Due to the machine’s high degree of automation, the British company has invested in a leading slitter to improve quality and productivity
Comexi, a specialist in solutions for the flexible packaging printing and converting industry, and Roberts Mart & Co Ltd, the leading independent company in the British market for high quality packaging printing, have strengthened their relationship with the acquisition of a Comexi S1 DT slitter by the British company, which is located in Leeds (United Kingdom). This purchase is Roberts Mart’s sixth Comexi slitter, and the second one of this model.
“Following another record turnover year, Roberts Mart & Co Ltd has further strengthened its converting department with the purchase of a second Comexi S1 DT. It is a market leading slitter in terms of productivity, with a high level of automation, including automatic knife and core positioning, and automatic core taping systems,” explains Tim Hilton, a Comexi UK/Ireland agent who works on location at Pack Support, which believes the British company, with this investment, “remains at the forefront of the flexible packaging marketplace”.
Roberts Mart & Co Ltd, founded in 1852, is a 6th generation family business that supplies a wide range of collation shrink wrap, laminated films, and high quality printed flexible packaging to customers in the food and beverage, confectionery & pet food markets. Is has also developed SpectRM, a flexographic print comparable to that of gravure. SpectRM has won over 40 awards worldwide for its colour consistency and ultra-high definition of print.
“Roberts Mart & Co Ltd has been a very important customer for many years. At Comexi we have always had the most innovative solution for their requirements, which are extremely high, and that has meant that the synergy between the two companies to be uninterrupted”, comments Ramon Jonama, Comexi Area Manager for this area.
The Comexi S1 DT is possibly the most automated turret slitter available on the market. This machine provides excellent results in both quality and productivity, notwithstanding the most demanding projects, due to its regulated control elements and high degree of automation. Cores, knifes, and almost every machine adjustment part is self-calibrating, resulting from an extremely interactive and amiable user interface. Its unique automation gives the operator the ability to load the reel into the machine and, if the configuration is appropriate, to deliver completed reels, which are palletized and singularly wrapped in bags, without operator intervention.
The turret of the Comexi S1 DT is able to perform jobs with a large output reel number. Furthermore, it is capable of working with the thickest structures used in the flexible packaging market, including aluminium, wax, and other hard materials. This machine has the NIP tension gap system with which different rewinding and unwinding tensions can be used. Moreover, the Comexi S1 DT allows for a high degree of customization, as well as many automated options, such as splicing tables, automatic reel unloading, video inspection camera, and the robotized
labelling of finished reels.
www.comexi.com
S1 DT Slitter Acquisition Allows for an Independent Company to Remain in the forefront
Offset sheets business in Europe – Middle East – North Africa sold out to a European manufacturer
Avery Dennison Corporation, the U.S.-based leading producer of self-adhesive label and graphic materials, announced that it has reached an agreement to sell its Offset Sheets business in the Europe – Middle East – North Africa (EMENA) region to Torraspapel. Torraspapel is part of Lecta, a European manufacturer of coated woodfree and specialty paper products headquartered in London. The transaction is subject to competition approval from the German Federal Cartel Office.
“This sale is part of the strategy for Avery Dennison to focus on categories where we are best positioned to deliver high growth and potential for our customers, with a particular emphasis on our Visual Communication (VISCOM) business. We believe this sale is in the best interests of both Avery Dennison and of our Offset customers given Lecta’s strength in paper-based products,” said Fred Noel, vice president Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions EMENA. “We trust that Lecta will be an excellent partner going forward.”
The transaction will involve Lecta taking over the manufacture and sale of Avery Dennison’s portfolio of FASSON and JAC branded self-adhesive papers and films in EMENA. Lecta will manufacture these under a special limited licensing agreement with Avery Dennison, keeping the FASSON and JAC brands available through the existing network of distributors.
“Creating a smooth, efficient and positive transition process for all groups involved is our top priority. We will keep our customers well-informed as we move towards the transition date,” added Fred Noel.
www.averydennison.com www.lecta.com
PLASTICS Creates William R. Carteaux Leadership Award to Honor Outstanding Plastics Professionals
“Bill Carteaux was the type of guy who could fill a room with his presence, and he used his passion and dedication to build bridges within the industry,” said PLASTICS President and CEO Tony Radoszewski. “His selflessness in his career and private life were never more obvious than when he continued to lead PLASTICS, chaired major events, and raised funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, all while battling the disease himself.”
“Receiving this award will be a great honor for the man or woman who best reflects Bill’s personal and professional values. As a close friend to Bill, I look forward to celebrating that special person and our entire industry next May at NPE2021 in Orlando, Florida,” Radoszewski added.
Radoszewski will present the new award on May 16th at the Plastics Hall of Fame Gala during NPE2021, where the recipient will stand alongside 2021 Hall of Fame inductees.
Prospective candidates can be nominated by their peers, family, or friends. The Plastics Academy, which administers the Plastics Hall of Fame, will serve as a Screening Committee, with officers of PLASTICS making the final selection.
Nominations should include basic information about the nominee, as well as a brief description of his or her merits. Supporting letters will be accepted as well.
Nominations will be accepted through Monday, February 15, 2021.
plasticsindustry.org
NPE2021’s 13 Technology Zones Highlight The Plastics Industry’s Most Important Business Sectors
The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), producers of NPE: The Plastics Show, announced that NPE2021 will be home to 13 distinct Technology Zones offering attendees the chance to see firsthand how the power of plastics will transform tomorrow through demonstrations of the latest machinery and equipment, meetings with industry experts in some of the most essential sectors of the plastics industry, and educational sessions focused on plastics innovations.
NPE2021’s 13 Technology Zones cover many of the industry’s most critical sectors and feature the insights, solutions, and services that are key to strengthening any supply chain. The zones consolidate their individual sector’s most cutting-edge advancements, tools, materials, and processes in one central location, offering a first-hand preview of the technologies that will help move the industry forward.
“The Technology Zones are a perfect encapsulation of what makes NPE2021 such an exciting showcase of the plastics industry,” said Susan Krys, PLASTICS Vice President, Trade Shows. “These shows-within-a-show connect exhibitors, attendees, and buyers in specific sectors that most align with their individual business priorities, enabling them to maximize their time at the trade show and build relationships with like-minded NPE participants from across the supply chain.”
The 13 Technology Zones to be featured at NPE2021 include: 3D/4D Printing Zone, Bottle Zone, Contract Manufacturing Zone, Decorating & Secondary Processes Zone, Flexible Packaging Zone, Inspection & Measurement Zone, Medtech Zone, Moldmaking Zone, Polymers & Additives Zone, Product Design & Engineering Services Zone, Recycling & Sustainability Zone, Rigid Packaging Zone, and the Robotics & Automation Zone.
Given the expansive scale of NPE2021—the upcoming triennial trade show is scheduled to feature more than 2,000 exhibitors and more than one million net square feet of exhibit space—the show’s 13 Technology Zones help attendees cultivate their NPE2021 experience, facilitating a more personalized approach to the show.
Some of the highly anticipated Technology Zones to be featured at NPE2021 are:
Bottle Zone
Back after its successful debut at NPE2018, the Bottle Zone, with PETplanet and drinktec as the official supporting partners, offers a comprehensive look at one of the most important industry sectors, spotlighting innovations, technologies, and solutions for the beverage bottling and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) market. In this zone, attendees will find companies focused on plastic bottle design, machinery, and processes that are driving the marketplace forward. In addition to the return of the Biergarten, PETplanet will again host the Bottle Zone Technical Forum, featuring presentations by bottling exhibitors highlighting the latest in sustainability, caps and closures, PET trends in preforms, bottling and containers, and machinery and equipment.
Robotics and Automation Zone
This new Technology Zone at NPE2021 will highlight the latest advancements in autonomous technologies. In this zone, attendees will learn more about the power of mobile and service robots, predictive maintenance technology, and other transformative solutions that are addressing the most pressing manufacturing and production challenges to increase organizations’ efficiency.
Recycling and Sustainability Zone
The Recycling & Sustainability Zone will offer an up-close look at the most innovative end-market solutions, bioplastics, and lightweighting tactics that are improving sustainability and advancing life-cycle circularity in plastic products. The zone will examine all the industry’s most pressing recycling topics: chemical versus mechanical recycling, improving bottle-to-bottle processes, closed loop recyclability, and applying ocean plastics in manufacturing.
plasticsindustry.org
Heading into 2021 well prepared
The days of disposable plastic products are numbered – alternatives are needed. The success of LastObject’s reusable cotton swabs shows that the market is ready for change. The company’s basic and beauty cotton swabs are both made of high-quality materials. To meet all requirements, the tip is made of THERMOLAST® M, a compound from KRAIBURG TPE that is often used for applications in the health sector.
Every day, 1.5 billion cotton swabs are produced worldwide, each to be used only once. And that’s where LastObject’s mission begins: the Danish company aims to promote the “zero waste” movement to make sure that the next generations will also have a clean and healthy world to grow up in. As the first step, this successful Kickstarter project is supplying reusable, hygienic and reliable alternatives to single-use items we use on a daily basis – with great success, they already sold more than 500,000 LastSwabs to happy customers all over the world. LastObject is thus responding successfully to EU Directive 2019/904, which bans single-use plastic products and will be coming into effect from mid-2021.
The basic requirements for their reusable cotton swab, LastSwab, are durability and quick and easy cleaning. Close attention was given to these qualities during the development process. According to the manufacturer, each individual product is designed for up to 1,000 uses. Another requirement was for the product to be skin safe and not cause any irritation when in repeated contact with the skin. It goes without saying that it meets this standard.
In Denmark, KRAIBURG TPE is collaborating closely with Teknisk Agentur, a trusted local distribution partner. The choice of material for the flexible, soft tip was a compound from the THERMOLAST® M series. This compound was also superior to its competitors in relation to processing options, adhesion and look and has the following properties:
- Hardness: approx. 40 Shore A
- Tensile strength: 8.0 MPA
- Elongation at break: 800%
- Tear resistance: 11.5 N/mm
- The compound provides adhesion to polypropylene and polyethylene, high abrasion resistance, weldability and freedom from animal ingredients. It is processed using injection molding and extrusion. The rigid stick is made of polypropylene. The case is made of recycled ocean waste plastic (OWP) from the Danish company Zeaplast who collects plastic from the ocean and rivers in southeast Asia and recycles it. The entire product is molded by AMP, a well-known Danish injection molder.
And LastObject is doing more than just following a trend: The product effectively and measurably helps to save raw materials and waste, while reducing the carbon footprint. “It wasn’t only KRAIBURG TPE’s material that helped us implement the project. The entire process was very straightforward – all the way from identifying the product through to the service. KRAIBURG TPE, Teknisk Agentur, their Danish materials distributor, and the injection molder AMP are reliable partners who are helping us make the future more sustainable,” says Nicolas Aagaard, Co-founder at LastObject.
https://www.kraiburg-tpe.com/
A Worldwide Premiere Announced for Sustainable Packaging
Through their innovative partnership, LanzaTech, Total and L’Oréal have premiered the world’s
first sustainable packaging made from captured and recycled carbon emissions. The successful conversion process takes place in three steps:
- LanzaTech captures industrial carbon emissions and converts them into ethanol using a unique biological process.
• Total, thanks to an innovative dehydration process jointly developed with IFP Axens, converts the ethanol into ethylene before polymerizing it into polyethylene that has the same technical characteristics as its fossil counterpart.
• L’Oréal uses this polyethylene to produce packaging with the same quality and properties as conventional polyethylene.
It is a technological and industrial success proving that industrial carbon emissions can be used to produce plastic packaging. This world first demonstrates the commitment of the three partners to the development of a sustainable circular economy for plastics and paves the way for new opportunities for the capture and re-use of industrial carbon emissions.
The partners now intend to continue working together on scaling the production of these sustainable plastics and look forward to working with all those who want to join them in committing to the use of these new sustainable plastics.
LanzaTech CEO Jennifer Holmgren said: “This partnership is based on a shared goal of creating a cleaner planet for everyone. We are grateful to both L’Oréal and Total for their commitment to reducing the carbon intensity of their activities. Together, we can reduce the carbon footprint of packaging by converting carbon emissions into useful products, making single-use carbon a thing of the past.”
Senior Vice President Polymers, Total, Valérie Goff announced: “This partnership is an excellent example of collaboration between industrial firms in developing the plastics of the future produced from recycled carbon and meets a strong demand from our customers. The development of this new pathway of valuing industrial carbon emissions also contributes to the Group’s commitment to get to net zero in Europe by 2050.”
www.lanzatech.com
Polymer Producer Publishes its 2019 Sustainability Report
- ELIX integrates the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) in its business strategy
- In 2019, the company reduced its emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) by nearly 10%
- This report on fiscal year 2019 is based on the GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) Standards Guide
ELIX Polymers is a leading producer specialised in thermoplastic materials, and since 2016, the year when it issued its first sustainability report, it has been continuously strengthening its commitment to transparenc
Continuing with this commitment, for the fourth consecutive year ELIX is presenting its 2019 sustainability report, which reflects all the advances achieved and the challenges that have been met over the last year, in line with the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations.
For ELIX, 2019 represented the beginning of a new stage of consolidation and growth as a member of the Sinochem Group, during which it increased its presence in the NAFTA and APAC markets as a benchmark provider of ABS solutions.
David Castañeda, CEO, had this to say: “On the occasion of presenting this report, I’d like to take the opportunity to mention the lines and principles based on which ELIX Polymers is developing its sustainability strategy for the 2030 horizon, which include enhancing the transition towards the circular economy, reducing our ecological footprint, adopting ethical values and committing to the development of human capital”.
“Only through cooperation between the various players in the value chain can the transition to a circular economy model be accelerated, according to which waste is converted into raw materials and an urgent response is given to reducing the impact on the environment due to the use of plastics in our society. We will therefore include our stakeholders as participants in our goals, and we will establish partnerships as a part of our sustainability programmes, focused on the following: developing a portfolio of more sustainable solutions; driving responsible innovation; and caring for the climate (reduction of GHGs), the supply chain, responsible operations, ethics and people development”, Castañeda added.
ELIX has continued to advance on reducing its environmental impact by investing in projects that have allowed it to reach nearly a 10% reduction in its GHG emissions. Moreover, its desire to improve year after year has led ELIX to being recognised with several awards, including the Best Polymer Producers Awards for Europe 2020, which was earned for the third consecutive year and distinguishes the best ABS manufacturer of the year. It also earned renewal of the EcoVadis certificate at the GOLD level, thereby placing ELIX among the top 2% of evaluated companies with the best score and reaffirming its commitment to sustainable growth.
Judith Banús, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility Programme, commented: “During 2019 we’ve worked based on the four cornerstones of the Corporate Social Responsibility policy defined in 2018, thereby incorporating sustainability at the company and throughout the value chain, which allows us to improve the environment, our human team and our community and consequently contribute to the commitments defined by ELIX in the Management by Missions project”.
Furthermore, Banús wanted to make special mention of the Sustainable Development Goals: “The SDGs will guide ELIX’s new strategy of sustainability, to which we will give the green light in 2020. At the end of 2019, in a participatory meeting with key persons of the organisation, we internally identified those SDGs regarding which ELIX, because of its impact, has the special ability or responsibility to contribute to their improvement”.
www.elix-polymers.com
Virtual Community Day 2020 announced for November 17
The Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP), the leading authority in sustainable printing certifications, announced the virtual 2020 SGP Community Day will take place on November 17. The community event provides insight into sustainability and shares best practices of SGP Certified Facilities, Patrons, Brand Leaders and Resource Partners who support the sustainable print supply chain.
SGP Community Day is the non-profit`s sustainability conference for thought leaders in the printing industry. The event brings together printers, suppliers and Fortune 500 brands to advance the industry’s sustainability performance. Through focused presentations and networking opportunities, the event creates a community of practice that allows participants to connect, learn and build a new future together. The SGP Community Day theme aligns with the community mission: Leading Sustainability for the Printing Industry.
“Although this is our first ever virtual SGP Community Day, I see a stronger engagement among our SGP Certified Facilities and community through the challenges this year, with an increase in sharing best practices and supporting each other in our sustainability journey,” said Theresa Vanna, SGP board member and Primex Plastics Corporation representative. “With a focus on sustainability in practice, our event will help keep the conversation and expert network strong with practical advice and inspiration on being sustainability leaders for the printing industry and our city and states.”
SGP Community Day 2020 is open to SGP community members.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sgp-community-day-2020-tickets-124937191503 / www.sgppartnership.org
PLASTICS Responds to Save Our Seas 2.0 Act
Today, the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) President & CEO Tony Radoszewski issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act:
“We applaud the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act. It is a testament to the bipartisan agreement that we all need to do more to protect our oceans. The plastics industry and its more than one million American workers strongly support this legislation and applaud the work of its sponsors Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and champions in the House, Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR 1st District) and Don Young (R-AK At-Large District).”
“Senators Sullivan and Whitehouse will be sitting down for a discussion at the Global Plastics Summit (GPS) later this month to talk about the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act and the next steps that could take place in marine debris cleanup and prevention. We’re honored to welcome the Senators to the summit, and we look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to find innovative approaches to advancing our shared sustainability goals.”
PLASTICS leads several sustainability projects such as the New End Market Opportunities (NEMO) for Film Asphalt Project, NEMO for End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Recycling Project, Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) and more. Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-TX 8th District) will also be speaking at the Global Plastics Summit in October—addressing federal trade and other policy topics important to the 8th largest U.S. industry.
A no-hassle maintenance program to improve your mine
No matter what you mine, you have to juggle a lot of priorities to make certain that your mine operates successfully. You need to maximize equipment availability, reduce fuel costs, find ways to reduce your cost per ton and more!
While you may use different tools to achieve these goals, success on all fronts demands a best-in-class maintenance strategy.
But, with so many different pieces of equipment – many of which are made by different manufacturers and have their own operating requirements – and with the increasing complexity of today’s integrated mines, a no-hassle maintenance program can be difficult to build.
Our mining experts here at Mobil have decades of experience helping companies address all types of maintenance challenges, and we are an integral part of our company’s own mine – the Kearl Oil Sands project in northern Canada. We know what it takes to keep a mine running.
To help address these commonly faced maintenance challenges, we’ve pulled together three best practices you should consider when building a best-in-class strategy.
- Maximize truck availability while preserving warranties
When every minute of uptime is critical, it can be difficult to justify taking machinery offline for scheduled service. At the same time, it can also be difficult to assess the optimal service interval – one that’s not too cautious nor too risky. Many mines, however, are overly cautious with their service intervals, and there is opportunity to extend them or reduce the time in shop to get more productivity from your equipment without sacrificing the reliability of them.
You need to work with OEMs, your lube supplier, and other partners to design an optimal servicing schedule and program. These partners can help your staff test new approaches without violating your warranty – a critical safeguard. As a result, you’ll drive higher availability and lower your mine’s cost per ton.
In one instance, selecting the right lubricant for Kearl Oil Sands’ saved more than US $1.6 million by safely extending the oil drain intervals of its hydraulic equipment by six times the OEM-recommended limit.
- Ensure your team is working as efficiently as possible, regardless of experience level
Due to frequent personnel changeover associated with mining operations, the loss of information among personnel can often create a scarcity of knowledge among the new, young talent being brought in. Unfortunately, this means that maintenance teams are often re-learning how to properly maintain equipment.
As experts in mining equipment and maintenance, lubricant suppliers effectively help mines overcome this challenge by providing more advanced products that require less frequent maintenance. Furthermore, lubricant suppliers can help train staff in accomplishing everyday tasks, helping them better understand how an effective lubrication and maintenance program should look.
- Digitize your maintenance program
Mining personnel are no strangers to digitization, given that many sites have already integrated new digital technologies to monitor critical equipment performance and boost productivity. However, few technologies have focused on improving maintenance program efficiency – until now.
There is a rising crop of new digital platforms that can help you organize, automate, streamline, and consolidate all maintenance-related activities. You can schedule work orders, keep track of maintenance progress, incorporate inspection data and much, much more. To learn more, read about our first-of-its-kind Mobil Serv Lubrication Management (MSLM) platform, which is one recent example of these new digital opportunities.
https://club.mobilindustrial.com/
Greg Peters