Aptar Closures, an industry leader in flow control dispensing solutions for over 25 years, now offers a line of fully recyclable flow control dispensing solutions suitable for a wide range of products, most notably food and beverage applications such as condiments and sauces. The company’s SimpliCycle™ valve is designed for brand owners seeking to enhance packaging sustainability without sacrificing precise, hygienic product dispensing and consistent consumer satisfaction. 

True to its name, SimpliCycle™ provides ease and function by streamlining mechanical recycling. Comprised of low-density thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), the valves float during the recycling sorting process, separating them from the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) stream; from there, they are recycled in the polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) stream. When assembled into a compatible Aptar closure, SimpliCycle™ creates a fully recyclable solution for use with PET, PE or PP containers.

Most importantly, SimpliCycle™ offers exemplary product performance, with its exacting, clean-cut dispensing that meets or exceeds that of valves composed of conventional, less recyclable resins. Available in multiple sizes and configurations, SimpliCycle™ can be paired with both rigid and flexible containers for products with a wide range of viscosities, from honey to water. Notably, this includes fat- and acid-based products such as mayonnaise and ketchup. 

SimpliCycle™ yields exemplary flow control and consistent flow rate, ensuring users get precise amounts of product when and where they please. Clean product cut off avoids drips, leaks or spills during product use, and inverted storage compatibility helps consumers use the entirety of each package’s contents.

SimpliCycle™ has received Critical Guidance Recognition from the US-based Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), as well as RecyClass in Europe. Other distinctions include a World Food Innovation Award for “Best Corporate Social Responsibility/Sustainability Initiative,” and a coveted WorldStar Global Packaging award.

“As the emphasis on sustainability increases across the globe, many brands have faced the challenge of providing more recyclable packaging solutions without compromising performance, convenience and product safety,” said Raphael Grange, President Global Marketing Development at Aptar Closures. “At Aptar Closures, we leverage multiple decades of consumer and market expertise to continuously help brands innovate, meet new market demands, and achieve bold environmental goals by becoming even more sustainable – all with packaging solutions that do not sacrifice the consumer experience.”
 

Inhaler masks are essential for delivering life-saving medications and treatments directly to the lungs. They are the bridge between patients and the relief they seek from conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and respiratory infections. These masks, which provide control and precision during therapy, have become indispensable tools for healthcare professionals.

Inhaler mask design and construction are of utmost importance. They have to carefully establish a balance between comfort, functionality, and safety. This is where innovative materials like thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) come in.

KRAIBURG TPE, a global leader in thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) solutions redefines healthcare with its innovative Inhaler Mask material. With an array of material advantages and versatile applications, this groundbreaking TPE material is set to make a significant impact on the healthcare industry.

Elevating Healthcare with Innovative Inhaler Mask Material
TPE, a versatile material known for its elasticity, durability, and adaptability, is the ideal choice for various healthcare applications. When incorporated into inhaler masks, it brings diverse advantages that significantly enhance their performance and functionality. 

In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, innovation takes center stage, especially when it comes to critical medical devices. Introducing KRAIBURG TPE's THERMOLAST® H HC/AP series.

 
KRAIBURG TPE's is highly committed to driving innovation, quality, and sustainability in the healthcare sector. With the introduction of the Inhaler Mask Material, the company is empowering healthcare professionals and manufacturers to elevate patient care and enhance the overall healthcare landscape. In practical terms, this means that inhaler masks made with TPE material provide a superior user experience. They are comfortable, reliable, customizable, easy to clean, and, most importantly, safe.

Advantages of THERMOLAST® H HC/AP Series
The series’ good adhesion to PP and PE ensures secure and durable connections in mask assembly, enhancing overall reliability. Optimized compression set properties guarantee that these masks maintain their shape and seal, ensuring a snug and comfortable fit for users. 

Additionally, the material is colorable, https://www.kraiburg-tpe.com/en/coloring allowing for customizable and aesthetically pleasing designs. Its sterilizable nature, suitable for autoclave sterilization at 121°C and EtO sterilization, meets the highest hygiene standards, https://www.kraiburg-tpe.com/en/safe-soft-touch-and-ergonomic-tpe-benef… vital for healthcare applications. Furthermore, being free from animal ingredients aligns with ethical and health-conscious considerations. The flexibility in processing methods, encompassing both injection molding and extrusion, streamlines manufacturing. 

Compliance with various international regulations and approvals, including Regulation (EU) No 10/2011, US FDA CFR 21, China GB4806-2016, ISO 10993-5 (Cytotoxicity), and GB/T 16886.5 Cytotoxicity, underscores the material's commitment to safety and quality in the healthcare sector, making it an ideal choice for inhaler masks.

 
Sustainability successes of our TPEs
KRAIBURG TPE’s recent sustainability innovations include a series of material solutions specially developed for automotive, consumer, consumer electronics, wearables and industry applications. Comprising up to 48% post-consumer recycled (PCR) and 50% post-industrial recycled (PIR) content, the material complies with multiple global standards such as FDA raw material compliance, RoHS and REACH SVHC requirements. KRAIBURG TPE also provides customers with product carbon footprint values.
Are you looking for a sustainable TPE solution? Talk to us! 
Our experts are happy to answer any questions you have, as well as to offer the right solution for your application.
 

With effect from January 2, 2024, SÜDPACK has acquired additional shares of CARBOLIQ GmbH and appointed Dirk Hardow as Managing Director. By doing so, SÜDPACK is demonstrating its commitment to a closed-loop system for plastics and to chemical recycling as a complementary recycling technology. Dirk Hardow, who as Manager of the BU FF&C is responsible for matters such as the development and implementation of closed-loop models, will lead the company as its managing director in the future.
The acquisition of a majority stake in CARBOLIQ was signed on December 15. For Erik Bouts, CEO of SÜDPACK, this is “the logical next step. We regard CAR-BOLIQ technology as an indispensable building block in our industry’s process of transformation towards a circular economy.” 
With the acquisition, the film manufacturer is simultaneously substantiating its leading position in terms of a circular economy in the industry for flexible packaging. Because so far, SÜDPACK is the only manufacturer of flexible films with direct access to capacities for chemical recycling. “We believe quite pro-foundly in the benefits of this advanced technology compared to other oiling processes,” highlighted Dirk Hardow. “In terms of energy consumption and the processing window for a broad range of recyclables, CARBOLIQ technology offers significant advantages in comparison to other processes from our point of view,” elaborated Hardow. 
And for good reason – in concrete terms, CARBOLIQ is an advanced thermo-chemical process that is also called direct oiling. What primarily differentiates the CARBOLIQ process from other pyrolysis technologies is its flexibility regard-ing infeed materials, which do not necessarily have to be based on polyolefin. Thanks to its high feedstock tolerance, CARBOLIQ is also suitable for converting not only contaminated, mixed or other plastics into oil, but also flexible pack-aging and highly complex multilayer films. 
Another advantage is that the process requires a lower temperature of less than 400°C. The low process temperature, the single-stage approach of the process and the use of friction to introduce energy to the material make it pos-sible to convert material with relatively low energy consumption. 
Initial pilot projects with customers have already been successfully realized or are now in the implementation phase. “We expect chemical recycling to play a key role in the context of the upcoming PPWR (Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation), not least to make it possible to meet the required recyclate use rates, particularly in the manufacturing of food packaging,” predicted Dirk Har-dow.
At the moment, the CARBOLIQ plant concept is – based on high-caloric frac-tions and fully continuous operation – designed to provide an annual output of approximately 10,000 tons. The secondary raw material that is distributed un-der the name of CLR (Circular Liquid Resource) is similar in many of its main properties to fossil oil and the products obtained from it – which makes it a fully-fledged substitute for fossil resources. 
Dirk Hardow is looking forward to getting customers excited about the tech-nology and to establishing the process even more firmly in the market in col-laboration with the CARBOLIQ team. Because: “In our opinion, it will not be possible to manage the transition to a circular economy with mechanical recy-cling on its own, but rather with a healthy mix of a broad variety of technolo-gies.”

 
About SÜDPACK
SÜDPACK is a leading manufacturer of high-performance films and packaging solutions for the food, non-food and medical goods industries and also of cus-tomer-specific compounds for technically demanding applications. 
The family business, which was founded by Alfred Remmele in 1964, is head-quartered in Ochsenhausen. The production sites in Germany, France, Poland, India, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the USA are equipped with cutting-edge plant technology and manufacture to the highest standards, including the capacity to operate under clean room conditions. The global sales and service network ensures a high degree of proximity to the customer and comprehen-sive application technology support in more than 70 countries.
With its state-of-the-art Development and Application Center at its headquar-ters in Ochsenhausen, the innovation-oriented company offers its customers an optimal platform for developing individual and tailor-made solutions and also for performing application tests.
SÜDPACK is committed to sustainable development and fulfills its responsibility as an employer and towards society, the environment and its customers. For its sustainable product developments and consistent commitment to a func-tioning circular economy in the plastics industry, SÜDPACK has received nu-merous awards. Further information is available at www.suedpack.com 
 

CSC Series offers fast and 100% accurate counting and dispensing solution for crop and vegetable seeds of all sizes.

Lisse, Netherlands – Cremer, a leading global supplier of product counting machines for a wide array of applications, has introduced its CSC Series, a line of next-generation, modular seed counting and dispensing machines. Drawing on over 70 years of experience in the agricultural industry, the state-of-the-art CSC Series offers a fast and reliable counting solution for crop and vegetable seeds of all sizes.

Counting seeds and various other products by piece is regarded as the most efficient, cost-effective alternative to modern weighing systems, as counting accuracy is not affected by small weight variations between individual pieces. Optical counting – as opposed to weight-centric quality control – guarantees that the net contents in terms of count is 100 percent accurate for both wholesale and retail packages. Optical counting also prevents product loss, avoids product wastage, and maximizes production efficiency.

The compact and modular design of the CSC series makes it easily scalable for varying production levels. Up to three counting modules can be stacked next to each other with no significant increase in the required floor space. The CSC series is capable of counting and processing up to 37,500 seeds per minute with 100-percent accuracy when equipped with three modules. With a single module, the system achieves minimum counting speeds of 12,500 seeds per minute. 
The 20-channel CSC series counter has a streamlined design with no dedicated product or format parts, allowing for easy changeover, cleaning, and low maintenance, eliminating the need for periodic calibration and reducing the risk of product contamination. Importantly, within the complete packaging system, there is no possibility of product spillage. Built based on Cremer’s renowned pharma-grade tablet and capsule counters, the CSC series features a GMP-compliant design.

The CSC series has been developed specifically for high-speed dispensing of the seed counts into any third-party pouch filling or packaging machine. With its movable platform, the
counter can be easily positioned above most industrial bag and pouch makers. Fully customized CSC series counters are also available to meet unique requirements or configurations.

The CSC series includes several smart control features to ensure accuracy including data entry with complete MES (manufacturing execution system) integration, as well as vision systems and bar code scanners to thoroughly inspect bags for correct lot numbers and seed types.

Other features of the CSC series include a sampling station for consistent quality control, a vacuum conveyor for dust-free and loss-free seed transport, and a rotary filling nozzle for spill-free seed dispensing into bagging machine and sampling station.

“Counting and dispensing a precise number of seeds into a pouch with speed and accuracy can present considerable challenges,” said Walter Hermans, Cremer’s Agricultural Business Manager. “At Cremer, we addressed all of these obstacles in the development of the CSC series, making it an indispensable system that effectively meets the evolving demands of seed producers and agricultural professionals, including major players like Bayer/Monsanto.”

About Cremer
Since 1949, Cremer is the leading global supplier of counting machines and packaging solutions for the pharmaceutical, food, consumer goods and agricultural industries. As part of the Uhlmann Group, the Netherlands-based company is known worldwide for its dedicated focus on quality control. 
Cremer’s highly technical and innovative machinery provides unsurpassed speed and precision, ensuring companies can count and package their products in a guaranteed accurate, fast, and profitable way. Cremer’s commitment to customized equipment solutions has led to a customer base ranging from small family-operated businesses to multinational corporations. For more information, visit www.cremer.com.
 

The acquisition enhances and expands technology solutions platform in the minimally invasive and interventional therapies sectors

TekniPlex Healthcare, which utilizes advanced materials science expertise to help deliver better patient outcomes, has completed its acquisition of Seisa Medical in a deal that significantly extends TekniPlex Healthcare’s medical technology solutions platform. This acquisition specifically enhances the company’s materials science and process technologies for minimally invasive and interventional therapy devices on a global scale.    

Based in El Paso, Texas, Seisa is a medical device manufacturer servicing every stage of the product life cycle including design and development, component manufacturing, and final assembly. It employs more than 2,000 people across four facilities in the U.S., Mexico and Slovakia.

“This acquisition elevates TekniPlex Healthcare into a full-fledged contract development manufacturing organization in the medical materials science space," said Chris Qualters, CEO for TekniPlex Healthcare. "Seisa's broad portfolio in the burgeoning interventional technologies niche – including its prowess with stent grafts, mitral heart valves, endovascular procedures and cardiovascular catheter delivery systems – complement our legacy capabilities exceptionally well. Combining Seisa's strengths with ours allows us to more comprehensively engage with customers to develop engineered materials, co-design components and assemblies, and provide sterile barrier products, among other categories."

"In TekniPlex Healthcare, we've found a partner that shares our longstanding commitment to delivering solutions that excel in challenging medical applications – ones that help save lives and improve patient outcomes," said Julio Chiu, Seisa founder and CEO. "Our customers can be reassured and encouraged that the combined strengths of Seisa and TekniPlex Healthcare will lead not only to sustained excellence, but also broadened capabilities and manufacturing platforms. This agreement instantly creates among the medical device industry's most robust, value-added CDMOs, to our customers' immediate benefit."

This is the 21st acquisition that TekniPlex has completed in the past decade, supporting its strategy to grow its business through transformative acquisitions and strategic add-ons. 

About Seisa Medical

Seisa Medical is a global full-service contract manufacturer of Class II and Class III medical devices and specialty components, ranging from implantable stents and tubing sets to pediatric and orthopedic-care products. It serves customers through every stage of the product life cycle, including design and development, component manufacturing, final assembly, and packaging. Founded in 1983 with headquarters in El Paso, Texas, and manufacturing locations in North America and Europe, Seisa offers end-to-end turn-key solutions backed by full regulatory compliance with FDA registration and ISO 13485 compliant operations. The company is a market leader in providing solutions for mission-critical precision components, medical equipment, and finished FDA-Class II and Class III medical devices. 

About TekniPlex Healthcare

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

On the occasion of Christmas, a donation has been approved for the ‘Casa Gialla’ facility run by Bologna-based association Ageop, which has been at the forefront of pediatric oncological research, treatment and support for over 40 years. This morning, the building in via Massarenti 183, which hosts young patients and their families, saw the inauguration of the rooms ‘adopted’ by SACMI. In the photo, from left: Paolo Mongardi, President of SACMI, Francesca Testoni, director of Ageop, Giuliano Airoli, SACMI director.

Bologna, 18 December 2023 - SACMI is lending its support to Casa Gialla, a facility that provides child cancer patients not simply with treatment but a place to play and live. As Christmas 2023 nears, the SACMI Board of Directors has approved a major donation to help the association finalize its purchase of the facility, thus completing the ‘solidarity tender’ Ageop launched in 2021.
This morning, an inaugural ceremony was held in via Massarenti 183, in Bologna, with the unveiling of a plaque on the premises ‘adopted’ by SACMI. Attending the event were Paolo Mongardi, President of SACMI, Francesca Testoni, director of Ageop, and Giuliano Airoli, SACMI director.
The Casa Gialla project is run by Ageop Ricerca, a Bolognese association that has been committed to scientific research and support in the field of pediatric oncohematology for more than 40 years.
Based in the Policlinico Sant’Orsola in Bologna, Ageop hosts, free of charge, hundreds of children and parents every year at 4 facilities located outside the hospital. This allows families - especially those from out of town - to cope with the long, delicate process of care and recovery. Young patients and their families are hosted here for as long as the treatment plan requires; they are then placed under the umbrella of a long-term ‘protected discharge’ plan that may last several months or even years.
Casa Gialla constitutes the last ‘piece’ of Ageop Ricerca's integrated hosting system. Purchased and renovated in 2015, the building was recently the focus of a solidarity tender involving artists, businesses and institutions. SACMI has made a significant donation that will help the association pay off the mortgage taken out on the property.
“In our homes, everything is designed to ensure children and parents receive protection, aid and affection. Ageop's free hosting service lets families treat their children at one of Italy’s leading hospitals”, notes the director of Ageop, Francesca Testoni, “helping to ensure all children have access to the best care available. Safeguarding the right to healthcare is one of our key goals and we’re extremely grateful to SACMI for the support it has chosen to give. Only together, in fact, can we build a better future for children and adolescents affected by cancer.”
“By playing its part in practical projects, SACMI sustains the right to education and healthcare, especially children, worldwide”, points out the President of SACMI, Paolo Mongardi. “In this case, we’ve chosen to support a vital local facility that treats child cancer. It’s a facility that, perhaps more than any other, reflects the true meaning of solidarity and the importance of being able to count on adequate assistance and treatment networks”.
This is much more than ‘accommodation’. It’s a ‘home’ where you receive the welcoming support of doctors, psychologists and volunteers. Casa Gialla has family rooms and communal areas - such as a gym - that let guests share their experiences and lend each other emotional support as they face the treatment plan together.
Discussion with other families going through the same experience can be as valuable as consultation with the doctors. Practical and profound psychological needs are also met with the aid of the association’s two counselors, who are based at Casa Gialla and are available 7 days a week.
At the heart of the facility lies the gym, a place where patients can overcome isolation by playing with other children, engaging in experiences and activities that gently soften this time of illness. In recognition of the support received, the gym and the two counselors’ offices will be named after SACMI.
 

A specialist compact linear multihead weigher from Ishida Europe is providing a fast and efficient solution for the weighing of nuts into pots at one of Norway’s leading confectionery and snacks manufacturers.

The Ishida CCW-R2-108PL at family-owned Brynild Gruppen’s factory in Fredrikstad is the ninth weigher to be installed, continuing a successful partnership between the two companies that dates back many years.

“Our Ishida weighers are fast, accurate and reliable and for these reasons offer a quick payback on our investment,” said Viggo Ersøybakk, the company’s Project Manager. “Equally important, the machines are well liked by our operators, thanks to their ease of set up and use.”

The compact design and excellent speed and accuracy of the CCW-R2-108 satisfied a number of key requirements for the launch of the new range of nuts in pots. In particular, Brynild wanted to minimise the height of the overall installation to make room for the filling system beneath the weigher.

The weigher’s linear design allows very precise product flow control with vibratory feeder troughs that carry product to the weighing heads. For the Brynild application, the weigher is divided into two halves, delivering speeds of around 50 pots per minute in two sizes, with pinpoint accuracy close to the target weights, which range from 15g up to 270g depending on the product being packed.

A special distribution system beneath the weigher transfers the two separate weighments into two pots simultaneously, which are then gas flushed and heat sealed to maximise shelf life.

Although the 50 pots per minute are well within the CCW-R2’s top speed of 120 per minute, speeds are regulated by the pot filler as time is required to ensure the gas flushing is carried out correctly.

“Every line has a particular bottleneck,” explained Viggo Ersøybakk, “but this is never caused by the Ishida weighers.”

Indeed, the speed and accuracy of the CCW-R2-108 has been particularly invaluable for these new products, which were launched just before the pandemic and saw demand surge as people spent more time at home. As a result, the weigher is handling around twice the amount of product as originally anticipated.

The CCW-R2-108 is weighing 13 different nut products, many of which are coated with salt or other spices. The ribbed surface of the contact parts keeps product moving smoothly throughout the weigher and the dust-proof cover ensures particulate levels are low. The machine can incorporate up to 200 presets for fast changeovers between products and all contact parts are removable without tools for quick and easy cleaning.

The new weigher joins two existing 14 head circular Ishida multihead weighers in the snacks factory, which is producing 72 different product lines. In the confectionery factory, Brynild handles 47 sugar confectionery and 34 chocolate lines. Pack sizes vary from 15g sample packs to 400g family bags. The speed and flexibility of all the Ishida weighers at Brynild are therefore a critical element in the company maintaining efficiencies and throughput throughout its packing operations.

In particular, the weighers have played a crucial role in Brynild’s ongoing optimisation programme, which over the years has seen the company continue to increase volumes while reducing its dependence on manual labour. Today, for example, just one operator is required for each of the packing lines.

Another important element of these efficiency improvements is the knowledge and understanding that the operators have of the weighers.

“As part of the commissioning of the weighers, we received comprehensive training from Ishida,” said Viggo Ersøybakk. “This helps to ensure that set up and changeovers are carried out quickly and effectively. It also means that our operators can easily deal with any minor issues to keep the weighers running efficiently and, in the event of any problems they cannot quickly solve, we receive excellent service support from Ishida’s office in Sweden.”

Ongoing investment has been a key part of Brynild’s continued success and growth.

“We invest in quality equipment because, although the initial purchase price can be high, we know the consistent performance and reliability of the machines will enable us to maintain operations,” concluded Viggo Ersøybakk. “This has certainly been the case with the Ishida weighers. Typically, we would expect a return on our investment within three years, although with our latest weigher, this has improved still further due to the high demand during the pandemic.”

Established in 1895, Brynild Gruppen AS is one of Norway’s largest family-owned confectionery manufacturers, employing around 220 people and with a turnover of approximately 895 million NOK. The company produces a wide range of chocolate, confectionery and snacks products for the home and Scandinavian markets. Brynild remains owned and managed by the Brynildsen family, now in its 4th and 5th generations.

Sustainability is a central topic for SÜDPACK. Which is why sustainability re-ports that cover the company’s activities and investments in this topic have been published regularly since 2016. The film manufacturer has now once again voluntarily documented its progress in the areas of action of circular economy, climate protection and social responsibility in a current update for the 2021/2022 reporting period. For the first time, the latest progress report includes all six SÜDPACK production locations in Germany, France, Poland, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the USA. 
SÜDPACK has already received multiple awards for its ambitious sustainability strategy. In WirtschaftsWoche’s cross-sector sustainability ranking, for exam-ple, the company group was among the top 50 of Germany’s most sustainable SMEs in both 2022 and 2023. The “100 Companies for Resource Efficiency” Initiative honored the company’s SPQ technology in 2022 for being pioneering in terms of both sustainability and print quality. In 2023, the film manufacturer received a prestigious special award during the Lean & Green Summit for “Ex-cellent Strategic Implementation” based on its outstanding results from re-source-efficient production operations. Two innovative products also won over the jury of the German Packaging Award this year – the Tubular Bag PurePE and the recyclable blister concept PharmaGuard® for solids applications. 
The circular economy section of the progress report …
focuses on the latest generation of innovative material structures within the framework of SÜDPACK’s ZERO WASTE initiative. These structures equally fulfill the future requirements of the PPWR regarding recyclability, material efficiency and recyclate use – and are perfectly designed in terms of barrier functions, machinability for a wide variety of industry applications and customer needs. The implementation of an LCA tool, which can be used to develop new SÜD-PACK products and for holistic life cycle assessments for customer-specific packaging concepts, is a major step in the right direction.
A further focus of action is chemical recycling, which SÜDPACK views as a viable, complementary technology to mechanical recycling and has been promoting with extensive investments since 2021. The long-term strategy aims to further expand the available capacities and, in the interests of a necessary circular economy, make packaging materials that are not currently recyclable circular and therefore sustainable. And at the same time at the German sites, mechani-cal material management is being consistently optimized and regranulation and compounding further expanded. SÜDPACK is currently the only film manu-facturer on the market that has access to both these recycling options. 
And when it comes to climate protection …
the company group is working hard on long-term CO2 reduction on the basis of its NET ZERO vision in accordance with the SBTi, which SÜDPACK committed to in 2022. Since then, the CO2 reduction pathways for scopes 1, 2 and 3 have been defined and submitted to the SBTi.
Significant progress in social responsibility …
has been made by SÜDPACK not only with SA8000 certification, which was initi-ated in 2022 and completed in 2023, but also mainly with projects for improv-ing employee satisfaction and occupational safety. The company is currently focused on supplier evaluations in order to fulfill the requirements of the up-coming Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains (Lieferket-tensorgfaltspflichtengesetz, LkSG). 
Focused on the future
The main features of the current report are aligned with the forthcoming Cor-porate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) that came into force on Janu-ary 5, 2023, at EU-level and that all Member States must transpose into nation-al law within 18 months. This will place sustainability reporting on the same level as financial reporting. Using the inside-out perspective (impact materiality) in the months ahead, SÜDPACK will ascertain the actual and potential positive and negative impacts its business operations have on various sustainability issues. With the outside-in perspective (financial materiality), the opportunities and risks of sustainability issues for the company’s financial situation as well as for the future viability of its business model are considered.
 

Cortec® is pleased to announce that its Cortec® Coated Products (CCP) division in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, has won the Wisconsin Recycling Excellence Award! CCP is one of 11 organizations that received the award this year from the Wisconsin DNR (Department of Natural Resources) in recognition of outstanding efforts to recycle and reduce waste. CCP’s award falls under the category of “Projects and Initiatives” that have led to the recycling of more material and/or better recycling cost-effectiveness.

In addition to sourcing most of its paper rolls from recycled content, CCP’s specialty is to apply a corrosion inhibiting coating that still allows the paper to be recycled after use. This is an important environmental benefit for manufacturers and distributors that use Cortec® VpCI® Paper to package and protect metal parts in a variety of industries. It is also an advantage for CCP’s waste handling processes. Converting its coated VpCI® Papers into marketable rolls and different sizes of sheeting inevitably leaves behind a large amount of paper scrap. CCP collects the scrap, compacts it into bales, and sends it to a recycling broker that sorts and resells the scrap to various paper/recycling plants. Cortec® Environmental Specialist, Derek Jensen, estimates that since 2017, CCP has recycled 616 tons of paper, equal to approximately 12,320 trees saved!

Cortec® is honored to receive this award, which underscores the company’s strong commitment to recycling, waste reduction, and sustainability in the quest for practical solutions to corrosion. Learn more about the award here!

Keywords: Cortec, Cortec Coated Products, Wisconsin recycling excellence award, recycled paper, what to do with paper scrap, Cortec environmental commitment, reduce waste, Wisconsin DNR, corrosion inhibiting paper, corrosion protection

Cortec® Corporation is the global leader in innovative, environmentally responsible VpCI® and MCI® corrosion control technologies for Packaging, Metalworking, Construction, Electronics, Water Treatment, Oil & Gas, and other industries. Our relentless dedication to sustainability, quality, service, and support is unmatched in the industry. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, Cortec® manufactures over 400 products distributed worldwide. ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, & ISO/IEC 17025:2017 certified. Cortec®
 

National Capital Region: UFlex, India’s largest multinational flexible packaging and solutions company, is exhibiting its new-age packaging machinery at Booth No. A1, Hall A, at the World Mithai-Namkeen Convention & Expo 2023, scheduled to be held at Biswa Bangla Milan Mela Prangan, Near Science City, Kolkata, West Bengal from December 17- 19, 2023.

UFlex Engineering, a business committed to developing and customizing the most comprehensive range of machinery and engineering solutions for the packaging and recycling industry, will be exhibiting three of its most popular machines at the exhibition. Companies in the food and beverage industry are invited to stop by our booth to discuss the latest developments in packaging equipment and materials. Do stop by to see a demonstration of the Multi-Track 1200 3 Side Machine (MT1200 3S), Collar Type 140 Machine (CT-140), and our Pick-Fill-Seal Machine (PFS).

MT1200 3S is a high-speed continuous motion multi-track machine for three-sided sealed pouches. It is used for filling powder, liquid, and granules.

CT-140 is a continuous motion machine equipped with the latest technology ensuring high productivity output, high accuracy, and high uptime.

Pick-Fill-Seal (PFS) Machine is a revolutionary packaging solution that combines the essential steps of picking, filling, and sealing into a seamless and efficient process. It provides a fully automated solution for packing products in a preformed pouch.

Visit the UFlex Engineering Business booth at Booth No. A1, Hall A, Biswa Bangla Milan Mela Prangan, to explore the future of packaging technology. The UFlex team will be there to provide live demonstrations and discuss how these innovative machines can elevate packaging processes to new heights of efficiency and sustainability.

UFlex Engineering:  

The UFlex engineering business, established in 1985, is amongst the leading manufacturers of top-of-the-line packaging, printing, and allied machinery, and technical services. The engineering business is committed to providing high-performance machinery and customized solutions — that deliver global standards while reducing the total cost of ownership. The business caters to a wide range of engineering requirements — from machines with simple and basic specifications to highly sophisticated ones with advanced engineering. The product portfolio includes packaging machines, converting machines, recycling machines, specialty product machines, and aseptic liquid filling machines.

About UFlex Limited:

UFlex is India’s largest multinational flexible packaging and solutions company. Since its inception in 1985, UFlex has grown from strength to strength and has built a strong presence across all verticals of the packaging value chain — packaging films, chemicals, aseptic packaging, flexible packaging, holography, engineering, and printing cylinders.

With a 10,000+ strong multicultural workforce across global regions that works toward developing innovative, value-added, and sustainable packaging solutions, the company has earned an irreproachable reputation for defining the contours of the ‘Packaging Industry’ in India and overseas. It provides end-to-end solutions to numerous Fortune 500 clients across various sectors such as FMCG, consumer product goods, pharmaceuticals, building materials, automobiles, and more, in more than 150 countries. Headquartered in Noida, the National Capital Region, India, UFlex enjoys a global reach with advanced manufacturing facilities in India, the UAE, Mexico, Egypt, the USA, Poland, Russia, Nigeria, and Hungary.

A winner of various marquee global awards for product excellence, innovation, and sustainability, UFlex is the first company in the world to earn recognition at the Davos Recycle Forum in 1995 for conceptualizing the recycling of mixed plastic waste.

A major international collaboration to provide independent, scientific data linked to design, sortability and mechanical recyclability of flexible packaging has published its first report – with a focus on Near Infrared (NIR) technology. It provides extensive new data to boost circular design decisions, based on industrial-scale testing of a unique set of 240 samples and over 100 structures.
The Circular Economy for Flexible Packaging (CEFLEX) led initiative clarifies exactly how a NIR sorting device sees flexible packaging, understands a range of material structures and classifies them into different recycling streams. With data illustrating how to enhance design for recycling guidance, improve design decisions and optimise sorting of flexible plastic packaging with NIR.
CEFLEX worked with stakeholders from across the value chain to assemble the extensive set of packaging material samples for testing. Academic partners and respected test centres in Germany and The Netherlands all collaborated to deliver the programme, which was co-funded by UK Research & Innovation’s Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge, delivered by Innovate UK. The principal results and data are now available in an open-source report for public download: guidelines.ceflex.eu
“NIR is an established key technology for sorting plastics across Europe, so rigorous, independent data of exactly what it can – and cannot – achieve is essential,” said project coordinator Graham Houlder.
“As a result of this research, specific cases or thresholds where materials and elements of the packaging structure can disrupt sorting are clearly established. These insights are being shared openly to boost industry knowledge and will enhance our ‘Designing for a Circular Economy’ (D4ACE) guidelines. Designers of flexible packaging now have a new level of detail on exactly how to achieve the best outcomes,” he added.
CEFLEX design lead, Liz Morrish commented, “In addition to establishing exactly how NIR sees packaging structures, the data shows how orientation, layer sequence, and opaque and reflective materials – such as carbon black, metallisation, aluminium, paper – can affect the sorting outcomes and at what thresholds”.
Testing demonstrated that, for many multi-material multi-layer structures, the NIR spectrum contains information about all layers of the structure. The report also reveals thin layers such as adhesives, coatings and most inks generally do not influence the sorting results.  
The publication is just one part of an extensive testing programme with a network of leading laboratories, universities and industry experts to generate open-source, robust and independent data to strengthen flexible packaging design guidance across the board. Future results assess the impact of size and shape on sorting and mechanical recyclability of flexible packaging structures.  
Notes for editors: 
The Circular Economy for Flexible Packaging (CEFLEX) initiative is a collaboration of over 180 European companies, associations and organisations representing the entire value chain of flexible packaging. Together, we work to make all flexible packaging in Europe circular by 2025. More information, see: ceflex.eu
Testing and analysis conducted by CEFLEX, Institut cyclos-HTP and Dutch National Test Centre for Circular Plastics (NTCP) between February 2022 – September 2023.
Insights on the classifying and sorting of different flexible packaging structures by NIR are being used by CEFLEX to update their ‘Designing for a Circular Economy’ (D4ACE) guidelines as well as making them available publicly for broader industry. 
CEFLEX are grateful to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)  for their collaboration and co-funding as part of the Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging (SSPP) Challenge , delivered by Innovate UK. 
 

OQ to showcase latest polymer portfolio innovations at Arabplast 2023 in Hall 4/C110
New additions to the OQ Luban polypropylene impact copolymer (ICP) portfolio as well as a new LLDPE Rotomoulding offering OQ Luban LL8446.21 will be launched to customers by the end of 2023.
The OQ Luban ICP solutions increase the world’s ability to combat food waste by enabling the production of cost-effective primary and secondary packaging including industrial pails, and food containers.
OQ Luban LL8446.21 is the latest LLDPE Rotomoulding grade used to make water tanks, a critical tool to help preserve, distribute, and consume water.

Headquartered in Oman, OQ stands out for its diverse expertise as an energy transition enabler across various markets. Excelling in polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), catering to both flexible and rigid packaging solutions, OQ has announced two major product launches designed to solve industry challenges and provide key sustainability benefits.

First is the OQ Luban polypropylene impact copolymer portfolio, introducing Luban EP 2340L, EP 2340P, and EP 2348R, which underwent initial proving in 2022 and are set for a full launch in Q4 2023. These grades, along with the upcoming Luban EP 2348S and EP 2348T are scheduled for launch in the same quarter. These products provide solutions covering a broad range of applications, including thin-walled packaging, appliances, automotive parts, and consumer goods, industrial, containers, crates, batteries, and beyond.

Alongside this, OQ is also launching Luban LL8446.21 – a new LLDPE Rotomoulding solution. Designed to enable safe, clean, and reliable storage and transportation of water and other liquids, it has multiple applications, including water tanks, chemical containers, pallets, traffic barriers, air conditioning enclosures and refuse bins.

Enhancing food security and protecting water scarcity
These new solutions will help industries around the world to tackle some of the most pressing global challenges.

According to the United Nations, around 30% of the food that is produced fails to be consumed, a huge waste issue that is hindering opportunities for socioeconomic development in regions where food security is a major concern.

OQ’s polymer solutions, including the polypropylene ICP series, play a crucial role in empowering food producers with the necessary tools they require to address the food security challenge, as well as making it possible for end users to participate in the solution by not only effectively preserving their food during consumption, but also whilst it is on its journey through the value chain from field to table.

Through these solutions, OQ is contributing to the vital aspects of food safety, security, mitigation of food shortages, and the promotion of circularity within the food industry.

In tandem, OQ’s new LLDPE Rotomoulding grade Luban LL8446.21 will help to enhance water security at the point where it is consumed, especially in regions which are undergoing both rural development as well as rapid urbanization – situations which are likely to lead to water scarcity. This focused solution plays a pivotal role in enhancing water security by serving as a key component in the water distribution value chain, including water tanks and pipes, enabling the safe, clean, and reliable transportation and storage of water in both urban and rural areas. This underscores the increasing importance of such advancements in polymer technology, aligning with the rising demand for efficient water management solutions worldwide.

No compromise on quality
OQ’s solutions are positioned to create a meaningful impact, driven by their high quality, array of beneficial properties and rapid ability to produce at scale.

For the IPC portfolio, key benefits and features include:

Enhanced flowability: Helps to reduce energy input and lowers processing temperatures, resulting in cost and energy savings. Moreover, it allows for greater design freedom by enabling thinner walls to be achieved, reducing both weight and cost.
Reduced warpage: Allowing for faster cycle times during processing as well as efficiency during filling and stacking.
Dimensional consistency: Ensures product dimensional stability during use including during hot fill applications and stacking as well as reheating in the case of food savers.
Improved stiffness and toughness balance: Allowing for application versatility providing operational efficiency and cost savings during production whilst maintaining functionality during the full value chain including meeting storage and transportation requirements.
OQ Luban ICP solutions are designed around performance in an application. An example is Luban EP2340L, a perfect solution for crates and boxes due to its balance of very high impact and stiffness properties. Luban EP2348R, thanks to its good impact and stiffness, is the ideal grade to produce food containers and light weight pales. Luban EP2348T, meanwhile, due to its high flow, stiffness and low temperature impact is suited for thin-walled packaging solutions in food applications requiring refrigeration or freezing.

Trevor Robinson, Adviser, Polymer Marketing commented: “Our grade range is carefully crafted to provide comprehensive solutions across the thin-wall rigid packaging value chain, catering to both industrial and consumer thin-walled applications. Our focus goes beyond providing just the right grade for the application and extends to offering holistic solutions backed by services tailored to meet our customers' specific needs. This enables the customers to innovate in the value chain keeping up with market trends, reducing reliance on imports.”

OQ’s LLDPE Rotomoulding grade Luban LL8446.21 is ideally suited for water tanks thanks to its excellent durability, processability and UV stabilization – the polymer design and resulting property balance including excellent ESCR and deformation under load ensures superior performance in the field.

In terms of design versatility, convertors can produce a range of roto-molded products with Luban LL8446.21 including for a wide range of water tank sizes, from the smallest models all the way up to 10,000 liters. The Luban LL8446.21 grade is also designed to offer excellent processability including a faster grinding rate. LLDPE roto-molding value chain solutions in addition, provide more cost effective and sustainable solutions over the service lifespan compared to the traditional alternatives such as GRP, metal, and concrete.

Trevor added: “In addition to offering top quality grades designed for purpose polyolefin solutions, OQ aims to provide best-in-class customer service to match. The OQ team is dedicated to assisting customers from the very start of our interaction in firstly selecting the right solutions that match their requirements. As we guide customers through field trials and commercial processes, we quickly learn their pain points, needs and requirements. Our goal is to demonstrate value that supports the customer's needs.”

With its Multifol NT packaging film, SÜDPACK broke new ground in material efficiency many years ago. Now the film manufacturer has taken the next logi-cal step by further developing its flexible films for thermoforming applications. The new Multifol Extreme is the perfect combination of maximum functionali-ty and minimum added weight. 
Due to its outstanding sealing performance and high puncture resistance, the innovative flexible film is ideal for packaging fatty, protein-rich or sharp-edged products such as fresh or frozen fish, e.g. salmon fillets, white fish and herring portions. Even if the sealing surfaces are contaminated, the excellent sealing performance of Multifol Extreme provides top production reliability and high package quality with a very low degree of leakage. Furthermore, the optimized high-performance film weighs approx. 20% less than its predecessor, the al-ready very material-efficient Multifol NT – and around 30% less than conven-tional PA/PE structures in common use on the market. In concrete figures, this means that the merely 150 µm Multifol Extreme film can replace conventional thermoforming films with a thickness of 200 µm – without compromising on product protection. Producers can achieve further material savings by combin-ing a Multifol Extreme base film with a lidding film from the same product family. 
Minimum resource consumption, maximum efficiency
This example clearly shows that Multifol Extreme is an attractive option for all fish and seafood processing and packaging companies. The optimized packag-ing concept allows them to save resources. The material efficiency of the film alone can reduce the company’s consumption of fossil feedstock and therefore its carbon footprint. 
Another significant aspect is that lighter-weight packages have an impact along the entire logistics chain, with additional ecological and economic benefits. Due to the thinner film, each reel contains more material, which translates into lower storage and transport costs. And fewer reel changes mean less down-time for the packaging machines. 
Maximum product protection, optimal process capability
Fishery products are extremely susceptible to oxidation. So good barrier prop-erties of the packaging concept, especially in terms of oxygen, and excellent mechanical protection are essential to the long shelf life of these high-value foods.
With its Multifol Extreme, SÜDPACK offers a solution for MAP and vacuum packaging which provides optimal food protection despite thinner material. Apart from fresh product packaging, the concept is also ideal for extreme-temperature applications such as frozen foods.
In terms of the packaging process itself, SÜDPACK’s new development also offers outstanding thermoforming properties with large drawing depths and good processability on all common thermoforming packaging machines. 
 

NO-NAIL BOXES, manufacturer of foldable plywood boxes, is pleased to announce the arrival of Christophe AHUIR as an external sales representative within the company. 
A graduate of the University François Rabelais in Tours with a degree in literature and a diploma in wood and derivatives commerce, Christophe Ahuir brings extensive experience in the field of sales. 
He has dedicated a significant portion of his career to developing industrial clientele. Before joining NO-NAIL BOXES, Christophe worked for 10 years at Ets Foussier as a wood and fittings sales representative, then 8 years at Ets Chavigny as a carpentry sales representative, and finally, 12 years at Ets Pakers Mussy as a sales representative. 
Within ALIPA Group, Christophe holds the position of sales representative, focusing on expanding the customer base in France. His responsibilities include managing customer relationships, expanding the client portfolio, and promoting NO-NAIL BOXES’ foldable plywood boxes on the French market. 
What he particularly appreciates about his work is the human scale of the company and the synergy between technical and commercial aspects. Christophe is passionate about sports, reading, and actively participates in local life and general arts activities. NO-NAIL BOXES is confident that Christophe’s experience and skills will significantly contribute to strengthening the company’s position on the French market and providing innovative solutions to its customers.
NO-NAIL BOXES is located in Wiltz and has been manufacturing folding boxes made of plywood and steel for the industry since 1961. Every year, some 450,000 boxes, 95% of which are custom-made, leave its production workshop. Certified ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001, AEO, PEFC, CSR, SuperDrecksKëscht fir Betriber and Sécher a Gesond mat System, NO-NAIL BOXES is integrated in the packaging division of the ALIPA Group, a Luxembourg-based specialist in industrial packaging and lifting, which has a total of about 150 employees. 
 

Highlights include recyclable outer gaskets for aerosol products, dip tubes made of post-consumer recycled material, and convenient new EdgePull® liner. 

Wayne, PA – TekniPlex Consumer Products, a globally integrated provider of innovative solutions through materials science and manufacturing technologies, will place sustainable packaging innovations at the forefront of its presence at the Aerosol & Dispensing Forum, January 17-18, 2024, during Paris Packaging Week. At its Stand S40, the company’s offerings will range from recyclable outer gaskets, PCR-derived dip tubes, and easy-open liners to lightweight liners and PFAS-free polyolefin tubes.

Recyclable in geographies where thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) recycling streams are available, the company’s new range of outer gaskets for water-sensitive aerosol products are a novel TPE alternative to traditional rubber outer gaskets. This solution offers increased water vapor resistance compared with standard nitrile constructions, providing reduced waste through superior product protection. Suitable for products in a wide array of markets, the gaskets assemble and adhere seamlessly on mounting cups for simplified manufacturing.

Another solution will be dip tubes derived from post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials. An attractive alternative to virgin plastic dip tubes, the PCR components are suitable for both pressurized and non-pressurized pump packaging. A means of improving sustainability without affecting product performance, the tubes are available in a low-density polyethylene (LDPE), a high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and a polypropylene (PP) versions. 

Also at ADF, TekniPlex Consumer Products will showcase a new series of tabbed container liners combining easier opening with exemplary product protection, as well as optimized shelf life for reduced product waste. Now manufactured in Europe and India in addition to the United States, EdgePull® is compatible with a broad array of containers, making them ideal for product categories ranging from food & beverage and cosmetics to pharmaceuticals and nutrition. TekniPlex Consumer Products also offers a range of lightweight liners whose reduced density minimizes materials use and overall carbon footprint.

Finally, at ADF TekniPlex Consumer Products will display and discuss its PFAS-free polyolefin tubing, which is available both spooled and pre-cut. The company’s ability to offer this product derivative gives customers a viable alternative as regulatory requirements for packaging used in food, cosmetic, and personal care products are driving the need for these alternate material solutions. PFAS-free tubing provides an alternative today, well ahead of any required phaseouts.

“Our ‘Sustainability And’ philosophy helps us consider both the environment and product functionality in everything we do,” said Eldon Schaffer, CEO of TekniPlex Consumer Products. “Always, our goal is to further sustainability while also improving performance across various parameters, including product protection, shelf life extension, cost-competitiveness, and consumer convenience. Whether enhanced sustainability comes from more recyclable materials, components derived from PCR, reduced product waste, or lightweighting, we’re committed to considering environmental impact and carbon footprint in everything we do.”
 

Named Goodloop, company’s award-winning refillable jar concept combines innovative design, sustainability and luxury.

FASTEN Packaging, a company of leading global beauty solutions provider IBG (Innovative Beauty Group), has introduced its next-generation refillable jar concept, Goodloop, named for its contribution to a circular economy. Combining innovative design, sustainability and luxury, the Goodloop refillable jar is a multi-award-winning concept that serves as a powerful example of how beauty brands can meet lofty sustainability goals while still strengthening their brand identities.

Suitable for cream products, the Goodloop refillable jar features a transparent outer jar with a curved inner portion for a sleek appearance. The jars are fully recyclable, and are comprised of recycled polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). 

The Goodloop refillable jar affords multiple decoration areas to reinforce brand identity – for example, by combining embossing on the inner wall with printing on the outer wall. The lightweight bayonet closure eliminates the need for a liner while ensuring leak-free use. Refilling is performed from the bottom with a simple twist.

Previous iterations of FASTEN’s Goodloop refillable jar concept recently received multiple prestigious awards including: a Gold Award at the 2023 German Innovation Awards, a Silver Muse Design Award, an iF Design Concept Award and a Bronze Pentaward.

“At FASTEN, we know just how important it is for brands to elevate their product’s presentation and consumer appeal, but also ensure alignment with corporate sustainability values,” said Ilja Zutt, Managing Director of FASTEN Packaging. “The Goodloop refillable jar checks all the boxes and is a solid example of how our design team continues to push the envelope in developing forward-thinking, eco-friendly packaging innovations.”
 

Siegwerk, one of the world’s leading global providers of printing inks and coatings for packaging applications and labels, is expanding its existing management team. In a strategic move to reflect its global presence even stronger and adapt to the changing dynamics of the global ink and coatings industry, the company will establish a Group Executive Committee. Effective January 1, 2024, the Group Executive Committee will develop, implement, and oversee key decisions and strategies for the company. In addition to the current members of the Board of Management – Dr. Nicolas Wiedmann, Chief Executive Officer; Dr. Jan Breitkopf, President EMEA; Ralf Hildenbrand, President Americas and Dr. Oliver Wittmann, Chief Financial Officer – Ashish Pradhan, President Asia, will also be part of the newly-formed committee.

Shaping the company’s future across all regions

With an even stronger Asian representation in the management team, Siegwerk will be able to effectively respond to the evolving needs of an ever-expanding international business. The inclusion of Pradhan in the Group Executive Committee underlines, once again, the significance of the Asian region in Siegwerk’s global strategy. With its immense growth potential, Asia plays an active role in shaping the company’s future together with the other two major regions, EMEA and the Americas. The new management structure will help Siegwerk to drive innovation strategies even more efficiently, manage products flexibly across locations and continue to pursue its strategic goal of being a leading provider of circular and digital packaging solutions.

Dr. Oliver Wittmann hands over CFO role to Dirk Weissenfeldt

In 2024, there will be another leadership change in the newly-formed Group Executive Committee. After more than 20 years, Dr. Oliver Wittmann will leave the Board and his position as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on April 30, 2024. Through the end of 2025, he will remain available to advise the Supervisory Board upon request.

Wittmann has held an integral role in shaping the direction of Siegwerk for more than two decades as CFO. “With his profound financial expertise and his extraordinary dedication, Oliver has made a lasting contribution to the company’s success over more than 20 years while always acting true to our motto Ink, Heart & Soul,” said Dr. Nicolas Wiedmann, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Siegwerk.

Wittmann will be succeeded by Dirk Weissenfeldt, Vice President Flexible Packaging EMEA at Siegwerk who has held different financial and operational positions at the company over the past 17 years. He will take over the CFO role on May 1, 2024.

Well positioned for driving innovation in the packaging industry

The new Group Executive Committee will further provide continuity and stability while driving Siegwerk forward with the greatest sense of responsibility. Therefore, it is important to the company and its stakeholders to announce these changes at an early stage.

“Siegwerk will continue to be very well positioned for the future with its new management structure. Thanks to an impressive level of knowhow, experience, and dedication, we are ready to further expand our business and drive innovation in the packaging industry,” said Wiedmann.

TipFil™ Syringe Filling & Assembly Machine offers a fully automated start-to-finish process – from syringe loading, filling and capping through inspection, labeling and printing.
 

TurboFil Packaging Machines LLC, an equipment specialist dedicated solely to the design and development of liquid filling and assembly machines, has introduced a fully automatic machine utilizing its popular TipFil™ syringe filling process. Designed with monoblock modularity for as-needed manufacturing, the company’s new TipFil™ Syringe Filling & Assembly Machine completely automates all processes – from syringe loading, filling and capping through inspection, labeling and printing.

Incorporating a racetrack indexing system for rapid, reliable throughput of up to 50 pieces per minute, the servo-driven intermittent motion machine features interchangeable pucks to accommodate various syringe sizes from 1-60mls. Loading is performed via elevator hopper to a vibratory bowl, which transfers syringes to a tracked placement mechanism. Plungers are inserted with an automatic tamping station equipped with position sensors.

Dosing is performed via ceramic pump, with a no container/no fill sensor preventing product wastage. Metering occurs via plunger positioning sensors, with a plunger pullback mechanism reducing drips and assuring exacting fill levels. From there, three stainless steel shutoff nozzles execute through-the-tip filling, and press-on or turn cap placement is performed using a pick-and-place system incorporating a linear track and stainless steel vibratory bowl feeder. The system can handle a wide range of product viscosities.

Once any rejects for missing components or fill volume are automatically removed from the production line, filled syringes proceed to the integrated labeler. Labeling function is facilitated by a roller conveyor that transports the syringes to the labeling head. A printer adds lot number and expiration date along with any additional necessary markings, including QR codes for additional information or instructions. 

Ergonomically designed for single-person operation, TurboFil’s TipFil™ Syringe Filling & Assembly Machine features a 10” touchscreen HMI, Allen Bradley PLC, and three password levels for access protection. Ethernet capabilities allow for remote diagnostics, while easily identifiable buttons for emergency stop, reset, and circuit breaker-enabled on/off provide expedient line stoppage and intervention.
 

•    Efficiency and production process improvements increase output of Advantage MF Boost. 
•    Previously announced investment in new paper machine at Štĕtí mill frees up capacity at Mondi Dynäs, Sweden and Mondi Frantschach, Austria to produce saturating kraft paper.
•    R&D initiatives expand portfolio including range of paper basis weights.

5 December 2023 – Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, has expanded its range of saturating kraft paper and increased capacity, in order to improve and enhance its service to manufacturers of internal and external building panels, worktops, furniture and technical films. 

With the previously announced investment in a new paper machine at its Štĕtí plant in the Czech Republic and further increases in production efficiency, Mondi will optimise capacity across its mill network, providing increased production of its saturating kraft, Advantage MF Boost, at Mondi Frantschach in Austria and Mondi Dynäs in Sweden. Both Frantschach and Dynäs mills are ideally placed to deliver short lead times across Europe and provide customers with reassurance of good service and production back-up. These changes signal Mondi's commitment to increase the availability of Advantage MF Boost – the kraft paper that is used in laminated applications. 

Mondi has further made improvements in the efficiency of its paper machines running the saturating kraft paper, meaning enhanced formation, better drying properties and faster production. Ongoing R&D has also meant this quality paper is available in a larger product range, with lower and higher grammages to suit each individual customer need.

Mondi’s Advantage MF Boost is ideally suited for laminates due to its porous properties: the unbleached and natural brown kraft paper is created with responsibly sourced fresh fibres in Sweden and Austria and is available FSC  or PEFC certified. Its long fibre pulp makes it highly absorbent, ideal for taking in and acting as a carrier for resin used to adhere the layers, essential to the final laminate.

Roman Senecky, COO Kraft Paper, Mondi says: “We are very committed to boosting production of our Advantage MF Boost in order to serve the markets for decorative and compact laminates as well as industrial and technical films for plywood. Our existing infrastructure means we can produce and deliver this essential porous kraft paper globally, in suitable quantities, providing a reliable supply to all our existing and new customers.”