The specialist in waste processing and shredding technology, founded in Austria in 1948, celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for its new factory premises on 18 September 2020. Strengthened by the successes of recent years and its solid corporate management, the company is investing in a new site covering over 45,000 square metres. In addition to a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, the new headquarters will become an international Centre of Excellence for waste recovery and recycling – in keeping with the circular economy concept.
When the Lindner machine factory opened its doors in the 1940s, the company manufactured sawmill equipment. The big transformation happened in the late 80s and the company was one of the first started to delve into shredding and waste processing – Lindner Recyclingtech was born. Today, 72 years later, recycling and the sustainable use of resources are among the pressing issues of our time and the Spittal-based family business is one of the world’s leading companies when it comes to turning waste into a valuable resource.
‘At the moment, the industry is undergoing a major change. Recycling rates and quality requirements for end materials are constantly rising and so we are continuing to develop new systems. Systems that enable our clients to meet these requirements,’ explains CEO and owner Manuel Lindner during the ground-breaking ceremony at the future Spittal-Ost headquarters. ‘To ensure that we can continue to do this efficiently, we are doubling our capacity and relying on the latest production technologies that meet industry 4.0 standards.’
Besides a robot-assisted manufacturing facility and a modern logistics centre, an academy focusing on recycling technology will be built on the 45,000 square metre site. As Michael Lackner, Managing Director, states: ‘We were one of the industry’s pioneers and accumulated an enormous amount of application expertise. Today, we see ourselves not only as a machine manufacturer and technology partner, but also as a source of knowledge for our clients. That’s why it is so important to us to constantly expand this know-how, develop new solutions and systematically prepare and pass on the knowledge gained. We are looking forward to welcoming you soon to the new home of recycling.’
www.lindner.com
Recyclingtech Doubles its Capacity with New Headquarters
The first flexible acrylic sheet ShieldUp Flex
The flexible acrylic sheet, ShieldUp Flex, gives designers greater freedom to shape their 2D pieces and simplifies the manufacturing processes. Lalou Roucayrol attests to this with his new trimaran, Arkema 4, the glazings use ShieldUp Flex acrylic glass. A wonderful example for this world premiere, paving the way into many other markets.
A major innovation in the world of transparent flexible plastic, ShieldUp Flex acrylic sheet can be bent manually, without any thermoforming. This technical revolution saves time and money in the design of 2D curved pieces or other that demand flexible material. The Altuglas International research team, based at the Lacq Research Center (France), has managed to overcome a key technological hurdle of PMMA, previously known for its rigidity. The sheet has been made flexible, without adding any plasticizers and without altering its properties. Additionally,its material is extremely chemical and impact resistant, making this patented innovation the ideal solution for projects that require transparency, durability, lightweight, shock resistance and flexibility.
Lalou Roucayrol, the shipbuilder of the Arkema 4, the group’s new Multi50-class trimaran, was specifically looking for this unprecedented combination of benefits for the boat’s glazings (roof and cockpit):
- perfect visibility and very strong shock resistance under extreme weather conditions, to enhance skipper safety
- a significant weight reduction, to further the constant pursuit of improved boat performance levels, thanks to the use of a thinner sheet
- easy window installation.
ShieldUp Flex sheet satisfied all of those expectations, in particular its implementation: simplified processing through the complete elimination of the thermoforming step. This allowed the designers to manually bend the cut sheet to the desired dimensions and glue it directly to the boat. As Lalou puts it, “ShieldUp Flex was THE product we’d been waiting for: reduced weight, better resistance and, above all, flexible implementation without the need for a long and painstaking thermoforming phase. Thank you Flex!”
No possibility of mistakes and precious time saved on projects! This is a terrific example of one application of this world premiere, on board of the Arkema 4 trimaran, to whose crew we wish fair winds!
Over and above its easy implementation, the new flexible acrylic sheet, ShieldUp Flex, also opens up new design possibilities for 2D curved pieces. We will find it used in traditional PMMA applications like vehicle glazings (RVs, boats, cars, motorcycles, etc.), but also in industrial glazings, signage, lighting, interior architecture and design, as well as COVID-secure protective screens. There is no doubt that this kind of innovation will pave the way for new applications, be they in electronics (smart object screens) or personal protective equipment, a field that is more relevant today than ever.
https://www.altuglas.com
Spectrum Plastics Group increases Sterile Medical Flexible Packaging capabilities with its acquisition of PeelMaster Medical Packaging
Spectrum Plastics Group –the market leading specialty medical packaging, component and contract manufacturer, has closed on the acquisition of PeelMaster Medical Packaging Corporation (“PeelMaster”).
Based in Niles, Illinois, PeelMaster is a full-service converter of sterile flexible packaging to the medical device market. Founded in 1989, PeelMaster produces pouches, header bags and die cut lids for medical applications.
PeelMaster has been an Authorized Converter of DuPont™ Tyvek® since its inception and, with the acquisition, Spectrum Plastics Group has also been granted Authorized Converter status from DuPont.
“The addition of PeelMaster advances our position as a custom, scalable flexible packaging supplier for the medical device sector. Their focus on quality and customer service fit squarely with Spectrum Plastics Group’s commitment to providing our customers with a first-rate experience,” says John Wolf, President, Films Division. “Additionally, we are very pleased to partner with DuPont as an Authorized Converter of Tyvek® to continue providing superior sterile packaging to the healthcare industry.”
Bill Sieck, President of PeelMaster, remarks, “This is a great day for PeelMaster Medical Packaging and we are pleased to join Spectrum Plastics Group. The two companies complement one another very well, and we are thrilled to have found such a partner to carry PeelMaster forward in the years to come.”
https://www.spectrumplastics.com
ProAmpac Acquires Rosenbloom Groupe Inc., Hymopack Ltd. and Dyne-A-Pak
Enhances Manufacturing Capabilities and Broadens Packaging Product Offerings for Grocery, Retail and Quick Service Restaurant Customers
ProAmpac, a leader in flexible packaging, today announced that it has acquired Rosenbloom Groupe Inc., Hymopack Ltd. and Dyne-A-Pak, private businesses based in Canada that manufacture packaging products. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Rosenbloom Groupe, Hymopack Ltd. and Dyne-A-Pak are leading suppliers to North American retailers, grocery chains and quick service restaurants (QSR), as well as wholesale distribution companies, specializing in the manufacturing of paper bags, plastic bags and can liners, and foam packaging trays. With this acquisition, ProAmpac expands its manufacturing capabilities and broadens the product offering it provides to retail, grocery and QSR customers.
Greg Tucker, CEO of ProAmpac, said, “All of us at ProAmpac have deep respect for the legacy and long history of excellence of the Rosenbloom Group of companies. We are pleased to add this strong business to our platforms, which enhances our presence in Canada and allows us to broaden our product offering in the United States. With the Rosenbloom, Dyne-A-Pak and Hymopack brands as part of the ProAmpac family, we will deliver even greater value and services to our customers.”
Richard Rosenbloom of Rosenbloom Groupe said, “As a third-generation family business, it was important for us to partner with an organization that understands our values and respects our culture. The ProAmpac team has demonstrated an appreciation for our history and I look forward to working collaboratively with Greg as we seamlessly bring our organizations together. Our capabilities are highly complementary with ProAmpac’s operations, and I am confident this combination will deliver compelling value to our customers and exciting opportunities for our team.”
Gerry Maldoff, President of Hymopack, added, “With the expanded resources, scale and combination with ProAmpac, our business will be well-positioned for growth. I am excited to work with ProAmpac to enhance our plastic packaging and manufacturing capabilities and provide a broader product offering to a growing base of grocery, retail, distribution and QSR customers.”
Cincinnati-based ProAmpac is owned by Pritzker Private Capital along with management and other co-investors. With the addition of the Rosenbloom Groupe, ProAmpac has 35 sites globally, with nearly 4,600 employees supplying more than 5,000 customers in 90 countries. ProAmpac manufactures flexible packaging for various consumer, healthcare, e-commerce, retail and industrial goods markets. Rosenbloom Groupe’s brands will continue in Canada and will maintain operations at its manufacturing facilities.
Chris Trick, Investment Partner at Pritzker Private Capital, said, “We are excited to welcome Rosenbloom Groupe to the ProAmpac and Pritzker Private Capital families. We look forward to our continued partnership with Greg and the entire ProAmpac team as the company continues to deliver the best possible products and services to its customers.”
https://www.proampac.com/
PLASTIC BAGS – HELPFUL OR HARMFUL?
If you were given a product that would help make your life easier for just 12 minutes but would have a negative impact on the planet for up to 1000 years, would you use it?
The average use-life of a plastic bag is precisely that. 12 minutes. And yes, it takes up to 1000 years to break down. Plastic bags are toxic to the environment even after they break down because they do not biodegrade, they photo-degrade. This means that after it degrades, it breaks down into smaller and smaller toxic bits of itself – and bleeds and contaminates the environment. But this does not stop us. According to The World Counts, we use 5 trillion plastic bags per year, with each one of us personally accountable for over 700 of these. If we multiply our individual use by the minutes of use, in total, we will use these bags for 5.8 days out of each year. Still, they will remain on earth not just for our lifetime, but for our children’s lifetime, and our grandchildren’s lifetime, and our great grandchildren’s, and their great grandchildren’s, and their great grandchildren’s, and, well, you get the idea. The plastic bag that helped you just a little earlier today will pollute the earth, and it will pollute our oceans, and most likely will never leave.
Every plastic bag ever produced is still on this planet. It is either landfilled, broken down into micro pieces in the environment, being reused, and a small percentage has been recycled back into plastic. Until now, with the introduction of innovative “end-of-life” upcycling solutions, there was no “away” when we threw out our plastic bags.
So, what is being done? More and more countries are banning or regulating the use of plastic bags in supermarkets and retail stores. Retailers have started charging for bags and no longer automatically dispense them. This has had fantastic results with many customers (you and me) bringing their own reusable bags. This has drastically reduced usage worldwide. And this means fewer animals will die. Fewer bags will be produced. Less petroleum will be used.
The result of this small sacrifice on our part is a better and healthier environment for everyone.
Another solution, as mentioned, is a unique chemical recycling technology, Clariter, which is able to upcycle plastic bags into crude-oil alternative industrial products which are used as ingredients to make over 1000 clean everyday products.
So, the next time you are offered this cheap and handy and readily available product that will make your life easier for a few minutes ask yourself if it is really worth the negative impact to our environment? While we do not foresee a total ban on plastic bags, we can each take responsibility to use less. Let us start helping our environment, and the animals that are affected by being mindful of how we use plastic bags.
https://clariter.com
Ideal for large-diameter pipes – less sagging, bet-ter quality
First Israeli pipe manufacturer investing in new-generation high-performance extruder from battenfeld-cincinnati
“The most outstanding advantages of the new extruder are low melt temperature with high output” is how Fuad Dweik, Managing Partner of Palad HY Industries Ltd., domiciled in Migdal HaEmek, Israel, sums up his assessment of the recently commissioned solEX NG 75-40 from battenfeld-cincinnati GmbH, Bad Oeynhausen. He is a long-standing customer of the German machine manufacturer and was the first pipe manufacturer in Israel to opt for the single screw extruder of the latest generation, which offers many additional advantages.
Palad HY, which was founded in 1997, ranks among the leading manufacturers of HDPE and PVC pipes in Israel. The ISO 9001:2008-certified pipe producer is well known for its range of large-diameter pipes with maximum diameters of 1,200 mm for HDPE pipes and 500 mm for PVC pipes. In addition to its domestic market, Palad HY also serves customers in Eastern and Western Europe, South America and Africa, to which about 25% of its annual production volume of currently about 20,000 t is exported. The company’s product range includes fresh water and sewage pipes as well as pipes for natural gas distribution systems, and protective conduits for electricity and communication lines.
Palad has been a customer of battenfeld-cincinnati right from the beginning and now operates several lines with machines from the extrusion specialist.
“In view of our positive experience with the machine technology from Germany, we have again chosen an extruder from battenfeld-cincinnati for our most recent investment, and we were not disappointed”, Rami Dweik, son of the proprietor and responsible for the production as Deputy Manager, reports. On the contrary! The solEX NG 75-40 installed at the beginning of this year belongs to the new generation of high-performance single screw extruders from battenfeld-cincinnati.
At Palad, it has replaced an old extruder in a PE 100 pipe extrusion line. “We are particularly impressed with the lower melt temperature compared to the previously used extruder, combined with better melt homogeneity and consequently better pipe quality”, Fuad Dweik adds. Thanks to the lower melt temperature, Palad also achieves significantly more even wall thickness distributions within extremely narrow tolerances, plus less undesirable sagging. Of course, the better pipe quality also reduces material consumption and produces less scrap. “Both the material savings and the roughly 10% reduction in energy consumption due to the lower heating rates make this extruder a particularly cost-efficient alternative”, concludes the General Manager, who is already thinking about a further investment in another solEX NG extruder of the new generation for other existing lines.
The completely redesigned processing unit is responsible for the above-mentioned advantages of the new solEX NG extruders, which are available with screw diameters of 60, 75, 90 and 120 mm and cover a throughput range from 750 to 2,500 kg/h, compared to the well-established and still available predecessor series. The internally grooved barrel in combination with a matching screw and grooved bushing geometry offers substantial improvements in process technology: a reduced axial pressure profile lessens machine wear, high specific output rates with lower screw speeds ensure high efficiency, and the gentle but highly effective and homogeneous melting performance at about 10 °C lower melt temperatures compared to conventional processing units delivers high end product quality with significant cost savings in production.
Assuming that energy costs are 0.10 EUR/kWh, about 18,000 EUR in operating costs can be saved due to the 10% lower energy consumption at full output capacity alone. Depending on the machine model compared with, savings of up to 15% are possible. Even higher cost cuts can also be achieved in production by material savings through reduced sagging as a result of low melt temperatures, especially in large-diameter pipe production.
Finally, the pipe manufacturer Palad HY appreciates the extruder’s intuitively operated BCtouch UX control system which, in addition to modern functionalities also includes the possibility of individualization or personalized user interfaces. “For our staff, it is a great benefit that the equipment can now even be operated in Hebrew, and that the battenfeld-cincinnati service team is available 24/7”, is the final praise for his extrusion equipment supplier expressed by Rami Dweik.
Right: Fuad Dweik Managing Partner of Palad H.Y.
www.battenfeld-cincinnati.com
Fast Track ZSK Extruders: Greatly Shortened Lead Times and Rapid ROI
Coperion provides extruders for biocompounds to Sirmax
Italian compounder Sirmax goes forward to invest in technological innovation, continuing strongly in the direction of a sustainable business. The company from Padua (Italy) has expanded its production capacity for sustainable plastics, relying upon Fast Track ZSK extruders from Coperion. These new models stand out for their especially short lead times and subsequent rapid ROI. In Sirmax’s case, Coperion designed two ZSK 70 Mc18 twin screw extruders especially for processing bioplastics. Only five months after placing the order, both Fast Track ZSK extruders have commenced production.
Sirmax installed the ZSK 70 Mc18 extruders, each with 70 mm screw diameters, ZS-B side feeders and ZS-EG side devolatilization, at Microtec Srl’s Padova (Italy) location. It has held a 70% interest in Microtec Srl for the past year, a manufacturer of biocompounds marketing its products under the name BioComp.
Fast Track Extruder with Proven ZSK Quality
With its Fast Track initiative, encompassing comprehensive internal and external process modifications, Coperion can now realize certain designs of its ZSK twin screw extruders with especially short lead times. Just as they have always been, these extruders are built exclusively with proven, high-quality components, including the high-performance drive and high-quality materials for the process section that ZSK extruders are famous for, to name just a couple of examples. Moreover, its entire process engineering expertise flows into the Fast Track twin screw extruders. Each process step is designed individually and optimally, all coordinated for the application in question, which in the case of Sirmax’s extruders is bioplastics processing.
Comprehensive modifications at Coperion, such as in warehousing, as well as numerous measures at suppliers’ locations, enable turnaround of ZSK Fast Track extruder orders with lead times of only five months. Compounders profit from expected high throughput rates and rapid ROI. Additionally, using exclusively high-quality, proven components provides the same service life as well as high process stability with constant very good product characteristics that distinguish all ZSK twin screw extruders.
Added Value for Sirmax Thanks to Short Lead Time
Microtec Srl will manufacture compounds based on starch biopolymers, co-polyesters (PBAT), polylactic acids (PLA), and polybutylene succinate (PBS) on the two Coperion Fast Track ZSK 70 Mc18 extruders. These bio-based materials are mainly used in the blow molding and in the injection molding market.
Massimo Pavin, CEO of Sirmax, explained: “With the two new ZSK extruders from Coperion, we can manufacture a broad palette of sustainable compounds that optimally expand our current Sirmax product portfolio in harmony with our multiproduct strategy. Thanks to the fast delivery of the Coperion extruders, we have succeeded in markedly expanding our production capacity for sustainable plastics on very short notice. For us, this is an important step in successfully implementing our innovative corporate strategy, that looks to the future while always maintaining solid foundations in flexibility, product quality and speed.”
www.coperion.com
Partnership webinar “Making a Difference with Sustainable Plastics” scheduled on October 29, 2020
Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP) announced “Making a Difference with Sustainable Plastics” webinar presented by Theresa Vanna of Primex Plastics Corporation. SGP is the leading authority in sustainable printing certifications for print manufacturers.
The webinar presents the latest information on sustainable plastics and their pros and cons. In addition, Vanna discusses the lifecycle of sustainable products and how to discuss sustainable products with vendors. The webinar is free and open to the public.
“I look forward to sharing information about sustainable plastics and discuss any misconceptions with the participants,” said Vanna, Primex Plastics product specialist and SGP Partnership board member. “Sharing information on the variety of sustainable plastics can help companies make informed choices about which product to use. During other presentations, audience members were surprised to find out how many different elements can create a sustainable plastic and how one needs to explore the total life cycle of the materials used.”
The SGP monthly webinar series is to help the printing industry, its suppliers and customers succeed in developing winning sustainability strategies and to support the continuous improvement of SGP certified print facilities.
“Primex works to meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future,” said Vanna. “Our support of SGP is part of our belief in a collaborative approach to a more sustainable future.” Vanna has been involved in SGP since its inception in 2008 and has served more than 10 years on the SGP Board of Directors.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/making-a-difference-with-sustainable-plastics-tickets-124502938641 / www.sgppartnership.org / www.primexplastics.com
2020 Virtual Battery Show to Showcase Impact of Material Science on Automotive Battery Design and Assembly
Thermal Management Materials, Adhesives and Sealants work in Concert to Achieve E-Mobility Ambitions
Henkel announced it will demonstrate how material science is enabling EV battery designers and automotive OEMs to achieve enhanced safety, efficiency and affordability objectives during the virtual Battery Show & EV Tech Digital Days North America & Europe on November 10-12. While developing EV designs that balance safety requirements, ambitious performance metrics and production efficiency is a major challenge, Henkel will reveal how its broad technology portfolio and process expertise has led to various EV design and component assembly successes. Using practical cases, the areas of focus will include:
Thermal Control
Thermal management is fundamental to safe, efficient EV battery function and long operating life. While the primary role of thermal interface materials (TIMs) is heat dissipation to optimize operation and avoid ‘thermal runaway’, additional features such as fast flow rates and lightweighting enable high-throughput production and extended driving range respectively. Henkel will feature two of its latest liquid TIM innovations, specifically silicone-based Bergquist Gap Filler TGF 2200 APS and silicone-free Bergquist Gap Filler TGF 3010 APS (image 1), which address multiple goals: dispensing speeds of up to 80 cc/second and robust thermal conductivity of up to 3 W/mK to tackle safety and functional reliability requirements.
With many factors to consider, most importantly passenger safety, close consultation with a trusted, multi-solution partner will ensure all thermal management and material compatibility objectives are met.
Durable Adhesives
In addition to robust thermal management, battery pack integrity is reliant on adhesive material strength. The ability to withstand the stress of harsh environmental and operational conditions, as well as provide cost-down benefits through high-speed application and fast curing capabilities, are key considerations for adhesive selection. Fast assembly of all elements of the EV battery pack is vital to addressing steadily declining battery costs, which have dropped nearly tenfold over the last decade. Along with other power storage portfolio products, Henkel EV assembly adhesives are supporting customers’ cost efficiency requirements. The company will feature a recent success with battery cell carrier manufacturer Covestro, where Henkel’s Loctite AA 3963 cure-on-demand adhesive (image 2) is enabling five-second cell fixturing for mass production economies of scale.
Battery Show attendees will see how adhesives that perform multiple functions, such as bonding and heat dissipation, can also aid in reducing overall costs. Loctite and Bergquist thermally conductive adhesives, designed for the assembly of cylindrical and pouch cells, deliver this dual-functionality in carefully-balanced formulations that combine effective thermal conductivity and high bonding strength.
Serviceable Sealants
As the battery system represents approximately 50% of the EV cost, shielding the battery pack from contaminants helps protect its value. The ability to easily service and repair a battery lowers the lifetime cost of the EV, as Henkel will demonstrate during the Battery Show. Products like Henkel’s Loctite ESB 5100, a unique safeguarding sealant innovation, offers unprecedented application flexibility. The gasketing material, for example, can secure the battery pack lid to the housing, while it can also be quickly removed and re-applied for battery repair access.
Shared Knowledge
Deep expertise and comprehensive understanding of EV battery pack design, industry trends, and complementary material formulation allow the Henkel team to provide a total solution for automotive battery and OEM customers. At the Battery Show & EV Tech Days, Henkel technical specialists will freely share this knowledge during two seminar events:
Webinar, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 9:30 a.m. (ET): “Optimizing EV Battery Pack Design & Assembly: How Innovative Thermal Interface Materials, Adhesives and Sealants are Driving e-Mobility Forward”, Henkel’s Dr. Pradyumna Goli, BDM Battery Systems and Reid Chesterfield, Director Thermal Product Development
Lightning Talk, Thursday, Nov. 12, 9:30 a.m. (CEST): “Selecting the Right Material for Thermal Management in EV Electronic Component”, Holger Schuh, Global Technology Lead Thermal
Conference participants are also invited to engage directly with the Henkel automotive power storage team members through live chat and visit the virtual booth where more materials will be made available.
henkel-adhesives.com/emobility / www.henkel.com