plastics such as PET film.

“PermaSafe – reinvention of the can”

With Permasafe, Sonoco brings the advantages of plastic packaging to the canned food industry. Perishable products, including sterilized and pasteurized foods, retain their freshness and aroma thanks to the PermaSafe technology. The innovative solution is as robust as a conventional metal cans, but lighter and much easier to handle. It also offers a variety of new options for packaging shape and design. The new injection-moulded plastic packaging provides high stability and excellent barrier properties for guaranteed hygiene and longer shelf life for sensitive products. IML technology offers practically unlimited design options along with a variety of shapes and packaging formats – from round to oval and rectangular shapes. This enables a highly individualized brand appearance at the point of sale.

The solution offers consumers a number of benefits when it comes to convenience. PermaSafe packaging is handy, easy-to-open and resealable – in line with today's trends toward single-serve dishes that are quick and easy to prepare. Products packaged in PermaSafe containers can be easily heated in the microwave or a water bath.

Food manufacturers benefit from the PermaSafe technology when it comes to cost efficiency, production and logistics. It is thin-walled and up to 90% lighter than conventional glass jars. Moreover, the packaging is stackable and requires up to 80% less storage space than for example metal cans. Containers are available with many different sealing options such as Ring Pull or peelable films which means that in many cases, food manufacturers can continue to use capping machines designed for metal cans.

Sonoco offers a broad range of rigid packaging solutions. The company produces both plastic and cardboard packaging solutions. Composite cans, composite drums and luxury tubes in different forms and designs are part of the versatile portfolio.

Waldkirch, May 2017 – At Interpack 2017, SICK will present itself as the supplier of a wide range of sensors for the consumer goods industry. The products, systems and services that it puts on display will include compact, easily integrated devices, configurable stand-alone solutions and programmable high-speed cameras. As well as individual components, the sensor manufacturer offers a comprehensive portfolio of technological solutions to meet individual customers' requirements.

SICK will focus in particular on quality assurance at Interpack. The fast throughput speeds and short cycle times of production lines and machines in the packaging industry allow for high productivity. However, this can only be achieved if a comprehensive quality control system is in place. SICK will present new solutions consisting of its own modules and integrable functions from image processing libraries that offer intelligent support for the packaging industry in areas such as quality assurance, traceability, object data acquisition and preventive maintenance.

A 3D inspection system is the ideal solution in this area. It can reliably identify faulty product features, incomplete packaging units and inadequate labeling. The data and measurements produced by the vision sensors and their integration into real-time fieldbus environments enable them to provide valuable information that can be used in today's manufacturing plants and in the smart factories of the future. The vision sensors have the necessary intelligent detection, measurement, assessment and communication functions to allow for future-proof process and quality controls in the context of Industry 4.0.

Waldkirch, May 2017 – SICK will be presenting its wide range of laser sensors at Interpack 2017. The sensors detect objects reliably even with large sensing ranges and the tightest of installation conditions, they provide excellent performance and security in a compact housing, they measure quickly and precisely in the µm range, and they guarantee high reliability up to 35 meters thanks to HDDMTM technology.

SICK sensors with laser technology offer a wide range of solutions for any application where the smallest objects, the finest details or minute deviations on products or in production facilities need to be detected. Their precise laser beam also makes it possible to detect objects and features through small openings, and enables easy alignment during commissioning.

For example, the Dx35 family of distance sensors, based on HDDM™ technology, combine maximum reliability, measuring capabilities, flexibility, and a perfect price-performance ratio in one very compact housing. Depending on the application, sub-product families are available for distance measurement on natural objects (DT35 and DS35) or on reflective tape (DL35 and DR35). The sub-product families also come with different interfaces. In addition to the IO-Link function, which all the devices have, the product family also offers sensors with analog and switching output (DT and DL) or the option of two switching outputs (DS and DR). Its final distinguishing feature when selecting the right sensor for the application is the light sender: infrared or red emitted light in laser class 1 or 2.

The OD Mini displacement measurement sensor impresses with its compact and rugged housing, which is available in either an aluminum or stainless-steel version. It is equipped with the latest CMOS receiver technology for precise measurement, regardless of the brightness and color of the surface material. The integrated amplifier unit enables the OD Mini to work on a stand-alone basis. For more complex measuring tasks, up to two OD Mini Pro sensor heads can be connected to the OD Mini evaluation unit and calculated together. The OD Mini is simple to configure due to its intuitive design and display with four status LEDs. The OD Mini can also be remotely programmed via the external teaching input. The large number of available interfaces also simplifies integration into industrial networks. This ensures the highest possible reliability and precision when solving a wide range of measuring tasks.

For the first time, the PowerProx MultiTask photoelectric sensor offers all of the advantages of time-of-flight technology in the world’s smallest housing – coupled with a high detection speed. Objects being conveyed at high speed, small and flat objects, and jet-black or shiny objects can now be reliably detected at sensing ranges between 5 cm and 3.8 m. For even more flexibility, up to eight switching points can be defined via IO-Link. The four variants – “Distance”, “Speed”, “Precision”, and “Small” – are designed to be used in different applications. This means that PowerProx offers not just the best solution, but the right one in each case – from occupied bay and clearance detection via rapid counting and precise edge detection right through to use in handling, assembly, and packaging technology.