EPPM 17.6

October 2 2015 015 Volume 17 | Issue 06

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BIG

MAKING IT

Cover Story | Page 8

IN ROBOTIC AUTOMATION

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IN THIS ISSUE

head office Carlton House, Sandpiper Way, Chester Business Park, Chester, CH4 9QE. Tel. +44 (0) 1244 680222 Fax. +44 (0) 1244 671074 Web: www.eppm.com

Pg 6 INDUSTRY NEWS

Pg 24

Our October issue kicks off with the message that even though Europe’s plastics recycling industry is a global leader, there’s still much to be done.

There’s so much to colour, as EPPM learnt upon compiling this feature. We explore the entire chain, from mixing and colourcombining, to technologies that could make chip books a thing of the past.

COLOUR MANAGEMENT

Pg 8 COVER STORY: MAKING IT BIG Pg 30 IN ROBOTIC AUTOMATION FILM & SHEET Sepro Group is a robotics champion and in this special feature, the company that brought you ‘your choice in robots’ explains why bigger is better.

Volume 17 Issue 6

Films are getting thinner, rollers are getting faster and the competition is hotting up for this corner of plastics processing.

C.E.O/publisher mark blezard C.O.O duncan wood

editorial editor rose brooke rose.brooke@rapidnews.com

production art & production robert wood

advertising advertising managers Lisa Montgomery lisa@rapidnews.com Graham Voss graham@rapidnews.com tel: +44 (0) 1244 680222

Pg 10 MACHINERY

Pg 33

Especially for Fakuma, we bring you this massive machinery roundup. We speak to TSM Controls about how European machinery manufacturers should be adapting to the changing markets at home and abroad and we share our report from the EUROMAP General Assembly in Venice.

Leader in blow moulding systems Sidel gives us an in-depth look at how the Intelliblower is transforming the world of liquid packaging.

Pg 18 MATERIALS We share some of the most interesting materials news to hit the plastics headlines this month.

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BLOW MOULDING

subscriptions@rapidnews.com qualifying readers europe - free, ROW - £115 outside qualifying criteria UK - £80, ROW - £115 please subscribe online at www.eppm.com

Pg 38 FAKUMA PREVIEW Our seven-page Fakuma Preview follows on from where we left off in September, bringing you snapshots from the show floor to help you suss what’s hot in Friedrichshafen.

Pg 20 PRINTING & DECORATING

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As the world of marketing grows fiercer by the year, the technology that produces eye-catching effects becomes more crucial to manufacturers. We home in on what the printing and decorating innovators have been up to.

3D printing is transforming the lives of thousands of children in need of prosthetics, we investigate the great voluntary work e-NABLE, a group of additive manufacturing wizards, is doing.

EUREKA SERIES

Address changes should be emailed to subscriptions@rapidnews.com.

European Plastic Product Manufacturer is published by Rapid Plastics Media Ltd. Each issue is distributed in print and digital format to 17,845 buyers and specifiers in the European plastic processing industry. © September 2015.

While every attempt has been made to ensure that the information contained within European Plastic Product Manufacturer is accurate, the publisher accepts no liability for information published in error, or for views expressed.

All rights for European Plastic Product Manufacturer are reserved, and reproduction in part or whole without written permission is strictly prohibited.

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be the first.

From The Editor

Ein anderer wochen, ein anderer Fakuma One of the nicest things about the run-up to Fakuma is the way people talk about it - with smiles on their faces and a cheerful anticipation. There is no dread. No portent of the burn-out effect some shows leave us all with. But Fakuma is not like most shows of its size, because it has retained a regional show ambience despite growing into an international one - which is why it is so easy to love.

EPPM is returning to Friedrichshafen (well, technically we’re staying a catamaran’s ride away across Bodensee). In fact, you may well have picked up this, our historically-oversubscribed October issue, while navigating the halls of the vast Messe Friedrichshafen and if that is the case then welcome and keep reading, because we have lots of exciting news to share.

The final quarter of this magazine is dedicated to Fakuma exhibitors. We started previewing what companies have in store for the event back in our September issue and are proud to feature 63 companies in total across these previews in both magazines, with even more appearing via our dedicated Fakuma newsfeed on the website.

One Fakuma exhibitor who never fails to put on a show is Sepro. You may have spotted Sepro is our cover star this month and we have a fantastic feature on how in the world of robotics, sometimes bigger is definitely better.

Our machinery section homes in on TSM Controls, and includes our detailed report from the EUROMAP General Assembly in Venice last month. We also take a closer look at what’s been happening in the Film & Sheet segment, and in Blow Moulding, with an in-depth piece written for us by market leader Sidel.

There’s more than just a splash of colour in our October issue, with our

Fakuma is not like most shows of its size, because it has retained a regional show ambience despite growing into an international one - which is why it is so easy to love.

Printing & Decorating spotlight, which focuses in on some of the exciting developments that are making products almost jump off the shelves and into shopping baskets, while our Colour Management feature goes into the science and technology that is helping businesses get the most out of their colour selections, and perhaps change how they approach colour entirely.

As well as our little magazine being on-site ate Fakuma, so are we! And we would love to talk to as many of you as possible while we are here. To those of you we do not get the chance to meet, I hope your time in Friedrichshafen is prosperous and enjoyable!

Hier steppt der Bär!

Rose Brooke, Editor

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INDUSTRY

Europe champions PET recycling, but there’s still much to be done With 57 per cent of all PET in Europe being recycled in 2014, the continent is leading the way as a green region. But with only 79 per cent of installed PET recycling capacity being utilised, individual nations could do more, Petcore Europe claims.

Words | Rose Brooke

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urope is continuing to lead the rest of the world as a champion of recycling, with fresh figures from Petcore Europe indicating encouraging progress, but with room for improvement.

The Brussels-based association has revealed that Europe succeeded in recycling 57 per cent of all PET bottles and containers on the market in 2014, which is more than 66 billion 1.5-litre bottles, according to a report carried out by PCI PET Packaging Resin & Recycling Ltd for Petcore Europe.

"PET collection and recycling continue to increase and to be a success story over the last 25 years," said Petcore Europe Executive Director Patrick Peuch. "PET is by far the most recycled plastic material in Europe.

However, we can do even better and actively contribute to the European Circular Economy, especially as PET now penetrates new applications."

Soaring collection rates Last year's collection rates show that Europe's collection of PET bottles and containers has soared by 6.8 per cent year-on-year - and against a market demand for 3.1 million tonnes of these bottles and containers, a 57 per cent collection rate has been calculated.

Indeed, in 2014 the growth in PET demand itself increased by 4.8 per cent.

Peuch explained: "Although the collection rate increased by 1.3 per cent over the 2013 rate, it clearly illustrates the need for a two-sided approach.

On one hand, our industry has to work together to align the collection processes to deliver increased recycling objectives. On the other hand, consumers have to be more engaged. Raising consumer awareness on the importance of collection and the value of recycling, especially in the context of the European Commission

Circular Economy approach, and their own role in the process are key."

Moreover, collection rates across Europe vary considerably, with many member states exceeding the average 57 per cent, while some still lag behind.

Only 79 per cent of capacity Some 1.7 million tonnes of PET were recycled in Europe in 2014, but the continent's total capacity for recycling was far from at capacity.

Petcore Europe revealed Europe has an installed processing capacity of around 2.1 million tonnes, therefore the recycling industry only reached 79 per cent of its total capacity last year, which is lower than the 83 per cent rate recorded in 2013. This decrease illustrates the challenges the PET industry had to face in 2014, in particular the pricing throughout the RPET (recycled PET) chain and

Leonor Garcia settles into lead PlasticsEurope role L

eonor Garcia has just celebrated her first month as Director of Public Affairs for PlasticsEurope. Garcia took up the role on September 1st after a successful term as Director of Corporate, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs at The Coca-Cola Company. As well as holding a PhD in Physical Organic Chemistry from the UniversitĂŠ de Bruxelles, Garcia has worked for big names on the European

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and global playing field, including Exxon Chemical and UCB Chemical Specities (now Cytex/Allnex). Executive Director of Plastics Europe Karl H Foerster said: " [Garcia's] experience in senior positions across different markets of industry will be an invaluable asset to PlasticsEurope, our members and external partners." www.plasticseurope.org

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pressure from low virgin PET resin prices that occurred during the last quarter of the year.

Furthermore, the processed PET volume in 2014 was below the volume of PET collected. According to survey respondents, this difference is due to process losses, maintenance shut downs as well as shift programmes and production schedules adjusted to available bale supplies. The latter, issues related to bale supplies, was cited as one of the main contributing factors to lower productivity in 2014.

The evolution of PET resin pricing and demand for recycled PET remain uncertain for the future.

The full results of this survey will be presented during the Petcore Europe Conference in Brussels on November 24th 2015. www.petcore.org

German mechanical engineering jump starts into H2 G ermany’s mechanical engineering sector has been given a jump-start into the second half of 2015, as companies post a spike in orders.

The VDMA announced in Frankfurt on September 2nd that businesses have recorded a year-on-year increase of 18 per cent in terms of orders, with domestic business soaring by 43 per cent, while international business has climbed by five per cent on 2014’s data.

VDMA Chief Economist Dr Ralph Wiechers said: “We had unusually large orders in Germany and the eurozone (up 51 per cent). Without this effect, there would have been at most single-digit growth in both sales regions, which helped to compensate for the decline in orders outside the eurozone (down nine per cent). The end result is just a small two per cent increase in orders for the first seven months of the year.” www.vdma.org

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Mechanical engineers posted four per cent growth between May and July this year - a timeframe the VDMA believes is “more meaningful” than the year-on-year figures - with a 16 per cent rise in domestic orders offsetting a two per cent decrease on orders from overseas.

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COVER STORY

Making it BIG in Robotic Automation Words | Jean-Michel Renaudeau, CEO, Sepro Group

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utomating large molding machines – those with 700 tons of clamping force on up to 5000-ton machines – can pose some special challenges. Parts can be huge, weighing 75 kg or more. Even considering the size of the equipment and the products they make, productivity demands that they operate at speeds as high as 2 m/sec. That means they need to be sturdily built and operate reliably under tough conditions.

This is an environment in which robots made by Sepro Group, La Roche-sur-Yon (France), have been operating successfully for decades and the segment into which the company is introducing three entirely new big-robot families: the technological S7 Series of 3-axis-servo robots, the 7X Series robots with 5 servo-driven axes of motion, and the Strong range of general-purpose 3-axis robots. They join the 6X Line of articulated-arm robots, which are sized to serve machines up to 4000 tons.

As automation technology advanced, Sepro continued to innovate, introducing standard 3-axis servo drive on the 3000 Series of robots for molding machines up to 6000 tons. Next, in 2002, came Generation IV, Sepro’s fourth generation of robots. It was the first to be equipped with Visual controls. This proprietary control platform, developed by Sepro specifically for injection molding, offered a real step forward in simplicity, flexibility and userfriendliness. In most cases, day-to-day set-up could be handled by unskilled operators with virtually no special training.

INTRODUCING THREE NEW LINES OF BIG ROBOTS

THE LEADER IN BIG ROBOTS Sepro is and has been the largest supplier of robots in this size range in the world. Automotive applications (including bumper fasciae, dash and door panels and other large structures) as well as white goods and large material- and waste-handling containers, are frequently produced on big molding machines served by Sepro robots. In fact, the company is the #1 robot maker for the automotive industry, supporting most of the car brands and their global suppliers.

Sepro was founded in 1973 by Paul Radat who named his productdesign company Société d’Etude de Nouveaux Produits. It began developing automated processes for the fabrication of sheet metal parts but became one of the first companies in the world to develop Cartesian beam robots for injection-molding machines,

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introducing its first numerically controlled “manipulator” in 1981.

Since automotive companies were among the first to automate handling of over-sized molded parts, it was logical that large robots would be an important specialty of the company almost from the start.

At NPE 2015, which was held in Orlando, Florida, in March of this year, Sepro introduced three new lines of robots for injectionmolding machines with 800 to 5000 tons of clamping capacity.

Those robots are making their European debut at Fakuma 2015, October 13 - 17, in Friedrichshafen, Germany.

“These new large robots complete the transformation of the full Sepro product line, which we began in 2008,” explains JeanMichel Renaudeau, CEO of the Sepro Group. “Over the last seven years – since the depths of the financial crisis – we have completely redesigned our portfolio to deliver all-servo robots that are faster and more powerful, with longer strokes and larger payloads than previous generations. We’ve added 5- and 6-axis products in all size ranges, in-mold labeling solutions, a dual-arm range, a servo

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sprue picker and new, user-friendly controls. We firmly believe Sepro is the only company that really offers what we refer to as ‘Your Free Choice in Robots.’”

The new large robots improve upon the Sepro Generation IV (G4) Line, which previously covered high-tonnage molding applications.

In general, the new robots have longer kick (Y-axis) stokes, longer vertical (Z-axis) strokes and can handle larger payloads than their G4 predecessors.

The advanced SLS (Sepro linear system with cam follower rails) guidance system on the horizontal beam and vertical arm provides rigidity and reliability even at maximum acceleration and speed.

The vertical arm is an aluminum profile for compact, lightweight strength. Control of the servo motors and braking reduces noise and energy consumption, while minimizing maintenance (no need to balance cylinders).

S7 3-AXIS ROBOTS The S7 Line, which Sepro refers to as a “technological” range, includes three different models: the S7-45 for molding machines from 800 to 1300 tons, the S7-55 for machines from 1200 to 2500 tons and the S7-75 for machines from 2300 to 5000 tons.

Compared to the previous generation G4 units, the new S7 Lines have a standard kick stroke that is 10 to 15% longer, and a vertical stroke that is 4 to 10% longer. Payload capacities are up to 50% greater.

7X 5-AXIS ROBOTS The 7X Line is based on the same basic mechanical platform as the S7 3-axis robot, but adds a 2-axis servo-driven wrist developed in partnership with Stäubli Robotics. Unlike pneumatic wrists, which can only move in a continuous arc from 0° to 90° or 0° to 180°, the 7X wrists can move from 0° to 180° and 0° to 270° or any part of those rotations with absolute precision.

Servo motors have positional encoders that recognize exactly where the drive shaft is at any moment. Then the system control can integrate positional signals from the servo motors on all 5 axes so that it knows exactly where the gripper and part are in space at all times. This allows the robot to complete very complicated motions in all axes simultaneously and do it very precisely and with perfect repeatability. The servo wrist can grip and position parts at any angle making the robot much easier to set up and operate and allowing for simpler end-of-arm tooling.

STRONG LINE ROBOTS The Strong Line robots extend the range of Sepro’s economical robots – otherwise represented in the smaller Success Range – to serve machines up to 2800 tons.

Built with the quality and reliability of all Sepro robots, the Strong Line makes 3-axis servo speed and precision available to molders who have applications that require simple pick-and-place functionality and simple downstream operations.

VISUAL & TOUCH CONTROLS All these new robots are operated using the same easy-to-use control platform. The 5-axis 7X robots benefit from the application of the Visual 3 robot control, Sepro’s newest, fastest and most powerful control. Visual 2 controls are standard on advanced S7 Line 3-axis robots, and Strong can use the basic Touch 2 control or the Visual 2 can be specified when applications require a more powerful control. All controls have the same simple and intuitive user interface.

SEPRO AT FAKUMA 2016 Sepro Group is exhibiting in Hall A1, Stand 1203, at Fakuma 2016 and is demonstrating a model 7X55 five-axis robot from the new premium 7X Line and a Strong 50, which is representing a general-purpose line of large robots. Also on display will be two 6-axis articulated arm robots (a 6X90 and a 6X60), as well as the smaller 5-axis 5X25, a Success 33 from the company’s universal range of 3-axis robots, and an S3 servo sprue picker. Sepro robots will also be on display on the stands of injection-molding machine suppliers, including Sumitomo Demag (B1-1105), Billion (B3-3104), Haitian (A1-1103), JSW (A7-7207), and others. In all, Sepro is exhibiting 12 robots at the show.

This Sepro 7X45 robot is one of three models in the 7X Line of 5-axis robots for IMMs from 800 to 5000 tons of clamp.

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MACHINERY

Is plastic manufacturing in ‘reshoring’ mode?

The tidal reshoring trend is breaking like a wave on Europe, as more manufacturers bring their operations home now quality and the efficiency brought by new technologies outweigh the cost benefits presented by Asia. We asked Pentagon Plastics to share their experience with EPPM. Words | Gabby Day, Pentagon Plastics Ltd

‘Reshoring’ - the practice of bringing outsourced personnel and services back to the location from which they were originally offshored - is the new buzzword surrounding the plastic manufacturing industry. And the beginnings of a manufacturing renaissance is becoming evident across Europe.

This resurgence is driven by changing consumer preferences, a reduction of the wage gap, especially with China, slow lead times, volatile international transport costs and a desire to better control quality and supply chain risks.

Cost, quality, creation It would appear the tide has gone out on the labour cost advantage that China has offered for many years. This is not only increasing the attractiveness of even lower cost regions such as Malaysia and Vietnam, but is also strengthening the prospects for manufacturers considering relocating operations back to Europe.

It would appear the tide has gone out on the labour cost advantage that China has offered for many years.

Companies across Great Britain are relishing the true benefits of using a UK-based manufacturer, especially in the plastic injection moulding sector. This is set to provide many additional jobs in sectors ranging from textiles to electrical equipment and will benefit the UK economy as a whole.

It has been predicted by the RSA and Lloyds Banking Group that there will be 200,000 new jobs created as the UK is predicted to enhance its international trade balance by £20 billion in the next 10 years.

Problem-solving At Pentagon Plastics, we have witnessed first-hand the impact of reshoring and dealt with a company which was looking to reshore the manufacturing of existing products. We received an enquiry in early 2014 from a business looking to reshore the manufacturing of existing products for various reasons. Having previously enjoyed a fluid relationship with their overseas supplier over more recent

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times, they had been experiencing difficulty in communicating and resolving issues. Components were being supplied in the wrong materials and critical dimensions were not being met; causing problems in the final build programmes.

It was proving incredibly difficult to resolve these issues and so our customer decided to look at the option of reshoring their existing tooling to the UK to give them greater control and ease of communication going forward. However, upon further investigation it transpired that our customer did not actually own the full mould tooling for their products as they believed they did which put them in a very difficult situation.

Keen to get their product line back up and running to the required standard and to improve their overall supply chain, we were asked to provide quotations for the UK tooling and production of various components. Our customer was pleasantly surprised at the competitiveness of our tooling and production quotations as expectations were that these costs would be too expensive to bring the component manufacture back to the UK.

Opportunity We have now provided tooling for part of the overall product range, which was deemed more crucial to reshore, with a successful outcome for our customer. We will be looking at further tooling and production supply for them going forward and we look forward to a solid partnership for the future.

As the plastics industry continues to prosper we can expect to see more companies expanding across Europe. Also, large investments in equipment, more money spent on existing staff training as well as offering more career opportunities means that the future certainly looks bright for the manufacturing sector.

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www.pentagonplastics.co.uk

MACHINERY

HASCO harnesses 3D printing innovation for injection moulding prototyping Leader in the world of mould-making HASCO has joined forces with international additive manufacturing technology champion Stratasys to develop a rapid, cost-saving method for producing low volumes of injectionmoulded prototypes.

moulding process and the resulting manufacturing efficiencies that can be achieved by moulders. We view this as an application area with significant potential and will continue to work

with partners such as HASCO to further extend the benefits of additive manufacturing into the world of mould making and injection moulding.”

HASCO 3D prints injection mould inserts with Stratasys PolyJet technology in a matter of hours.

www.hasco.com

By integrating Stratasys 3D printing with HASCO’s K3500 quick-change mould system, moulders can quickly change between inserts for different products, enabling them to costeffectively produce low volumes of injection-moulded parts for samples, prototypes and small production runs.

HASCO 3D printed the inserts in Stratasys’ ultra-tough Digital ABS material using the Objet500 Connex Multi-material 3D Production System.

With a 3D printed mould insert taking only hours to produce, moulders can make design modifications to the product for a fraction of the time and cost of conventional tooling methods.

When producing a sealing plug for its industry-standard A8001 clamping fixture, HASCO identified that the walls of the ABS plastic sealing screw would need to be 12mm thick to seal the large number of threaded holes.

Given this geometry, it was clear the screw could not be produced using the conventional injection moulding process. With the level of intricacy enabled by PolyJet 3D printing, HASCO redesigned the screw with a reduced wall thickness and subsequently 3D printed a mould insert to the new specifications in order to test the integrity of the design before mass production.

Dirk Paulmann, Executive VicePresident, Sales & Business Development at HASCO, stated: “With time-to-market cycles shorter than ever and production quantities dropping, our customers are now looking for solutions that enable them to deliver prototypes quickly and cost-effectively. Compared with conventional metal or aluminium inserts, our new approach offers moulders the flexibility to quickly produce and switch inserts, making them much more productive and profitable.”

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Nadav Sella, Director, Manufacturing Tools Vertical Business Unit, Stratasys, added: “We’re extremely excited about what this collaboration has done to advance the low volume injection

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MACHINERY

Embracing change for a better chance of success TSM Controls has built a solid 40-year reputation on its blending and control systems technology and service, and at a time when stability is returning to European manufacturing and attitudes towards the Asian market are changing, this international company knows just what its next moves are.

Words | Rose Brooke

With four decades markets might behind it and surprise their almost 10,000 counterparts in installations under Europe. its belt, Irelandh e a d q u a r te re d "We're in a strong TSM Controls position in Taiwan has built up a in particular," hugely successful Byrne explained. gravimetric "We invested The O’Callaghan boys: (L-R) Sales Manager Europe Shane O’Callaghan, Managing Director Jim O’Callaghan and General blending and Manager Richard O’Callaghan. in Taiwan six or controls empire seven years ago in the true sense of the word. TSM has not just set up camp in key and started working with the Taiwanese OEMs as they have an markets such as the US, Taiwan and China, it has penetrated these excellent reputation for quality and performance throughout Asia. markets' infrastructures, adopted the culture and brought in local (They have) high discipline and high quality standards - and we see talent to support its business. them becoming an acceptable supplier for European customers over time."

It is this mentality - of immersion in the stabilising economies of Europe and North America and of the perceived-to-be bearish Byrne acknowledged that the rise of Taiwan as a powerful Chinese market - that helps TSM stand out. Sales Director Declan manufacturing player with the potential to compete in the quality Byrne was candid in his views on how European manufacturers stakes on the European playing field may not be widely understood, should be approaching Asia at a time when there is a body of but this concept is gaining credibility each year and indicates that opinion suggesting that reshoring manufacturing back to Europe while many anticipate a return to the pre-financial crisis norm, is a real possibility. TSM believes that embracing the opportunity the reality is the global landscape has shifted dramatically in a Asia presents and engaging in with the market and its customers different direction. is an alternative to breaking with business partners in the Far East and reshoring; because why would any manufacturer wish to sever "The feeling that somehow China is becoming less competitive ties with the second-largest economy on the planet? and the notion that European service and quality is superior is misleading. The markets and cultures are very different, hence "China will always be a dominant player in most industrial the requirements for suppliers are different. Top tier customers segments. Three important enablers exist in this market: in China have very similar requirements to European customers demand, capital and human resources and local or licenced and demand excellent performance and service. This is turn sets technology. Over the last 10 years we've seen significant the standard for the rest of the market who, in time, will adopt this increased investment in indigenous research and development, path - but it's inexorably going that way," Byrne remarked. so unless you are at the very high end of the technology map, it is not sustainable in the long term to manufacture in the US and Europe and then ship to Asia."

Best in class

Targeting Taiwan TSM has a strong foothold in the Asian market, with a base in Guangzhou in China and in Taiwan. Standards and technical specifications are improving year-on-year in these markets and Byrne suggests the production quality of machinery from these

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TSM is well known for being a family business. Jim O'Callaghan founded the company in 1976 upon developing the industry's first width-gauging technology, before moving into the blending business. In the last 10 years TSM's ambition has gained serious momentum. The company is now headed in two strategic directions, materials handling on the one side, and segment solutions on the other.

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"We've started a relationship with several partner companies and one of the things we're doing that's very different is collaborating the 'best in class' companies of a particular sector," Byrne explained. "There's a lot of companies in this industry that are very good at what they do but generally they are unable to provide an end-to-end solution for customers.

"For example, in the blown film segment - which is one of the biggest segments we support - we are collaborating with K Design in Germany, a leading provider of air rings and automatic gauge control to the blown film segment. Together we offer the complete blown film solution to customers right across Asia and the US. It's a little different than other companies who feel they need to be everything to everybody. We believe the collaboration of seamless 'best in class' solutions for a particular application brings superior benefits to our customers."

He continued: "Our customers perform in a very competitive environment and absolutely need to focus on their core business.

Working with a supplier who can take a project from the initial audit, to the equipment design and specification through to installation, support and complete lifecycle support is a very powerful offering.

This level of trust can only be achieved if it is based on mutual trust and a proven track record of performance."

The idea of the lifecycle is something Byrne and the team at TSM is keen to impress on its business partners and customers - the 'cradle to grave' philosophy is built into the company's research and development programme, from protecting customers' initial investment through to end-of-life.

"The anchor point for the whole solution is TSM core technology and around that we will build the entire solution. We'll take ownership of the end result, we'll spec, deliver and support the solution over the entire lifecycle - and I think this is a very good message for our customers," he stated.

Asia targets Europe Asia still has the advantage of lower energy costs and labour costs, Byrne said, while material costs hardly vary geographically, but the economic climate and the weakness of the euro against the US dollar has presented an obstacle, making it more difficult at present for Asian manufacturers to compete with the euro. This is a blip, but not a permanent problem that will stop Asia from laying siege on the European market with products that can rival the home teams'.

"The mentality that it's low quality and if it doesn't work you can throw it out and get another one' is changing very rapidly," Byrne warned. "I'm not talking about the bottom tier market, but middle quality and top quality, and that's the business we're both in. In Taiwan in particular, there's a culture for discipline that demands high standards in quality, logistics and performance."

He went on to say that he does not believe the European and Asian markets can separate. Indeed, rather than Europe relying on its historically high quality service and machinery as its golden ticket, Western manufacturers will be forced to up their game as the Asian market sets the pace.

"People waiting for it all to come back - it's never going to happen," Byrne stated. "We think embracing change gives you a better chance of success. We're not the biggest organisation in the industry, but we have been here 40 years and we do a good job for our customers with almost 10,000 installations operating successfully every day in almost 50 countries. TSM has the drive, ambition, products and above all the right people to continue this into the future."

Lean manufacturing Being a reliable solutions provider is something TSM recognises the market needs more than ever at a time when companies adopt leaner, tighter operations. Gone are the days of companies maintaining teams of project managers and project engineers, which is where suppliers such as TSM can step in to provide these services as part of an overall guaranteed solution.

TSM has worked hard to build its reputation in Europe and the US, but it has not neglected making the same effort in Asia.

"TSM Inc. has been in the US for 17 years and we're part of the US infrastructure, we have US people, a US identity," Byrne explained.

"We're part of that market because that's a big market and it is exactly the same in Asia. Being present, investing in local people and taking the long-term view truly embeds you in the culture, traditions and expectations of the market. The opportunity for European companies is vast, but in my view you have to be fully engaged with the territory and invest. Transactional business from afar is not sustainable in the long-term. "

The feeling that somehow China is becoming less competitive and the notion that European service and quality is superior is misleading.

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MACHINERY

The latest from Meusburger EPPM gives a quick recap of some of the latest product launches from leading high-precision standard parts manufacturer Meusburger.

E3248 inclined ejection unit for easy demoulding Meusburger has introduced its new E 3248 Inclined injection unit to the market. When used in combination with

the E 32481 Ejector for inclined ejection unit, it enables the easy demoulding of undercuts without using a slide. Due to its small installation height, the inclined ejection unit can be installed inside the ejector set in a space-saving manner.

The high-quality material and precise design of this product ensure minimised wear. An optimal match also available at Meusburger is the E 3249 Support plate, which may serve as an additional guiding element. The entire product

range for quick demoulding is available from stock maintaining Meusburger's high quality standards.

IS YOUR TEMPERATURE CONTROL RELIABLE?

The Quick adapter set for efficient leak test Meusburger has introduced the practical E 2175 Quick adapter set for efficient leak testing to the market.

The entire injection mould, whether it is cavity plate, mould insert, or slide can be tested. The easy and tool-free installation in the cylindrical bores of the cooling circuits is unique. Through the easy installation without additional mounting holes, the quick adapter can be used even in deep pockets. The slim design allows for a minimum distance from 14 mm. The innovative quick adapter allows the mould makers to pass on their product 100 per cent leak tested to their customers. The E 2175 Quick adapter set is available from stock in two different diameters and supplied in a handy toolbox.

E 1845 round latch lock

Optimise your cooling performance with the latest in chiller technology.

Offering reliability, efficiency and quality throughout, the i-Chiller excels in providing stable temperatures for industrial applications.

Improve thermal performance and lower your environmental impact with ICS Cool Energy Take advantage of the i-Chillers R410A refrigerant and upgrade your cooling before the R22 deadline comes into place on 01/01/15.

Packaged and bespoke systems available to manage temperatures from -20oC to 350oC offering leading levels of efficiency and reliability.

The i-Chiller range is exclusively available from ICS Cool Energy in capacities from 1.4kW to 166kW.

Meusburger has launched its new E 1845 round latch lock for installation in the pillar hole. This space-saving installation enables a high degree of flexibility when designing the cavity and the integration of temperature regulation components or slide units, and thus a more compact mould structure. Another advantage is the damping element on the stroke limiter of the round latch lock, which enables especially fast plate movements.

The tried and trusted system with four switching segments guarantees secure and reliable locking of the floating plate. With the E 1845 Round latch lock from Meusburger the stroke length is individually adjustable. This product is available from stock in guiding bore diameters of 26, 30, and 42 mm in the usual high quality offered by Meusburger.

Precise temperature management enables consistently high levels of production, reliable temperature control management and comfortable working environments.

To find out more, call us on Freephone 0800 774 7415 or visit us at icscoolenergy.com to download your copy of the i-Chiller brochure.

Local engineers work with you to advise and support your site activities offering solutions for both sale and hire as well as providing ongoing service support, where required.

Find out more by calling free on 0800 774 7407 or email info@icscoolenergy.com

T H E T EM P ER AT U R E CO NTR O L S P ECI A LI S TS. SALES. HIRE. SERVICE.

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W W W.ICSCOOL EN ERGY.COM

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www.meusburger.com

MACHINERY

Italian plastics machinery trade leaps ahead

Italian plastics machinery trade with Europe and the rest of the world is much improved on 2014’s data according to the latest ISTAT figures published by Italian trade association Assocomaplast.

Italy's plastics and rubber machinery market has been thriving in 2015 compared to previous years.

According to fresh foreign trade analysis from Assocomaplast, the Italian trade association and part of CONFINDUSTRIA representing some 160 companies, Italy's plastics and rubber machinery exports grew by nearly 17 per cent year-on-year from January to June compared to the first half of 2014.

These figures serve to further boost optimism for Italy's recovering market. Although market performance cannot yet be described as dazzling, balance is being restored.

Alessandro Grassi, President of Assocomaplast, said: "Such a trend is in fact in line with the results revealed by our latest survey throughout our membership of the current status of business."

purchased â‚Ź200 million (ÂŁ146.4 million) in 'Made in Italy' systems in the first six months of 2015, a 19 per cent jump from the same timeframe in 2014.

In terms of geographical macro areas for sales overall, there was a notable increase in business from EU countries and the NAFTA group. Among EU countries sales increases were recorded in Germany, Spain and the Czech Republic. The Americas yielded the most impressive data, with a 36 per cent increase in exports to the US along with a 15 per cent jump in trade to Mexico, while exports to Brazil rose by 17 per cent.

There were recorded declines, not least the ongoing slide in trade between Italy and Russia, which plunged by 39 per cent as the Ukraine crisis continues to resonate through Europe. Negative values were also seen for India, where trade dropped by 24 per cent, while Chinese trade dropped by 15 per cent.

Indeed, the survey reflected overall confidence in the Italian plastics and rubber machinery market. In July 50 per cent of respondents posted an increase in orders compared to the previous year, while 44 per cent of respondents said they anticipate further growth in the future and 45 per cent forecast a consolidation of their turnover over the current six-month period.

In terms of imports, injection moulding machines, flexographic printing machines and moulds were recorded in the largest volumes. Many of these bought from machinery manufacturers in Germany, confirming the country continues to dominate as a principal supplier to Italy.

Germany has also historically been the most important destination market for Italian exports in this sector. German processors

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MACHINERY

‘Harmonious’ EUROMAP talks growth, China and India at General Assembly Harmony, comfort and optimism - words you do not often hear in the context of plastics machinery and yet EUROMAP top brass were keen to put this feeling across at the triennial General Assembly in Venice in September.

EPPM was invited to this auspicious event to find out more about the state of Europe’s most prestigious plastics processing club.

Words | Rose Brooke

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enice's Hotel Danieli on the waterfront of the lagoon looks more like a movie set than the venue for the EUROMAP General Assembly, but that is where EPPM found itself on a perfect sunny afternoon in September.

This auspicious location only added to the sense of ceremony.

Indeed, Managing Director of the VDMA Thorsten Kuhmann remarked as the triennial presentations on September 11th came to a close that it was unlikely the EUROMAP General Assembly would find as beautiful a home again.

Kuhmann was joined at the head of the table in the Presidency Meet the Press meeting on the evening of September 10th by EUROMAP President Luciano Anceschi and Helmut Heinson, Vice-President, to discuss the state of European plastics and rubber machinery from the perspective of the nine members of EUROMAP on the global stage. Much of the presentation's content would be revisited in the main address the following day, but this gave Anceschi the opportunity to express his personal opinion that now "is a very interesting moment" for the organisation and its members.

"Knock on wood" Undoubtedly, the mood of EUROMAP's plastics and rubber machinery manufacturers is a happy one. Heinson said the condition of the European injection moulding market has been satisfactory since 2009, but he added: "Sometimes I must confess I am suspicious. We have been very comfortable for many years.

We always expect certain fluctuations but knock on wood, it remains stable."

"It takes certain expertise," he continued, "to make machinery to this level and that's exactly what makes me happy in this marketplace - and we are not even the cheapest…" indicating that the success of Euromap machinery sales is down to quality and not necessarily cost.

But it is success in the markets where a low-cost machine enjoys a better reception than a top-of-market machine that was the main focus of the presentational element of the Euromap General Assembly, with Iran, Mexico, the BRICS nations - in particular India

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and China - having the spotlight shone on them by those at the bridge of the European plastics and rubber manufacturing ship.

Kuhmann noted that European plastics machinery manufacturers need to put some thought into providing the right machine for emerging markets, but Heinson joked that this would be a challenge, as "German manufacturers can't do cheap".

Nevertheless markets such the Middle East were singled out as potential growth generators and were described by Anceschi as "fantastic markets that need the technology".

The press conference was rounded off by Heinson, who maintained the ongoing theme of confidence and contentment in the market.

"We are no longer in a tunnel, we are in the light," Heinson stated, adding that "even Italy and Spain" have gotten over the worst of the European financial crisis.

Half of the pie The output of the nine members of EUROMAP amounted to €13 billion (£9.4 billion) in 2014 - a year-on-year increase of 1.9 per cent.

Over this same period, global exports from EUROMAP countries rose by 1.6 per cent to €9.7 billion - a figure that takes EUROMAP's global share to almost half, according to Anceschi.

This year's gathering is unusual in that it took a much closer look at India as a major export destination. India is one-fifth of the socalled BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), and a few years ago, all eyes were on these emerging markets. There was expectation of stellar growth and a true shift in economic power, but the massive surge that was forecast never emerged.

"The performance of those markets did not meet our manufacturers' expectations," Anceschi said in the press briefing.

"The shortfall mainly resulted from a slump in demand in Brazil and an even sharper drop in Russia." "India, on the other hand," he added, "is giving cause for optimism after a couple of years of declining exports. [And] as for China, the plastics and rubber machinery industry's development was uneven and needs to be closely monitored."

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Challenging China In his presentation 'China: Opportunities for European high-end manufacturers in the middle segment', Dr Peter Neumann, CEO of ENGEL, went into some detail as to how ENGEL is succeeding in penetrating the complicated Chinese market, by offering a mid-level machine to the Chinese marketplace that does not upset the market investing in high-end ENGEL machines in Europe and the US. "China is a market that is quite different from what we have here in Europe and the US," he explained. "The market is very strong at a level [in the low and middle end of the market] where normally our own manufacturers are not present."

ENGEL's strategy for penetrating the Chinese market began in 2011. Initial research showed the local plastics machinery market did especially well in the low end of the market, dominating with a 97 per cent share versus just three per cent of foreign market share. At the high end, the overseas market dominated with a 95 per cent share. But - just like Goldilocks - ENGEL found the midend market to be just right, with a foreign market share of 36 per cent, presenting the best growth potential for a European plastics machinery manufacturer - particularly as China accounts for half of all new injection moulding machines sold.

ENGEL decided to focus its efforts on white goods and the lucrative automotive segment in China - where a growing middle class and growing per capita wealth has catapulted the Chinese automotive market to top place, overtaking the US's historic dominance.

premium ENGEL brand, but as a separate entity.

The resulting economic and efficient two-platen WINTEC t-win injection and clamping unit was presented to the market at CHINAPLAS 2014 and the first WINTEC t-win was sold the following October.

So far, ENGEL only identifies Haitian as its main competitor in this segment in China, but encouraged more EUROMAP member companies to consider entering the Chinese mid-market.

Better days ahead VDMA India's Rajesh Nath followed Dr Neumann on stage to present 'India, a Machine Market', praising the new administration under Narendra Modi - whose Bharatiya Janata Party is the first to have a majority in the country for over 30 years - as an excellent environment for investment and growth for EUROMAP members.

"There are better days ahead," Nath stated enthusiastically, revealing that India's rate of inflation has stabilised and that Mr Modi's 'Make in India' campaign aims to increase India's share of manufacturing in the country's GDP from 16 per cent to 25 per cent by 2022, in addition to creating 100 million more jobs and establishing 100 smart cities by this time.

With all international automotive players having a base in India, in this segment alone there is massive potential for EUROMAP members and the wider plastics machinery manufacturing community - just like in China, Nath remarked.

"The automotive market in India is less sensitive to price and ready for quality machines," Nath said, adding that he wants more European plastics machinery makers to approach India in the same way they approach China. There are similar growth trends between both Asian superpowers, he said, and with Mr Modi's fiveyear tenure still in its infancy, there is plenty of room for optimism.

The benefit ENGEL had in entering the Chinese mid end market is that customers in this segment in China have been dissatisfied with the quality of locally-produced machines and, as Dr Neumann said: "European machines are expected to run for almost an unlimited amount of time. Chinese machines run for three-to-five years."

Opting for a multi-brand strategy to prevent upsetting the high-end market in the Europe and the US, who could have taken umbrage upon discovering that ENGEL offers a cheaper machine to a different market, ENGEL established WINTEC with its own sales and marketing structure under the

Kuhmann added in his closing remarks that the Indian market is a niche market and "we cannot expect this to grow in a couple of months, but there is growth potential." www.euromap.org

“The soul of EUROMAP” The General Assembly presentation included the presidential elections, which resulted in a unanimous vote to re-elect Luciano Anceschi as President, while KraussMaffei’s Dr Karlheinz Bourdon was elected to become Vice-President. Thorsten Kuhmann was voted in as Secretary General and Lilli Rudnick was elected Treasurer.

At Rudnick’s appointment, Kuhmann said: “You are the soul of EUROMAP and I want to thank you very much.”

Upon taking to the lectern following his reinstatement, Anceschi thanked the assembly and stated that the constant support of members is of great help to him. “This year we have reached a very good harmony and I really have the feeling that we did it together.”

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17

See the light

MATERIALS ROUNDUP

mam Wham ban thank you constitutional highest France’s t the French authority has stated tha of BPA use law suspending the tement sta a de, tra ts tric unjustifiably res sow the ld es cou PlasticsEurope believ nstitutional Co nch Fre seeds of change. The of BPA-based food manufacture and export Council ruled the banned onal. It did not assess of France is unconstituti contact materials out law, however; a g law with existin EU nch Fre of ity ibil pat the com sEurope’s Jasmin Bird will follow up on. Plastic matter PlasticsEurope the ban on exports nch court has repealed said: “Given that the Fre nce, necessitates Fra intained the ban within from France, and yet ma s very arbitrary thi e olv res ropean level to Eu at ion act ate edi imm ependent scientific ains that leading ind situation. The fact rem Food Safety Authority such as the European authorities worldwide tact materials pose con d that BPA-based foo ded clu con e hav ) SA (EF no risk to consumers.” rg

Lightweightin g lighting fo r automotive challenges DS is just one of M, the global lif the many e sciences and has stepped up m aterial sciences to, as its Arnite company, the headlights XL-T material has been depl in the new Aud oyed for i Q 7. The superio Arnite XL-T w r performance ith a heat defl ection tempera of DSM’s outgassing an ture (HDT) of d excellent text 250°C, low ured surface fi the designer nish in dark co and engineer lo urs, offers ex te module constr nded freedom uction, which in headlight LE is why global D/HID systems for au provider of pr tomotive ZKW emium light Group chose th characteristic e material for s. its superior

e.o www.bisphenol-a-europ

www.dsm.com

Radel gives you wings

Watch out

as the top choice ial has been selected ter ma E TP S GL s ne’ PolyO p Technologies’ wrist hnology for children. Fili for a new wearable tec features GPS, Wi-Fi and locator for kids - which watch-style phone and ilies keep track n technology - helps fam tio ula ng tria er tow l GSM cel adults whose charges ers, providing relief to mb me est ng you ir the of be both appealing and . To ensure FiLIP would are prone to wandering s a choice of soft-touch gave product developer comfy to wear, Polyone ing out on top for its com E h PolyOne GLS TP wit , ple sam to ials ter ma rs. fort, and its bright colou smooth texture for com m www.polyone.co

Solvay and RTP Company have signed a licencing agreement permitting RTP to produce and sell Solvay’s Radel R-7000 series of PPSU resins to the global commer cial aircraft industry. These resins are specially formulated for use in aircraft cabin interiors and deliver good aesthetics, durability and chem ical resistance in addition to meeting US Federal Aviation Adm inistration regulations regarding flammability, heat release, smoke generation and toxic gas emission s.

This agreement will greatly expa nd global supply channels for this industry-recognised family of high -performance polymers, shortening lead times and widening options for ordering Radel R-7000 PPSU resins in custom colours in small to large volumes.

Clear as day

www.solvay.com

Pest control AIMPLAS and ADAPTA COLOR have developed a technology for the manufacture of coatings with insecticide qualities.

The technology has been developed by AIMPLAS to protect the effectiveness of the insecticide product during the coating process, maintaining a longevity in the additive of more than two years. ADAPTA COLOR’s REPELPIN project was set up with the medical machinery, transport and building sectors in mind where durability is key.

AIMPLAS believes that thanks to the expertise of both organisations, the coating development is ideal for architectural applications and garden furniture.

Ahead of the Internation al Elastomers Conference in Clevelan d, Shin-Etsu Silicones of America, a subsidiary of Shin-Etsu Chemica l Co. Japan, will be holding an open house at its Technical Center in Ak ron Ohio on October 12th 2015, wh ere the main focus will be on its new optically clear LIMS product X-3 4 1972-3 in the production of a ma gnifying lens.

The new material was designed as an innovative response to meet the increasing the rmal requirements for High-Brightness LED op tical lenses. As LEDs bec ome brighter, their operating temperatures are rising beyond the capabilities of normal thermoplastics, but Sh in-Etsu believes it has fou nd the solution. With 95 per cent transpare ncy, the new material is uniquely engineered for expanding LED app lications in street ligh ting, automotive and exterior illumination.

www.aimplas.net

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www.shinetsu.co.jp

MATERIALS

TeXtreme makes splash into kayak racing BEISPIEL:

Inserat „EPPM“

1-Zeiler ne of the world’s highestranking multi-sports teams has chosen TeXtreme to reinforce Szabványosítással their kayaks as they prepare for another world championship win.

O

ZUR VERWENDUNG:

Sprache: EN

Format: 164x235+3mm

Thema: DLC

AS: 18.09.2015

az élen!

SETTING

Thule Adventure Team has a racing K1 kayak, which is specially made for multi-sports and TeXtreme nextgeneration carbon fibre material will take the performance of this agile 2-Zeiler racing vessel up to the next level.

Team Leader of Thule Adventure Team Martin Flinta said: “We wanted Mit to reduce weight but keep the strength, and with TeXtreme they dem could achieve just that. When you race for several days in a row, and cover such great distances it is important to have the best possible gear and really lightweight products.”

STANDARDS Standardisierung

E 10025

DLC coating

Wettbewerb voraus!

for long service life

TeXtreme technology is based on using Spread Tows instead of yarns 3-Zeile r to achieve materials that are used to produce ultra lightweight and high-performance products. Where TeXtreme has been incorporated, One step aheaEd1860 of the material achieves better weight, the competitors – stiffness and durability properties compared to traditional carbon fibres.

E 17105

Particularly suitable for use in cleanrooms

:GNUDN

Excellent dry-running properties

with standardisation

The Thule Adventure Team comprises some of the world’s most accomplished multi-sport athletes, including two titles in the Adventure Racing World Championship - and the team never scrimps on effort in their mission to be the world’s Number One.

How you benefit:

NEW

High corrosion resistance

with DLC coating

4-Zeile r Multi-sport is an endurance sport with an emphasis on orienteering, mountain biking, kayaking and running in various environments O across pspændingssystem H 1000 differing distances and each member of the Thule Adventure Team – trains det originale for 30-40 hours a week, ensuring their stamina and techniqueHu arerti tipgt og effektivt , med samme top. They participate in around 10-12 pr æthe cision gang på gang! races every year and travel around world to compete.

Numerous sports have benefited from the performance characteristics of TeXtreme, including; Formula 1 racing, Americas Cup, NASCAR, Le Mans, ice hockey, cycling, tennis and surfing.

13.–17.10.2015 Hall A2 Stand 2313

www.textreme.com

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Anz CloseUps 51x320 GB.qxp_Layout 1 15.09.1

PRINTING & DECORATING

Growth and greening: A global IML market forecast More than 100,000 products. www.hasco.com

The global in-mould labelling market is getting bigger and more sustainable. Sandlerresearch.org’s latest report on the global IML market is a bird’s eye view of the worldwide industry and where it is headed.

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he global in-mould labelling (IML) market is expanding, and its environmental credentials along with it.

This is according to a report from Sandlerresearch.org, which published Global In-Mold Labels Market 2015-2019 earlier this year. The report, which brings analysis on IML applications in injection moulding, blow moulding and thermoforming, revealed that the market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.81 per cent during the forecast period.

IML provides flexibility to food and drinks producers, who can use advanced IML technologies to perfectly represent their brands, targeting any demographic thanks to the broad range of value-to-highest quality options available. The rise in consumer preference for lightweight and very aesthetically pleasing packaging, according to Sandlerresearch.org, is expected to motivate vendors to invest further in new technologies over the forecast period.

Visit us: Fakuma D - Friedrichshafen 13 -17 October 2015 booth A2-2202

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But it is not just the visual and marketing advantages new IML technologies are bringing to the sector, as the latest machinery also offers improved green performance - a key point for many larger brands with corporate responsibility policies to be seen to be upholding. Indeed, the increase in environmental concerns and the need to lower energy wastage and emissions has led to a greater emphasis being placed on sustainability across the IML supply chain, from the use of recyclable materials and

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resins derived from renewable resources, to the efficiency of the machinery. As such, the report reveals that many vendors are increasing their investment in the development of eco-friendly label products and are promoting their environmental sustainability.

Among the key market players identified as taking the lead in IML, the report shines the spotlight on EVCO Plastics, Inland Label and Marketing Services LLC, Innovia Films Ltd and Vibrant Graphics, while looking at other prominent members of the market such as Avery Dennison, CBW Automation, Multi-Color, Netstal, Smyth Companies, CCL Industries, StackTeck, Transilwrap, UPM Raflatac and WS Packaging Group. The global IML market is divided into applications, end-users and geography as three separate markets.

The report has been prepared based on in-depth market analysis with input from industry experts. The report covers Europe, North and South America, the Asia-Pacific region and the rest of the world. Global InMold Labels Market 2015-2019 also covers the Global IML market landscape and its prospects over the coming years, as well as how trends such as labelling, thin-wall packaging and 360-degree graphics are affecting the market.

Copies of the report can be ordered via http://www.sandlerresearch.org/ purchase?rname=34726.

PRINTING & DECORATING

APC helps KH Fo liotec up IML efficiency

Bulletin: Innovia’s Natureflex makes attractive kids’ health food

films for specialty packaging, Global leader in BOPP and cellulose shone a little sunshine on the graphics and labelling Innovia has colourful, all-natural NatureFlex children’s health food aisle with its osch, South Africa, selected lenb packaging film. KiddieKix of Stel dried fruit snacks for youngsters Innovia’s product for its cereals and als and attractiveness. NatureFlex thanks to its sustainability credenti rs offe packaging and converting ngth advantages such as high seal stre and l enta ronm envi , and integrity chemical resistance, enhanced printing properties and anti-static properties. Innovia Films’ Sales Account Manager Peter van Belle said: “We are delighted that we were able to assist KiddieKix in ns meeting their packaging aspiratio while enhancing shelf life and reducing waste.”

KraussMaffei’s adaptive process control (APC) machine function has been adopted

by KH Foliotec in the production of premium quality interior components with IML. APC evens out fluctuations in the injection moulding process, such as temperatu re changes that ca material and prod n affect the uction interruption s, by adapting an modifying the ch d continuously angeover point be tween pressing an pressure for each d holding individual shot by utilising online m the melt viscosity. easurement of The APC-enhanced injection moulding proved it adds va lue to the IML proc process has ess and KH Foliote manufacturer with c is just one an interest in main taining stability in injection moulding their IML and process. www.kraussmaff ei.com

www.innoviafilms.com

ches Avery Dennison laun Select Solutions rtfolio into

Vetroplas tubes impress at London event Vetroplas Packaging presented its attractive Easy Supply Tube (EST) range from tube manufacturing partner CTL Tuboplast at Luxury Packagin g London 2015 in September (16th-17th). The flexible tubes are prod uced using IML technology and are injection moulded in conjunction with a full-size label, offering numerous advantages for decoratio n when compared with extruded tubes, allowing for more intricate designs, sleeve coverage with no ‘lift off’ areas and effects such as metallic and matt finishes. “The EST tubes are manufactured using a revo lutionary new technique of in mould labelling, providing a compelli ng solution for our customers,” said Simon Dix, Sales Director for Vetroplas.

ions Po nched its Select Solut Avery Dennison has lau system allows label ing ell The innovative lab t. rke ort ma n ea rop Eu the anding technical supp re markets with outst g nin win a converters to reach mo ers ert e are giving label conv and service options. “W tor Select Solutions, ec Dir f, Ho erell Mu org combination,” said Ge his collection offers ials Group Europe. “T d Avery Dennison Mater x & Match service, an nstructions via our Mi t fas a ers ert nv 100,000 potential co co el olios that give lab rtf po c ifi ec -sp rs.” ion ne cat 15 appli s for brand ow ique labelling solution and simple route to un es, liners, facestocks siv he ad ble ila t among ava pot quotations Converters can selec -th demand, with on e-s on s ial ter ma red ee and engin . and full sales support verydennison.com www.a

www.vetroplas.com

BOPP film enables IML in thermoforming feel on par with injectionA new film for IML in thermoforming promises a look and tive surface that innova an es featur n Treofa list moulded products. BOPP specia temperatures lower at lm fi label and ing oform therm of enables stable fusing sed without harnes be to g and pressures, allowing the benefits of deep drawin es well to deepattach logy techno e surfac l compromising on quality. Treofan’s specia visible join near-in a in ng resulti ions condit ing oform therm l drawn films under norma between container and label.

www.treofan.com

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PRINTING & DECORATING

Giving lacquer a polished look Caparol’s new lacquer line was always going to require top-shelf packaging, which is why the brand selected Verstraete’s innovative Matt IML and Metallic IML technology.

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erstraete IML's trademark polished finish is a match made in heaven for Caparol's new lacquer line. The quality brand chose Verstraete's crisp IML technology that combines Matt IML and Metallic IML in an innovative and striking way, clearly identifying Caparol as a top shelf brand.

IML packaging was a no-brainer for Caparol, who selected this option not only for its lower cost compared to the alternative, traditional metal bucket, but for its greater aesthetic scope and environmental credentials, as the packaging and label are made from the same material and can therefore be fully recycled.

"Choosing IML therefore offers a win-win situation for both the customer and for us, the manufacturers," said Per Törnqvist, Marketing Manager DAW Nordic AB. "When launching our brand new lacquer series," he continued, "it was crucially important for us to stand out from our competitors and other enamel paints. That is precisely why we opted for labels with a Matt IML + Metallic IML combination.

"We are launching on the market our new line of lacquers as a premium product.

That is why we opted for sober, modest artwork that radiates prestige and quality – a perfect match for Caparol’s image! We use this pitch black background in Matt IML for all covering products in the series. For the varnishes, we have opted for a snow white background in Matt IML - a white canvas against which we highlight the differences. In both product series, the contrasting Metallic accents in the design sharply highlight the differences between the products."

DAW Nordic AB, Jokey Group and Verstraete IML collaborated with each other on this project.

Jens Uellner of the Purchase Department of the Jokey Group, said: "A thorough knowledge of materials, advanced research and quality control have made Verstraete IML the world’s leading supplier of IML labels. Thanks to their high quality, IML labels always have optimal workability." www.verstraete-iml.com

Belgium cracks open world’s first print-to-PET beer bottles Beer lovers of Belgium are enjoying a world first: beer bottles decorated with Direct Print Powered by KHS technology The digitally-decorated Dagschotel PET beer bottles printed by Martens Brouwerij.

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he world’s first Direct Print Powered by KHS system using Xaar 1002 printheads is now in industrial-scale production and printing directly onto PET beer bottles in Belgium.

The Direct Print system has been pioneered by KHS, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of filling and packaging systems, with KHS subsidiary NMP Systems managing its commercialisation. The Direct Print equipment currently being used at Martens Brouweij makes use of Xaa1 1002 GS6 printheads to jet high-resolution text and graphics in five colours using low-migration LED-cured inks directly onto PET bottles at a production rate of 12,000 bottles per hour.

“Direct printing onto empty PET bottles using Xaar 1002 greyscale printheads is breakthrough technology that enables beverage companies to change graphics within minutes instead of weeks,” said Phil Johnson, Managing Director of NMP. “The use of digital technologies for micro-marketing in the packaging sector to maximise consumer engagement is accelerating. Brand owners are looking for deeper consumer engagement and digital printing will make it a reality.

The Direct Print Powered by KHS performance system, including certified lowmigration ink, artwork and pre-press solutions, sampling and industrial printing, will move PET bottle decoration into the filling and packaging world on an industrial scale.”

The Direct Print system jets graphics up to 70 mm in height onto bottles ranging from 40-125 mm in diameter with fast, automatic changeover from one bottle size to another when required. Modular in design the Direct Print Powered by KHS system is available in configurations of 12,000, 24,000 or 36,000 bottles per hour.

Martens is an innovative brewery and one of the first companies to launch beer in PET bottles.

Opting for PET over glass has its advantages; they are safe, strong, flexible, light and easy to transport and recycle. Bottles printed by the Direct Print Powered by KHS system are certified for recycling by the European PET Bottle Platform and the Direct Print low-migration decoration application for PET is certified for food safety.

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Close up of a carousel station on the Direct Print Powered by KHS system.

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COLOUR MANAGEMENT

Communicating in colour Plastics Color Corporation launched its exciting Colors Now smartphone app this summer, giving customers a choice beyond the traditional chip-request route. EPPM wanted to learn more about how this technology has been received and what Plastics Color has in store for the next version.

Words | Rose Brooke

P

lastics Color Corporation's innovative Colors Now app was launched into the tablet and smartphone market in June of this year. Three months on and the developers have already been making upgrades to this nifty piece of technology, which promises to "take the guesswork out of the colour development process".

But who is using this app and how does it measure up to the traditional colour selection process? Marketing Manager at Plastics Color Sarah Skidmore sees Colors Now as more of a complementary than disruptive addition to the colour management and selection process.

"We wanted to allow our customers to have a way to select their colour and communicate exactly what that colour is to our lab so we're all speaking about the same colour. One person's lime green might not be the same as another person's so this allows us to better communicate exactly what colour the customer is after," she explained.

Future features App users can browse Plastics Color's ready-stored library of hundreds of colour formulations, or they can use the NODE + Chroma technology to scan physical objects for an exact Chroma code. This information is then made available to the experts at Plastics Color for almost instant colour matching and development.

"We're definitely leading the industry in this. This is an app that no other plastics organisation has released with this functionality and we're pretty excited about it," Skidmore stated.

Among Colors Now's existing features are the ability to store pallets and pictures within the app, and the function to request samples and plastic chips from the Plastics Color lab, streamlining the colour selection process.

New functions and features that are 'coming soon' to the Colors Now app, which according to Skidmore is being continually upgraded, include the ability for users to share pallets with their colleagues and

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friends via social media, as well as integrating Plastics Color's Color Report on trends in the marketplace into the app.

"Our Color Report reflects the Color Trending research that we do, and that's something that down the line we will also integrate with the app for our customers - that's something we're actively working on," said Skidmore.

Trend-aware Marketing and branding competition grows ever more feverish, with countless studies indicating what consumers identify with and remember.

Trends, branding identity and the time of year influence what colours a customer might select and Skidmore explained that by offering as wide a range of tools as possible to guide customers through their colour selection process, Plastics Color is simplifying what used to be a time consuming process.

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PET

Passion Week 2015 NUREMBERG, GERMANY

09-12 NOVEMBER

"You now have the resource to pull colours into pallets and save them and reference them and use that information as a working visual that integrates the technology that's available," Skidmore said.

2015 CONFERENCE 09-10 NOVEMBER

Colors Now came about as a logical next step for Plastics Color, whose innovations are borne out of a healthy mix of listening to their customers' needs and home-grown creativity. Plastics Color's customers come to the company for its expertise and knowledge of how pigments work and pallet combinations, and the advent of smartphones and tablet technology is both evolving and supporting how Plastics Color has been doing business for 50 years.

www.petnology.com

"Colour trending and colour development information is something that is requested of us by our customer base all the time and there was plenty we already did to help our customers in this way, but the one thing missing was the technology that would allow us to help communicate and speed up that whole process, " Skidmore explained.

"This is just another tool that that we can use to communicate colour and help be of service to our customer base."

Death of the chip book?

Plastics Color is growing from strength to strength as a champion of colour in the worldwide plastics industry and the recent expansion of its Chicago facility will now complement its North Carolina operations as the Midwestern colour production hub, helping to speed up its service to customers beyond the efficiency of the app.

PET AT BRAUBEVIALE 10-12 NOVEMBER

"We remain committed to investing in our Chicago facility by expanding the colour capacity and retooling our equipment and machinery," said President Joe Byrne when the expansion was announced at the beginning of September.

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www.petpassionweek.com

Investment and the introduction of new technologies and products is very positive from a business point of view, but a half-centuryold company such as Plastics Color has a loyal client base, many of whom have happily requested chip books without issue for decades.

So does the introduction of Colors Now and digital technologies mean the end of the old chip-book-in-the-post routine for the more traditionally-minded customers of Plastics Color? Skidmore does not believe so.

INFORMATION PARTNER

SUPPORTED BY

"A lot of our customers still request specific chip books but some of our customer base is more interested in the digital arena and they don't necessarily want the chips, so it's just another avenue that allows us to facilitate an interest in colour and understand our customers' colour needs. It's another valuable method but instead of being limited to book samples we now have a digital way of communicating," she concluded. www.plasticscolor.com

PETnology/tecPET GmbH | Regensburg, Germany Phone: +49 941 870 23 74 | Fax: +49 941 870 23 73 info@petnology.com

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Sensorsysteme GmbH

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COLOUR MANAGEMENT

Hotspot safety tech prevents scalds LCR Hallcrest has been working with Insight Medical Products Ltd on the development of their range of safety Hotspot products for use in bath water.

The colour-changing thermochromic plastic safety Hotspot rings have been developed using LCR Hallcrest’s latest thermochromic materbatch and have been designed to highlight overly hot water temperatures. By changing colour at specified temperatures they inform and warn the user in a visual way.

Gilly Beaumont, Marketing Manager, at LCR Hallcrest, said: "Safety is always an issue, particularly with the young and elderly and these superb safety devices which are very visual and easy to use and understand, communicate the message well."

The Hotspot Scald Warning Devices offer an excellent visual aid to provide a safe check to ensure the bath or basin water is not at dangerously hot temperatures which may cause scalding. Hotspots ensure a fast visual check to ensure safety, which is particularly important for both the elderly and infants, whose skins are more susceptible to burning.

Consumers are directed to place the Hotspot in the water before getting into a bath and if it turns from its dormant safe 'purple' state to its vivid 'pink' warning, then water is too hot and could be very uncomfortable or dangerous for the bather.

Hotspot Warning Devices can be used repeatedly and represent superb safety value.

HALL A4 STAND A4-4105

The Hotspots have been developed in a range of four temperatures: 34°C for babies or frail skin, 27°C for children and adults, 41°C for hotter baths and 27°C for sinks and hand basins. www.lcrhallcrest.com

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COLOUR MANAGEMENT

Colloids harnesses temperature and tyre waste With its new products Colloids Cool2Touch and Colloids PyroBlack, the Makers of Masterbatch is bringing more light- and weather-resistant and waste-conscious innovations to market.

C

olloids is bringing two colour products to Fakuma 2015, showcasing how the Makers of Masterbatch have harnessed tyre waste and even the sun’s rays to bring new innovations to the international marketplace: Colloids Cool2Touch and Colloids PyroBlack.

Colloids Cool2Touch

Colloids PyroBlack

When surfaces are exposed to direct sunlight, the heat build-up can vary tremendously depending on what colour they are, with dark colours retaining heat much more readily than the lighter shades.

Colloids has also announced a new range of black masterbatch called Colloids PyroBlack, which incorporates carbon black made from tyre pyrolysis.

While the brightest white might reflect up to 70 per cent of the sun’s rays, black would struggle to reflect more than five per cent.

This often means darker colours are eschewed in applications where heat build-up is of concern and other, sometimes less attractive shades, are utilised.

Tyre pyrolysis is considered to be one of the most environmentally friendly ways of disposing of waste tyres. The method involves burning tyres under critically controlled conditions to produce carbon black pigment. Additional valuable resources are also recovered, including oil, gas and steel. There is no ash or waste residue to be sent to landfill.

Colloids has developed a solution, as a black formula from the Colloids Cool2touch range can significantly reduce surface temperature.

The driving principle behind this new development is to help remove the millions of tonnes of used tyres that have created waste mountains blighting the environment all over the world.

As well as an off-the-shelf standard black grade, Colloids Cool2Touch is available in bespoke shades of black and other colours and is formulated to reduce the surface temperature of polyethylene, polypropylene, ABS, PS, polyamide PC/ABS and many other polymers.

It is estimated that over 1.5 billion new tyres are produced each year and this figure is expected to increase significantly as China and other regions continue to develop further. The need to find effective ways of disposing of these tyres as they reach end life is something the global marketplace is working to achieve. As an ISO 14001 accredited company, and a company committed to playing its part through social and environmental responsibility, Colloids is keen to do its bit.

Applications that can benefit from this cooling effect technology include dashboards, plastic wood composite decking, plastic pipes, swimming pool covers, garden furniture, stadium seating and any other exterior or near-window application where a heating-up effect could be a potential problem or concern.

Colloids Cool2Touch formulations are weather- and light-fast even when exposed to the most extreme climates where the levels of near infrared radiation (NIR) are at their highest, and the colours will not readily fade.

Another advantage of using a masterbatch from the Colloids Cool2Touch range is in the improved resistance to thermal degradation of the base polymer. Polymer degradation occurs on exposure to heat over time. Using Colloids Cool2Touch masterbatches, the surface temperature can be reduced by up to 50 per cent - leading to less product degradation and therefore a prolonged useful life span.

Other attributes that are assured in masterbatches selected from the Colloids Cool2Touch range are their excellent heat stability up to 350°C, chemical resistance, non-migration and mouldability, without warping.

Colloids is collaborating with several companies involved in tyre pyrolysis to develop a range of Colloids PyroBlack masterbatches suitable for colouring a wide range of polymers for a variety of end applications. And following successful laboratory trials, Colloids will be carrying out larger scale production.

By combining the tyre pyrolysis grades with polymers derived from non fossil fuel based polymers or even 100 per cent recycled polymers, Colloids’ aim is to produce a range of the greenest carbon black masterbatches ever developed with the lowest possible carbon footprint. From the work already carried out, Colloids can confirm the grades will have a good black appearance and good covering power.

The Colloids PyroBlack masterbatch range will initially be aimed at the injection moulding and blow moulding markets where food contact is not required. Selected grades will also be attractive to recycling companies to provide black colouration of mixed coloured polymers and to increase the recycled content of these materials. www.colloids.co.uk

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Movacolor launches new dosing concept

COLOUR MANAGEMENT

Bulletin

Movacolor recently launched its MCHybrid Blender: a cross-over between a batch blender and in-line dosing combining the benefits of both systems offering customers ‘the best of two worlds’. Two main components are blended in an ultra compact batch blender with a maximum capacity of 350 kg/h, allowing accurate mixing of two main materials or a main material and a regrind in any ratio. The colour or additives are finally added in-line to achieve maximum accuracy and easy colour change as is usual with in-line dosing systems.

Also liquids and (non-free-flowing) powders can be added in this way.

The MCHybrid Blender currently handles up to four components, two in-batch and two in-line and is a 100 per cent gravimetric system. The control of the total system is via an 8” full colour touch screen with simple operating menu and full recipe functionality.

Finke colour app comes to smartphones

Finke’s PAN-Finder colour app has landed in smartphones, helping even mor e plastics processors identify the right colour for their PE and PP plastics. The free app helps those who use the Pantone colour system for selecting masterbatches. The PAN -Finder is available for both Android and iOS smartphones at Goo gle Play in the App Store. The app contains all Finke recipe numbers of the continuously growing number of masterbatches that have been developed in accordance with Pantone references. It is also possible to create an individual colour with the in-app mixing pale tte before determining its Pantone number. Once the user finds the colo ur they want, the search function will show them Pantone num ber, Finke colour number and masterbatch properties.

www.movacolor.com

Silvergate ups capacity

www.finke-colors.eu

EOS founder is business angel to DyeMansion EOS founder Dr Hans Langer is furthering his mission to bring colour to laser-sintered plastics by taking on a partnership in a young Munich-based organisation as a business angel and shareholder. DyeMansion’s technology, Langer hopes, will help bring fresh shades to laser sintering, which he believes will add value to and further develop the additive manufacturing technology.

DyeMansion’s unique colouring technology reduces the yellowing effect common in laser-sintered parts with its UV-stable and solventresistant colours. Parts can be coloured in eight shades, polished and waterproofed within two working days.

British masterbatch manufact urer Silvergate Plastics has announced it has invested in a new line and will be giving its produc tion facility in Wrexham an upgrade in ord er to meet rising demand, par ticularly as the popularity of its Sim plyWhite and Optiblo produc ts grows.

Silvergate hopes to boost its annual turnover from £10 mil lion (€13.5 million) to £18 million by the end of the year. Manag ing Director Tony Bestall said: “Sil vergate has always been at the forefront of the market for innovation and we focus on identifying products that will support the needs of our clients. Due to the success of [SimplyWhite and Optiblo], we have had to increase our line capacity to accommodate the needs of our existing client base and that of recently acquired accounts.”

www.eos.info

www.silvergate.co.uk

4 Hall B 402 4 Stand

www.colloids.com

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+44 (0) 151 546 9222

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29

FILM & SHEET

AMUT DOLCI BIELLONI brings nextgen stretch film machines

AMUT DOLCI BEILLONI has developed and presented an exciting new generation range of stretch film machines following the Dolci Beilloni/ Amut merger earlier this year.

The systems have been showcased at PLAST 2015 and Ipack Ima and received a positive reception. AMUT's great experience in the production of extrusion technologies has marked a sweeping change in the manufacturing of conventional extrusion concept of stretch film cast lines, with attendees at the company's Open House in May attesting to a constant production speed of 750 m/min.

The main innovations of the new system are the water-cooled motors in the extruder, the high-speed winder, its compact design and low energy consumption. The extruders are equipped with water-cooled motors and gearboxes with an oil cooling system (forced circulation) and long screws (L/D 40) to increase homogenisation and output. There is a cooling unit with a high diameter double cylinder which has been especially designed for the production of Super Power film and the highspeed winder works at a constant production speed of 800 m/min, providing excellent quality and precise geometry. Its compact design, which covers a total floor area of 121 sq m for both the 2 and 3 m versions is ideal for the modern factory floor, while the machinery is capable of producing film at an extremely low thickness (10 my).

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quantec ® 85 G3-14 C

Scrap recovery is achieved by introducing the fluff on one side of the extruder through a 'cold' system, without any contamination. A special filtering system guarantees dust-free fluff collection; during the start-up the fluff is stored in a dedicated silo and afterwards recovered in-line during the process.

Economical PVC compounding redefined BUSS Kneader series quantec ® G3

The layout of the extruders has been optimised, with all the extruders and the relevant screen changers mounted parallel one to each other, for an important space optimisation but also for an easier maintenance and change procedure of the screen changers.

The specialists in heat and shear sensitive compounding are setting new benchmarks for quality and productivity. quantec ® G3 – an ongoing success story in the third generation > More cost effective due to increased throughput > More flexible due to a larger process window > Improved plant availability due to minimal product changeover times

The line is equipped with a double work station with touch screen. The operator can easily chose to work in the chill roll area or near the winder.

All the parameters to be checked are indicated on the display of both workstations and include a very sophisticated troubleshooting system.

Before being unloaded, each roll is weighed to check if it fits with the pre-set parameters. The discrepancies are reported and the line will be automatically reset.

Buss AG Switzerland www.busscorp.com

13394_262_Buss_EPPM_2015_E_164x235.indd 1

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www.amutgroup.com

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30.06.15 16:12

FILM & SHEET

ilm boosts Reifenhäuser Blown F barrier quality & flexibility in film production

so are the rier film is growing and Global demand for bar barrier packaging perties in high-quality requirements for film pro ing to market nd po res ser Blown Film is applications. Reifenhäu ayer blown film line, flexible and efficient 11-l demand with its highly d costly laminating. for time-consuming an which removed the need e developed a screw hav e Weichmann said: “W lf Ra ger na Ma ct du Pro ndle almost every that can effortlessly ha design for our extruders ry polyolefin type and eve hout wit ial ter ma raw r rie bar ne.” chi ma modification of the llycia spe the , Furthermore Ultra developed EVOLUTION h hig Flat haul-off ensures t, fas d an y winding qualit smooth processing. m www.reifenhauser-bf.co

KM Packagin g lau a-peel-ing film nches

European pack aging champi on KM Packag its KPeel rang ing Services ha e of lidding film s extended sw targeted at th e healthcare an ith an innovative new produc d elderly marke t brands. KPeel ts, and superm WF1N is a dura arket ble lidding film thickness. The of 29 or 43 m film has been icrons designed to pr failures, thus re event breakage ducing wastage s and seal and spoilage. a cold peel with As well as ensu out sharding th ring e new film facilit ates a stressfree hot peel m aking it suitable for the elderly and in firm, as fell as for ca tering packs. www.kmpack aging.com

Acquisition dubbed ‘game changer’ for blown film Davis-Standard has announced the acquisition of blown film leader Gloucester Engineering, welcoming the company’s strong design and process engineering capabiliti es into its own blown film offering .

Both firms have grown as respecte d names in the business for 50 years and now Davis-Standard cust omers, together with customers of Gloucester can now access mar ket-leading blown film technology and aftermarket services under one roof. “Both companies have a reputation for strong people and strong brands. This is going to be a game changer in the global blown film market.

We look forward to delivering the very best the industry has to offer,” said Carl Johnson, Vice-President of Sales, Gloucester Engineering. www.davis-standard.com

ed W&H Machinery award for energy efficiency ayer

in 3- 9-l VAREX blown film lines All W&H OPTIMEX and ciency certificate effi y n awarded the energ bee e hav s ion rat gu fi con ing data on different the difficulty of compar from TÜV Süd. Due to ponents of a focused on individual com lines, previous studies ies of blown ser te the first time a comple blown film line. This is consumption y erg en its been audited on film extrusion lines has gy” in energy “best available technolo and been awarded the

by TÜV Süd. The ncy efficie LEX VISTAFLEX and MIRAF e hav s sse flexographic pre ed ard aw n bee o been als d TÜV certificates. TÜV Sü W t tha tes certification sta tely & H machinery comple ncy cie effi y erg en the meets requirements. www.whcorp.com

cognised ATI & Profile Plastics re ion for twin sheet innovat rming in

ofo s and Associates Therm Ohio-based Profile Plastic their twin sheet for E SP the by ed recognis Connecticut have been ision annual Div al SPE Thermoforming innovations at the annu Profile Plastics er. mb pte Se anta, Georgia, in parts competition in Atl gnostic machine’ ‘Air Duct for medical dia was recognised for its while the silver the Twin Sheet category, entry, scooping gold in ice’. “Over 30 dev ct du to ATI’s ‘Medical air nt we ze pri eet Sh in Tw etition and the this year’s Parts Comp parts were submitted to d with the quality ision is extremely please SPE Thermoforming Div n, 2015 Parts aga O’H missions,” said Matt and quantity of the sub Competition Chair. “We r expanded the size of ou the on a are n itio pet com parts e dat mo show floor to accom all sm d an ge lar the volume of ed eiv rec we t tha s trie parts en this year.” vision.com www.thermoformingdi

EVA foils now on AMUT solar lines AMUT’s solar lines are now producing EVA foils with the of maximum light assurance transmission, zero shrinkage or defo great capacity to rmation and achieve cross-link ing, while meetin 50086 certificate g TÜV or CEI EN s requirements. EV A (Ethylene-Vinyl-A type of material pr cetate) is the oduced with AMUT ’s extrusion foil lin especially reserved e and it is for the productio n of solar-photovolta ic panels. EVA foil protects the ph otovoltaic cell, encapsulating an d wrapping the silicon cells, and en ables a perfect sealing and a hig h adherence with the outer glass sheet and with the back sheet (lower layer ). The foil has a width from 1050 mm up to 2100 mm, with a thickness range from 0.3 to 0.8 m m. www.amutgroup .com

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BLOW MOULDING

Intelliblower technology raises the bar for quality Leading global provider of PET solutions for liquid packaging Sidel is behind the recently-developed Intelliblower. EPPM asked the experts just how this innovation is raising standards for quality in blow moulding.

Words | Damien Fournier, Blowing Product Management Director

S

idel, the leading global provider of PET solutions for liquid packaging, has recently developed Intelliblower technology, a significant innovation which brings control and self-regulation to the blow moulding process. The patented technology ensures greater accuracy in distribution of material during the production of individual bottles, with the elimination of inconsistencies resulting in improved quality, regardless of bottle weight.

Bottle quality affects brand perception The blow moulding process is becoming increasingly important as the drive for ultimate lightweighting of PET bottles within the industry continues.

Poor or irregular material distribution within the production of bottles can adversely affect quality throughout the entire process and can even lead to a total shutdown of the line.

Because the appearance and handling of the bottle is what ultimately affects how any brand is perceived, Sidel is continually striving to create the highest quality and performance possible in PET bottles. With the new Sidel Matrix blower, Sidel is challenging

the conventions of production and manufacturers can rest assured that their beverage brand will consistently appear on the shelves exactly as they intended. With the introduction of Intelliblower, Sidel is also leading the way in blow moulding performance with this unique patented blowing process control and self-regulation system.

Embedded intelligence enables improved quality Prior to Intelliblower, quality control for PET bottle blowing involved frequent sampling and laboratory testing of bottles. This was then followed by manual adjustments to the process. The procedure is lengthy and considerably reduces line efficiency.

More importantly though, it does not completely remove the possibility that a number of bottles may still be produced outside accepted tolerances.

By controlling parameters of the preblow phase that strongly impact final material distribution instead of simply focusing on regulation of heating, the

Sidel Intelliblower uses PET material optimally and cost efficiently. It is therefore able to have a higher impact on production uniformity and packaging quality, irrespective of the weight of the bottle being produced.

Self-regulating, the Intelliblower system automatically detects and corrects process deviations on the shape of each bottle being blown, adapting to maintain an even material distribution with only the most minor variations.

This ensures that every milligram of PET is correctly allocated. With control of this level combined with the packaging expertise and process capability of the Sidel Intelliblower, waste is reduced and excellent PET lightweighting potential is possible, even with recycled material (R-PET).

A very responsive process correction Inconsistencies of material distribution within the bottles are usually caused through incorrect blowing pressures of individual blowing stations, by

inaccurate component calibration or through wear and tear of mechanical components. The self-regulation of Sidel's Intelliblower avoids these deviations by analysing and controlling the blowing curve on each individual bottle. This produces accurate and consistent distribution with a closed loop on each blowing curve and adjustment of critical points during the pre-blow phase. This process regulation is managed in a responsive way by using decentralised and more responsive automation that allows faster and better exchange of information. As a result, only five consecutive bottles are produced at a blowing station before the necessary correction is validated. This selfregulation means far less sampling, testing and adjusting for producers, along with increased bottle quality.

Simple self-regulation of the blowing curve Sidel Intelliblower is designed to be user-friendly. Its operation is based on continuous and automatic process regulation without the need for any manual intervention. This regulation is applied in three areas: pre-blow start, pre-blow flow and pressure.

The line operator defines the blowing process that matches the technical specifications of the desired bottle continued overleaf >

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As a whole, the Sidel Matrix blower is reducing the amount of maintenance and manual operations required, while lowering labour and control costs significantly. shape and these parameters are used to define the pre-blow reference curve. Then the real blowing curve is systematically self-monitored at each blowing station during actual production of the bottles.

If blowing deviates from the reference curve, a correction is automatically implemented.

Finally, referenced and real blowing process phases are aligned in terms of pre-blow timing (start and duration) and the pressure at all the blowing stations. This continuous regulation is performed on every bottle to ensure each one consistently meets the necessary specification. With Sidel’s Intelliblower, the standard deviation of material distribution between different blowing stations can be halved when compared to a machine without self-regulation.

A perfect way to anticipate maintenance Through the Human Machine Interface (HMI) of the Sidel Matrix blower, process values of individual blowing stations are recorded, along with dedicated graphs. This gives operators a comprehensive overall picture of the process performance. It also alerts them to any potential inconsistencies, indicating those stations where any bottles are being blown outside accepted tolerances. They are therefore able to easily identify malfunctioning stations and plan any necessary maintenance in order to minimise impact on production. Even if maintenance is deemed necessary, production generally still remains viable. As a whole, the Sidel Matrix blower is reducing the amount of maintenance and manual operations required, while lowering labour and control costs significantly.

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With Sidel Intelliblower, beverage producers are able to enjoy improved bottle quality due to higher blow moulding performance along with an increased insight into the operation of their production equipment. Put even more simply, they will benefit from greater package consistency and subsequently, better brand value. www.sidel.com

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Moving industry ahead

35

BLOW MOULDING

Is 3D printing the future of blow moulding prototyping?

Stratasys via Flickr

Additive manufacturing could present a cost-effective alternative for developers producing blow moulding prototypes - and Stratasys has the expertise to make it work.

Blow moulding may be an efficient means of producing bottles and containers quickly and cheaply, but producing prototypes for blow moulding is slow and costly. In the past blow moulding companies have had to avoid prototyping due to the amount of money and time the process demands, but 3D printing using inkjet-based technology and FDM (fused deposition modelling) offers an opportunity to prototype blow-moulded products faster and at a lower cost.

With FDM, developers can design a mould, build a tool and blow mould almost production-quality prototypes and as the technology has advanced, finished products benefit from a smoother surface

finish, improved durability and build speed, and lower cost.

One container manufacturer approached Stratasys to help them reduce both cost and development time in producing blow-moulded prototypes. The goal was to prototype near-production quality parts in five days rather than seven weeks at as low a cost as feasible.

The company selected a 152mm-tall, 76mm-diameter bottle for the pioneering project. Using Fortus PC material for the tool cavity and a machined aluminium mould base, the bow mould was designed and built in just two days with just minor changes to the tool

design and moulding process. The bottle was blow moulded in BP Solvay Fortiflex HP 58, a high-density polyethylene. The entire process was completed in under five days and the moulded prototypes met the criteria for near-production quality. When compared with traditional prototyping for blow moulding, in this case following the usual route would have cost the company $800 (€713.7, £516.20), but 3D printing with FDM technology only cost $350 - a saving of 56 per cent. Even more incredibly, the traditional prototyping method was estimated to take 10 days, while the additive manufacturing alternative took just two, slashing prototyping time by 80 per cent. www.stratasys.com

Davis-Standard relocates blow moulding business Davis-Standard has relocated its blow moulding business to Fulton, New York. The expansion supports the company’s on-going efforts to achieve cost-efficient manufacturing and excellent customer service.

Davis-Standard has relocated its blow moulding business to Fulton, New York, to a new facility near its existing site in the area. The move has been made possible by a lease agreement with Universal Metal Works (UMW) and a grand opening celebration hosted by Davis-Standard and UMW will be held on October 2nd 2015.

Floyd Backes, Davis-Standard’s Director of Operations for New York and New Jersey, said: “The UMW facility is exactly what we needed in terms of space and location. We are grateful for their helping us make the Fulton expansion a reality.

This enables us to relocate our blow moulding business ... supporting on-going efforts to achieve cost effective manufacturing and superior customer service.”

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The 20,000 sq ft facility housing Davis-Standard’s blow moulding manufacturing is nearing completion and will be fully functional in the coming weeks. In addition to housing Davis-Standard, UMW will be using another part of this facility to accommodate its growing business.

“This has been a win-win for both of our companies and for Fulton’s economy.

It’s an example of a collaborative effort between two industry leaders that makes sense for our manufacturing operations and our customers. We look forward to giving tours during the grand opening,” added John Sharkey, VicePresident of UMW.

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BLOW MOULDING

Blow-moulded container market ‘to reach 67.9 MMT by 2020’ The blow-moulded container market is predicted to hit the 6.79 MMT (million metric tonnes) mark by 2020.

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This is according to a fresh report from Research and Markets, which revealed some 50.1 MMT of plastic containers were produced in 2014 with the rate of manufacturing climbing at a CAGR of 5.2 per cent between now and 2020, rising from $273.15 billion (€238.84 billion) in 2014 to an estimated $388.35 billion in 2020, when the CAGR will rise to six per cent.

Really?

The report includes containers manufactured by all blow moulding processes, including extrusion blow moulding, injection blow moulding and stretch blow moulding in materials including PET, PP, LDPE and HDPE. Beverage production in the US and Europe, lays claim to the largest share of the global container market pie with a 40-45 per cent slice, but pharmaceuticals in the emerging markets is playing an increasingly important role, with a 22 per cent share. End-use industries such as healthcare and bottle water and increasing their plastics production and is also identified as a wealth generator. In total, food and beverage containers account for 50-55 per cent of the global plastics bottle market.

Brands seeking to reduce their carbon footprint are having an affect on the industry as well. On the one hand, while paper packaging products such as tetra packs are substituting plastics in some cases, plastics are becoming the sustainable option in the cosmetics industry, replacing glass which is more expensive to transport, thereby slashing fuel wastage.

To access the full report, go to: http:// www.researchandmarkets.com/ research/227kfd/global_plastic

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Fakuma 2015 The 24th Fakuma brings the best in plastics processing from 35 industrialised nations all in one place and we are excited to have given you a glimpse of what’s in store over our two printed previews thanks to the 63 companies that shared their news with us - with even more featuring on eppm.com.

An exhibitor’s eye view: Ampacet at Fakuma 2015 Ampacet is making its third appearance at Fakuma in Friedrichshafen this October and the global leader in masterbatch, specialised additives and process aids has plenty up its sleeve. Senior Marketing & Communications Coordinator Caroline Scheydecker shared a little of what Ampacet has in store before the doors to Messe Friedrichshafen open.

“Ampacet has exhibited at Fakuma over the past two years and will exhibit this year on the back of the success we have encountered in the past,” she said. “Fakuma has always been a very busy and exciting

exhibition for us bringing new potential customers, contacts and new trends from the market that are very beneficial to our business.”

month, as it will be bringing the familiar vibrant and colourful trappings that have become the company’s trademark.

Fakuma offers Ampacet a good snapshot of the European plastics processing market as a whole, but the business feels the wealth of intelligence the company gleans from its week on Bodensee predominantly concerns Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as the wider moulding segment.

“We want to send out a message that tells the world that we are not a masterbatch producer that just sells black, white and additives - which many people believe - we also have a huge range of colours and effects from satins and pearlescent, to metallic and pastels. Ampacet works with a broad palette of pigments to provide the most aesthetically unique range of custom colours and special effects, and of course incorporating the functional

Ampacet’s stand is likely to attract visitors from every corner of the plastics processing market this

additives that the final product requires.”

To match its striking stand, Ampacet has a clear message for its 2015 Fakuma exhibition, growth without losing the ‘local touch’ that has been the key to its success.

“Ampacet wants to remain close to its strategic markets and the company wants to support the growth of its customers and satisfy their needs to the best of the company’s ability.

The team is looking for a lot of customers with new projects and new opportunities,” she added.

3M

Albis

Beck Automation

3M and its subsidiary Dyneon are presenting innovative solutions for plastics processing at this year’s Fakuma. These include the 3M Glass Bubbles, a triedand-tested filler for lightweight materials, as well as the fluoropolymer based 3M Dynamar Polymer Processing Additives.

ALBIS PLASTIC GmbH’s Fakuma spotlight is on the four core industries: automotive, electrical and electronics, healthcare and packaging.

Glass Bubbles offer many advantages with regard to the processing and quality of the components and 3M customers have confirmed that the use of Glass Bubbles in the manufacture of engine covers can significantly reduce their weight. Another highlight at the fair will be the fluoropolymerbased processing additives for plastics processing: 3M Dynamar Polymer Processing Additives (PPAs). These are admixed to the polymer production in the extrusion process to prevent process defects such as die-build up or interfacial instability (shark-skin).

ALBIS will take advantage of Fakuma to determine trends in these core industries, launch collective projects and discuss cooperative efforts in the target markets together with its customers and partners. “Pioneering developments and consistent industry-specific market and business development form important pillars in our growth strategy.

This development work is flanked by our goal of offering customers all over the world the same quality standards in products and services in the field,” said Carsten W. Wörner, Chief Sales Officer at ALBIS PLASTIC.

Normally highly automated IML machines are configured specifically for particular applications to achieve optimal performance. If high levels of flexibility are required, this results in significant challenges when setting up these machines. Beck Automation is equipped for such challenges and is launching its latest Beck-Flex IML system in time for Fakuma.

Hall B4 | Stand 4406

Hall A3 | Stand 3105

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The Beck-Flex is a side-entry automated IML system designed for maximum flexibility and specifically targets short re-tooling times, a wide label, product or mould range and small to medium size production batches. Beck-Flex excels as a universal all-in-one solution to meet these very different production requirements. At Fakuma, the Beck-Flex shall be presented as a four cavity solution with a mould deploying hot runners from Otto Hofstetter AG. Beck will be joining Engel in Hall A5 Stand 5204.

Hall A5 | Stand 5204

Brabender

Cannon

At Fakuma, Brabender will show its torque rheometer Plastograph EC plus, which is used for applicational investigations or processing tasks in laboratories and simulation. It serves for testing the processibility of many different kinds of plastic and plastifiable materials under practiceoriented conditions, cost-effectively, reliably and with little expenditure of time and material. For these purposes, it records all relevant data, ie. torque, pressure, barrel and mass temperature as well as speed and time needed.

The Cannon Group will present its latest polyurethane and composites processing technologies at Fakuma, with a particular focus on automotive manufacturing solutions.

Brabender will also present its measuring mixer W50, which is representative for the broad range of measuring heads for the Plastograph EC plus. With Brabender measuring mixers, all processes like compounding, mixing, masticating, etc. that are relevant for production and processing of polymers and other plastic and plastifiable materials can be simulated on a laboratory scale.

Cannon is bringing its vacuum-based foaming technology, Cannon V.A.I. (Vacuum Assisted Injection) - a major achievement in the field of domestic refrigerators and sandwich panels to Fakuma, while there will also be new equipment for the conversion of existing polymerisation presses for discontinuous foaming of sandwich panels. The range of Cannon solutions for polyurethane and epoxy resin formulations dedicated to the automotive and transportation industries will be on show, with a particular focus on flexible seats, car interior parts and carbon fibre-reinforced components.

Hall A6 | Stand 6208

Hall 1 | Stand 1434

Ceramicx

Colloids

The Herschel - which will be on display at Fakuma - is the product of Ceramicx and Trinity College Dublin’s technology licensing agreement to build and market a test instrument to map invisible IR heat spectrum. The Herschel has immediate benefits to offer the world of plastics thermoforming – both for inline and cut sheet production. It utilises a robotic arm, linear stages, control and acquisition software and infrared heat flux sensors along with other instruments to map IR heat flux distribution in any system. Sensors, robotics, thermocouples, data acquisition and mathematical analysis software all work together in providing figures that give the thermoformer - and the designer of any industrial system – the wherewithal to optimise the energy demands in the system.

Colloids has announced further restructuring with the creation of the Colloids Europe Division in time for Fakuma 2015. Colloids Europe’s mission is to continue to develop its business strategy, which focuses on its expertise in engineering polymer application and the pressure pipe, film extrusion, and sheet extrusion sectors of the industry.

In addition Ceramicx is able to use the Herschel to design and create ever more bespoke IR heating systems for the needs of different thermoforming companies.

The company is also able to use the Herschel to measure and compare the performance of competitor heating systems.

Colloids innovations on show at Fakuma this year include: Colloids Cool2Touch, a range of specially formulated masterbatches designed to reflect solar energy, and Colloids PyroBlack which incorporates carbon black made from tyre pyrolysis, considered to be one of the best environmentally friendly ways of disposing of waste tyres.

Hall A2 | Stand 2206

Hall B4 | Stand 4402

ELASTO

ELIX Polymers

ELASTO Sweden, part of the HEXPOL TPE group, has expanded its range of Mediprene TPE compounds for plunger seals in single-use syringes. The new grades will be among the materials showcased at Fakuma. Mediprene grades are sterilisable with gamma, EtO and steam and representative grades have passed cytotoxicity tests according to ISO 10993-5 and biocompatibility tests according to USP Class VI. The Mediprene materials are latex free, which reduces the risk of allergic reactions. Mediprene TPEs are resistant to many fluids used in the healthcare environment.

ELIX Polymers, a leading specialist in ABS high performance materials, will demonstrate the benefits of the its superior tailor-made solutions for high quality thermoplastics applications at Fakuma.

Visitors can explore a mix of outstanding materials, service and support for the delivery of highly individual, value-added solutions for key industries. A highlight will be ELIX Polymers’ new generation ABS materials for automotive. This new range of high-heat ABS grades combines low emissions and high flowability, offering well balanced mechanical properties, low emission/odour, high heat resistance and excellent processability and paintability.

The Mediprene grades are available in a range of 43 to 73 Shore A hardness.

The TPE seal, which is mounted on the end of the plunger, needs to provide a leakproof seal with the syringe barrel, the Mediprene TPEs offer low compression set helping to maintain seal integrity.

ELIX Polymers has fully embraced sustainable production by focusing on reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. The company holds ISO 50001 certification for energy management and has adopted a systematic approach aimed at achieving continual improvement of its energy performance.

Hall B1 | Stand 1217

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Hall B4 | Stand 4402

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ELMET

ESC

ELMET’s eye is on precision at Fakuma 2015, as a high-resolution flow meter in the controlled supply of dyes and additives now makes it possible to determine dispensed volume with a resolution of 640,000 increments per litre.

Ready-made, standard machines are outdated the future is customised systems for decorating plastics products, says ESC, which forecasts that around 80 per cent of its machinery deliveries are individualised products and this trend towards customisation will be visible at Fakuma.

The new flow meter forms part of the control system of ELMET’s multicomponent dosing system TOP 3000 S, which is designed to maintain an unchanged mixing ratio over the entire drum content and to achieve a material yield of over 99 per cent. The TOP 3000 S boasts rugged and energy-efficient pneumatic drives and can be used with both 20 l and 200 l drums. Its maximum discharge rate is 2.5 l/min, with up to 10 per cent colourant added. It forms part of ELMET’s line-up of proprietary products which further includes fully automatic high-precision injection moulds, electronically adjustable valve gates for cold runner systems, as well as peripheral devices such as check valves, diving nozzles and screen adapters.

ESC and COMEC ITALIA’s shared booth will feature a cross section of screen, pad and digital printing systems to be used in plastics finishing as both standard and modified designs. The ESC-AT screen printing machines for flat, oval and round printing as well as the COMEC pad printing machines have been built so flexibly that they are able to be adopted to nearly every requirement by adding different feeding systems, automation units, dryers etc. They can be applied as single machines or as part of complete production lines.

Hall A5 | Stand 5306

Hall A1 | Stand 1403

FEDDEM

Friedr Freek

FEDDEM GmbH & Co. KG, manufacturer of co-rotating twin-screw extruders, will present its tried-and-tested FED 26 MTS extruders at Fakuma 2015.

At Fakuma 2015, heating element manufacturer Friedr Freek will focus on its miniaturisation successes. The German company supports the leading hot runner manufacturers in producing even more compact, precise and thus resource and energy efficient nozzles and hot runners. The special challenge faced by the market is the adherence to the high electric test standards self-imposed by Freek.

Even the tiny 1.0 x 1.6 mm Mini-MicroCoils resist 1000 V high voltage due to intensive developments together with suppliers, partner companies and research institutes and with almost 1GOhm insulation resistance they are above the required norm specifications by several powers of 10.

The FED 26 MTS is the smallest and most versatile parallel twin-screw extruder from FEDDEM. With the proper equipment, this extruder can be used for diverse process tasks from masterbatch production to small-scale manufacturing, to the production of highperformance polymers. The FED 82 MTS, the largest production extruder in the FEDDEM MTS series, is a new addition to the portfolio. With a screw diameter of 82 mm and an increased power density, this extruder is ideally suited to the manufacture of larger production batches of engineering plastics compounds.

For every compounding job, the manufacturer has just the right machine in its product range.

Hall A2 | Stand 2206

Hall A6 | Stand 6217

geba

GRAFE

geba Kunststoffcompounds will present its portfolio of engineering and high performance plastics at Fakuma, where it will advise on the possibilities of customproduced polymers in all colours. With over 1,500 colourations per year, geba has the expertise to colour plastics exactly to RAL, Pantone or HKS tones, or to colour match existing parts. Visitors will be able to view a selection of coloured materials which have been implemented in the automotive, sport and leisure, electronic and medical sectors.

The GRAFE Group of Blankenhain will be presenting two new product developments at Fakuma.

Alongside other products, the company will be introducing an electrically conductive and halogen-free, flame-retardant PP compound, with a volume resistivity or surface resistivity that is adjustable to suit the customers’ applications. Settings below 100 Ohm will also be possible. The second new development involves halogen-free flame-retardant polypropylene compounds, which are available for customers in any desired colour and have effective flameretardant properties to meet the requirements of flammability rating UL94 V-0 even for very thin walls.

The highlight of this year’s show is the Desmovit DP R CF which was jointly developed earlier this year by geba and Covestro, and which demonstrates extraordinary mechanical properties for a TPU. The thermoplastic polyurethane series is ideal for projectors, sports equipment applications, protective cases for tablets and smartphones and for use in durable housings for tools, watches and binoculars.

Hall B4 | Stand 4212

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Hall B5 | Stand 5306

Herbold Meckesheim

HRSflow

Herbold Meckesheim will be bringing the subjects of cost saving and recycling together at Fakuma 2015.

Energy and operation costs are decisive factors when plastics are recycled and it is the machine manufacturers who have been called upon to find new solutions.

At this year’s Fakuma, the Italian hot runner specialist HRSflow, represented by its German sales subsidiary HRSflow GmbH, Roßtal-

Herbold Meckesheim has done its homework and at Fakuma, will be presenting its new developments: the multi-material agglomerating Herbold Plastocompactor; the next-gen SB series of high-throughput granulators; the improved SMS series for heavy, thick-walled semi-finished products in PE, PP, POM and PA, pipes with high wall thicknesses and large purgings; and the Herbold oscillating shredder, which is capable of shredding extremely large pipes with lengths of up to 6m in one single step.

Developments from Herbold Meckesheim are ground-breaking. The wet grinding technique for granulators and many other recycling techniques that are state-ofthe-art and have been developed by Herbold.

Buchschwabach, will focus on high-performance hot runner systems both for the cascade injection moulding of large-format parts and for multi-cavity applications.

Members of the team will demonstrate the mode of action of the further developed FLEXflow technology, a servo-driven, finely regulated valve gate system. The latest development, which is being debuted at Fakuma, is the integration of FLEXflow into Moldflow simulation software. The HRSflow line, Multitech – which is now independent – will showcase among other things the use of the very latest technologies to shorten the cooling time in multi-cavity moulds.

Hall A2 | Stand 2217

Hall A6 | Stand 6502

Karl Finke

Kistler

Karl Finke GmbH will be showcasing its high quality colour solutions at Fakuma, including its FIBAPLAST, FIBASOL, FIBADUR and WUBALEN products.

Kistler will unveil its new ComoNeo process monitoring system at Fakuma. ComoNeo breaks new ground in the development of hardware as well as integrated monitoring software. Its new intuitive design sets new standards, with a display that is equipped with optimised touchbased operation. Users also benefit directly from the increased number of channel inputs on the ComoNeo: twice as many cavity pressure signals can now be recorded, so moulds with a large number of cavities can be connected. Likewise, the number of digital outputs is doubled, so more components can be evaluated individually.

FIBAPLAST masterbatches are developed precisely to the specifications of customers and are available in more than 200 colours from the RAL colour system. FIBASOL liquid dyes are suitable for transparent colours and have excellent temperature resistance, light-fastness and physiological safeness and can be combined with almost all thermoplastics, making them particularly suited for packaging. FIBADUR pastes are the colourant of choice for all applications or manufacturing processes that require special solutions. Individually adapted FIBADUR formulas can be used to colour plastics like PVC systems, polyurethanes, epoxy resins or unsaturated polyester resins. Finally, WUBALEN dry pigments one of the first product innovations Finke brought to market in the 1950s are suitable for all thermoplastic polymers and allow various special effects by means of special additives.

This system is ideal for quality-conscious companies that aim for systematic analysis and optimisation of their processes – and it is an excellent choice for firms that focus on the transparency of their injection moulding processes and comprehensive documentation of component quality.

Hall A4 | Stand 4208

Hall A3 | Stand 3104

Lindner reSource

Maag Automatik

At Fakuma, Lindner ReSource will introduce the new Apollo 1900; a high-capacity, highperformance addition to its range of versatile Apollo single shaft shredders.

Maag Automatik is presenting a revolutionary process for pelletising special engineering polymers at Fakuma 2015.

Optimized Temperature Pelletizing (OTP) is a new void-free approach to pelletise technical thermoplastics with Maag’s SPHERO underwater pelletising system. This new process can cover the entire process from plastic melt to finished high quality pellets.

Thanks to its extended rotor length of 1,900 mm, the system is specifically suitable for users who are handling high material volumes or for shredding largesized pieces or baled materials. Across all machine sizes of the entire Apollo series the rotor diameter is a uniform 370 mm. This facilitates the cost-effective shredding of varying product waste down to defined granulate sizes.

Lindner ReSource will be exhibiting its Apollo line-up on a shared stand with Lindner washTech, which will be presenting its portfolio as a manufacturer of turnkey washing systems for plastic recycling applications.

Another focal point in the booth is Maag’s new generation pump. The advanced developed pump can run at higher speeds without increased product temperature, due to its tremendous improvement in volumetric efficiency. In addition, the pressure building capability is vastly improved even at lower speed, increasing the minimum to maximum production rate window. The generation 6 extrex is truly a new generation of gear pumps setting a new benchmark in the pump industry. The new generation offers up to 50 per cent higher flow rate on comparable products.

Hall A6 | Stand 6108

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Hall A6 | Stand 6202

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Momentive

Moretto

Momentive Performance Materials is bringing its Silopren liquid silicone rubber (LSR) to Fakuma, showcasing the material in a variety of live demonstrations showcasing the processing qualities and benefits of Momentive’s elastomer products for injection moulding.

Moretto is showcasing an overview of its cuttingedge technology in both indoor and outdoor displays at Fakuma.

Visitors will be taken on the Eureka Plus journey - which demonstrates a perfect drying process that comes full circle - and learn about ONE WIRE 6, the only autoadaptive conveying system in the market.

The excellent consistency and processability of Silopren LSR 2670 will be presented via a designer article application from CVA Silicone. The demonstration will be conducted on an electrical e-mac 100 IMM with integrated e-pic handling supplied by Engel and demonstrates that Silopren LSR can be used for even most complex manufacturing challenges Silopren LSR 2670 will also be showcased by Elmet at booth A5 5306. Elmet created a coaster mould and built a fully automated turnkey cell by integrating an Engel IMM with its own systems. The installed closed-loop controlled colour injection at the dosing system is a new feature, which will be presented for the first time at Fakuma.

Hall A4 | Stand 4307

Eureka Plus is the result of 13 years of development and is formed by four core elements: first OTX, the Original Thermal Exchanger, the exclusive exchanger where energy meets moisture, X MAX modular dryer with constant performance, Flowmatik, the auto-adaptive air manager for process air distribution, and finally Moisture Meter, a system to measure and control moisture in-line. This kind of engineered drying system ensures an unequalled energy efficiency, as the synergy of the composing elements is unique and results in benefits for the whole moulding process: a better cycle time, higher performance, a lower waiting time and higher efficiency and profit.

Hall B3 | Stand 3208 and outside in the flame-red RV

motan-colortronic

Müller Kunststoffe

At Fakuma, motancolortronic will show that the combination of established technologies from both motan and colortronic is key.

Müller Kunststoffe, the German arm of the HEXPOL TPE family, will be presenting the EPSeal range of TPE for food and beverage caps and closure applications at Fakuma.

The focus will be the METRO G material loaders, which can now be fully integrated into existing colortronic systems. At the same time, existing colortronic material loaders can now be integrated into new motan systems.

This offers maximum flexibility and saves costs. This highlight will be complemented with the new synchronous dosing unit MINIBLEND V. motan engineers have combined the best technology from motan and colortronic with the METRO G and extended it with new features. Time-tested and reliable colortronic mechanics have also been combined with high-quality motan controls and have been extended with additional features for the MINIBLEND V.

EPSeal is a range of TPE compounds for use as beverage sealants. They are EU and/or FDA approved, with several series designed for specific closure applications.

The EPSeal product range includes grades for crown corks, aluminium roll-on closures, PP and HDPE plastic closures of various diameters. As well as grades for wine corks and T-stoppers for spirits with high alcohol content.

EPSeal TPE compounds are PVC free, with excellent organoleptic results a key requirement for sensitive filling goods like mineral water. EPSeal TPE compounds also offer consistent short, medium and long term opening torques which provides consumer friendly functionality.

Hall B1 | Stand 1111

Hall B1 | Stand 1217

Netstal

NGR

Netstal is bringing a world first to Fakuma 2015: injection compression moulding on a stack mould.

The innovation will be demonstrated on Netstal’s booth using a 425g margarine tub made with PP that is manufactured with 4+4 cavities on an ELION 28002000 and weighs just 10.7g.

How easy is it to convert plastic scrap into reusable resin? Technology from Next Generation Recyclingmaschinen GmbH proves that it can be very easy indeed with its exciting showcase at Fakuma.

NGR’s innovative A:GRAN machine will be on display and operational at the event to demonstrate this technology to the European plastics market. The unit covers the conveying of plastic scrap, shredding, extrusion and finally pelletising in an all-in-one, compact machine that offers everything required of an ultra-efficient injection moulding system.

The live demonstration on the stand shows the conversion of injection moulding sprues out of PP to high quality resin. All machine components are controlled by one interface, which eases the operation. After shredding the scrap, the material is directly introduced in the extruder, dust and contaminant-free.

Hall A5 | Stand 5108

Following close collaboration between the mould manufacturer Plastisud, the automation specialist Machines Pagès and the Swiss injection moulding manufacturer Netstal, the injection compression moulding process and the stack mould technology were brought under the same roof as a modified injection moulding machine from the Netstal ELION Hybrid series, which can mould margarine tubs in standard format 15oz (425g) with IML decoration in a cycle time of five seconds.

Hall A7 | stand 7303/7304

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Nordson

Novosystems

Nordson will emphasise the broad range of Nordson BKG underwater pelletising systems available for polymer companies, compounders and recyclers at Fakuma 2015.

Liquid colours are on the rise. As an alternative to colour masterbatches, the markets in Europe for liquid colours and low-melting microbatches show a positive development.

Reason enough for Novosystems to ramp up capacity and to launch the new “Over top” colour extraction system for liquid colours at Fakuma.

Nordson BKG underwater pelletisers fall into three groups with increasingly more elaborate or sophisticated features, greater throughput, and higher cost. These are the Master-Line, Combi-Line, and Opti-Line. For PET and PLA resins, Nordson has also developed the CrystallCut system, which pelletises and crystallises in one step, saving energy by reusing the heat from the polymer melt in the pelletising step to crystalise the pellets at a later stage in an integrated process.

Hall A6 | Stand 6406

The “Over top“ colour extraction system - which makes its world premiere at Fakuma - positions Novosystems as a comprehensive feed, storage and logistics solution. This closes the gap between metal container solutions and classic buckets with a lance feed system. Today plastic manufacturers are looking very closely at changes to improve added value potential. Many customers are asking for a practical solution with a Cubitainer and improved colour feed. “Over top” is an interesting new option both for colour feed but also for storage and logistics.

Hall B3 | Stand 3209

ProTec Polymer Processing

Reduction Engineering

ProTec Polymer Processing will showcase a full range of highperformance, energy-efficient integrated system solutions for efficient material handling at Fakuma, where the company will introduce the new energy-efficient large SOMOS T140 eco auxiliary dryer to the market. In addition, ProTec’s new high performance SSP reactor for the solid-state post-condensation of plastics, which is optimised in terms of system and process engineering, will be highlighted at the trade fair. Finally, following the recent acquisition of PolymersNetGmbH of Lampertheim/ Germany, ProTec will present its LFT (long-fibre-reinforced thermoplastics) systems platform. Customers now will have a single source for the design, machine building and system installation of high-performance turnkey systems for producing LFT.

German specialist in the development and manufacturing of strand pelletising Reduction Engineering GmbH in KorntalMuenchingen - an allied company of the US-American corporate Reduction Engineering is bringing something of a fresh face to Fakuma 2015.

With the acquisition of the pelletising division of C.F. Scheer, who started development and manufacturing of strand-pelletisers in the early 1970s, Reduction Engineering is pursuing the knowledge-base of one of the market leaders in this market segment of plastic processing and showcasing such exciting technologies as the SGS-E6 pelletiser and double-side supported strand pelletisers of the SGS-L series ranging from 200 to 1.000 mm working. A lab size pulveriser, type RE 25AC, will also be on display at the Reduction Engineering stand.

Hall B3 | Stand 3119

Hall A6 | Stand 6212

SABIC

Sepro

The relationships SABIC forms with its customers are key drivers of product innovation.

From renewable polyolefins to lightweight materials for automotive applications, SABIC’s solutions are the result of successful customer collaboration. At Fakuma, SABIC will explore some of these achievements, and working with customers has helped realise their visions. Through a series of six films and product displays, SABIC will highlight the importance of customersupplier collaboration to the production of new technologies.

Sepro is debuting three lines of Sepro robots for injection moulding machines at Fakuma.

The new robots for plastics injectionmoulding machines have a clamping capacity of between 800 to 5,000 tonnes and can be found at Sepro’s gigantic booth, where the company is demonstrating a model 7X55 five-axis robot from the new premium 7X Line and a Strong 50.

SABIC will showcase its award-winning films, ‘The Stories of Possible’, which highlight the entrepreneurship of SABIC’s customers and the role the company has played in helping them achieve success. From partnerships that have led to innovation in renewable packaging, to creating faster, more efficient automation solutions, the films demonstrate the range of products SABIC offers, and how these can be refined to meet challenges across the market.

At the same time, Sepro is announcing another 3-axis family of robots for largetonnage moulding machines: the technological S7 Line. Also on display will be a 6X90 six-axis articulated arm robot, 5X25, and a Success 33 from the company’s universal range of 3-axis robots. Sepro robots will also be on display on the stands of injection-moulding machine suppliers, including Demag (B1-1105), Billion (B33104), Haitian (A1-1103), JSW (A7-7207), and others.

Hall B5 | Stand 5506

In all, Sepro is exhibiting 11 robots at the show.

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Hall A1 | Stand 1203

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Thermoplay

VELOX

Thermoplay has developed a new hot runner manifold and it is bringing it to Fakuma.

VELOX will be presenting a selection of its current innovative speciality plastics and additives at Fakuma 2015.

In the most common applications the injection system is made up of an unbalanced manifold with the nozzles threaded onto it. The nozzles are often free flow and they are heated by the heat transferred by conduction from the manifold. The new Thermoplay design is made up of a manifold with balanced flow channels with nozzles that are assembled to it only by mechanical compression (seated nozzles). This technology allows the nozzles to be always centered within the cavity, reducing the wear in the coupling zone. The nozzle plate is conditioned to have the same temperature as the mould (30°C).

Material is uniformly distributed on the product, facilitating even wall thickness, while there are no strands at the injection point, and no colour streaks or discolouring.

A highlight at this year’s Fakuma will be VELOX’ presentation of products by its partner PENTAC Polymer GmbH. The company will showcase PENTAC’s new halogen-free flame-retardant grades, which provide excellent fire resistance twinned with outstanding mechanical properties. VELOX will also present density-reduced, easyflowing, corrosion-resistant plastics based on polyamide/polyolefin alloys that can be used as improved PA6, or for pipe and profile extrusion. Thanks to their reduced water absorption, these grades are particularly suitable for outdoor use.

Previous developments by PENTAC Polymer GmbH, such as the easy-flowing PA grades combined with innovative solutions for density reductions, were already successfully introduced to the market last year by VELOX.

Hall B5 | Stand 5001

Hall B3 | Stand 3118

Victrex

Waldorf Technik

On the Victrex stand at Fakuma, the focus is on striving to help customers reach the top of their game by differentiation and exploiting new market opportunities faster. Fundamental to this is Victrex’s continuous development as a provider of Polyaryletherketone (PAEK)-based complete solutions that address market and application challenges. The acquisition of Kleiss Gears, a US specialist in thermoplastic gears, and the PAEK capacity expansion are just two recent examples of the company’s focus on extending capabilities to help accelerate product introductions in important markets of automotive, aerospace, electronics, energy and medical. Victrex already provides an extensive portfolio of products, technologies and services in support of sophisticated applications in many key sectors – and is making every effort to continue to move forward and define the future.

At this year’s Fakuma, automation specialist, Waldorf Technik GmbH & Co. KG, is presenting its innovations and new technologies for the production of packaging and medical solutions using injection moulding. The classic highflex and Stack mould IML solutions now come with completely new features, while barrier coating is revolutionising the entire food packaging sector and cavity sorting for pipette tips is reaching new heights.

Waldorf Technik has worked assiduously over the last two years to develop and consistently expand its product segment of IML automation. Now the portfolio covers five different standard series to meet an array of customer needs such as reduced invest, stack molds, extremely compact space, systems for consumer goods packaging and big bags.

Hall A4 | Stand 4106.

Hall B2 | Stand 2204

WEMO

WITTMANN BATTENFELD

Following the merger with Hahn Automation Components of 64354 Reinheim, WEMO Automation has already developed a whole range of new products, which can now be seen at Fakuma. With an enlarged product portfolio, the company is substantially better positioned and offers a wide range of linear robots for the plastics industry. Based on Hahn’s tried and tested Proline series, one of these developments is the new xLine product line, with the new xLine handling units featuring a number of improvements over the Proline series. They also have a lower axis weight, which allows faster and more energy-saving movements.

WITTMANN BATTENFELD is bringing state-of-theart servo-hydraulic and all-electric PowerSeries technology to Fakuma.

Furthermore, the software platform for all linear robots with servo drive has been given an upgrade. The new platform processes both WEMO’s WIPS software and Hahn’s RMP software, giving customer the option of continuing with the operating interface with which they are familiar.

A further highlight at this year’s Fakuma is the EcoPower 110/350 equipped for cleanroom applications by WITTMANN BATTENFELD with a special medical technology package, while WITTMANN will also be bringing its top medical technology to visitors with its MicroPower 15/10.

With the market launch of the new SmartPower 350/2250, the innovative product range of the PowerSeries will be complete. WITTMANN BATTENFELD developed the PowerSeries with the aim of optimising customer benefit. Energy efficiency, precision, compactness and user-friendliness are the outstanding features of this product series. The SmartPower is equipped with a highly efficient servo-hydraulic drive as standard and utilises the available deceleration energy via KERS for barrel heating. On the SmartPower 350/2250 at the WITTMANN BATTENFELD booth, an “organic sheet” component will be produced with a single-cavity mould from Georg Kaufmann, CH.

Hall B3 | Stand 3109

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Hall B1 | Stand 1204

Global launch!

www.movacolor.com

The best of two worlds!

Dosing & blending in one system

MCHybrid • Ultra compact • Capacity up to 350 kg/h • Works with granulates, regrinds, liquids and (non-)free-flowing powders

Visit us at the Fakuma: Hall A3 / 3008

Contact for UK:

Summit Systems Ltd. T +44 (0)1827 265 800 W www.summitsystems.co.uk E webinfo@summitsystems.co.uk

WWW.EPPM.COM

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EVENTS

Plast Eurasia 2015 ‘ready to break records’

New look for...

Just in case amid the flurry of all things Fakuma (while K 2016 looms on the horizon) we had forgotten about NPE, SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association has unveiled its new look and new message for NPE 2018.

The new tagline ‘The Plastics Show’ replaces ‘The International Plastics Showcase’, while the logo has been modernised to align with the innovative nature of the event, organisers explained.

“NPE is simply ‘The Plastics Show’ for any professional using or considering the use of plastics in a product,” William (Bill) Carteaux, SPI President & CEO, explained. “The changes are aligned with our need to continue attracting more end markets to the show so they better understand the material of plastics and its many wide and varied applications for products. The tagline is more inclusive and attractive to more professionals within the plastics product lifecycle, from ideation to finished product to recycling and reuse.”

NPE2015 attracted nearly 23,400 unique buying companies this year, more and than any previous NPE dating back to the 1990s when this statistic was first recorded - and the SPI wants to attract more companies to Florida in 2018.

“We want to draw more unique companies to the show and especially the exhibit floor, and the best way we know to do this is to remain true to our core attendee while introducing newer markets to the material of plastics,” said Gene Sanders, SPI Senior Vice-President of Business Development.

NPE will return to Florida from May 7th-11th 2018. www.npe.org

EXHIBITING AT PLAST EURASIA?

Plast Eurasia organisers have said this December's outing in Istanbul, Turkey is gearing up to break records.

The four-day event, which runs from December 3rd-6th 2015 at the Tüyap Fair Convention and Congress Center is considered the most significant and extensive meeting of the plastics industry in Turkey and Eurasia.

Now in its 25th year, Plast Eurasia Istanbul 2015 is ready to flex its muscles on the wider international stage. Last year, the show brought together the industry’s leading professionals and 1,067 companies and representatives from 41 countries across a 98,000 m sq exhibition area indoor, with a total of 43,756 industry professionals visiting the show.

In 2015, there is scope for growth, as the exhibition area has been extended from 98,000 to 120,000 m sq, and with 80 per cent of exhibition space being booked up in the first six months of the year.

Aiming to outstrip last year’s success, Plast Eurasia organisers have been implementing a decisive marketing strategy to capture the imaginations of exhibitors and visitors both at home and overseas.

Industry professionals from target regions have also been kept informed about the fair through 11 offices in Turkey, six overseas offices and representatives operating in over 30 countries. The fair has been also been widely publicised across a range of media, from websites and magazines, to a successful outing at Plast 2015 in Milan, Italy in May. As a result of marketing activities implemented by Tüyap and supporter organisations, over 50,000 professionals are expected to visit the fair.

EPPM’s sister title MEP wants your news. Email rose.brooke@rapidnews.com.

S

tratasys is widely considered a pioneer of 3D printing technology and now EPPM readers can absorb themselves in the additive manufacturing champion’s expertise in an exciting new webinar coming to EPPM in November.

Where When What time How much

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eppm.com/webinars November 3rd 2015 14:00 GMT FREE

Viewers can tune in to learn how to design, build and install high performance, ultra-light assembly aids in a matter of hours; reduce tooling costs by up to 95 per cent; integrate components such as magnets, vacuum cups and actuators; and produce production-ready parts from 3D-printed injection moulds.

With the expertise of Stratasys’ Alan Spence and Jim Sargent from Whale Pumps, who have already discovered the advantages of 3D printing for injection moulding, jigs and fixtures, production parts and end of arm tools, viewers can learn how to redefine productivity in their business with 3D printing.

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EPPM Classifieds 45 Years in New & Used Machinery to the Plastics Industry Worldwide.

Remcaw DGS1500 Single Shaft Shredder Throat: 1570×1400mm, Rotor Dia: 475mm, Rotor Width: 1420mm, Rotor pcs: 102, Stator: 3, Power (kw): 75

Our newest granulators & shredders: Used for all types of plastic, material, carpets, window frames & wood, bottles, PVC frames, foam, top & tails from moulding & CD/DVD cases.

• Ramcaw DGS1500 Universal Single Shaft Shredder - Throat (mm): 1570×1400 Drive: 75Kw • Weima ZMK 30 S Shredder - Throat 1000x1400mm Drive: 2 x 18.5Kw • Soplar S.A MM400/420 Granulator - Throat: 400 x 420 mm, 15kw Drive • Kween B MD-C6540 Granulator - Throat: 1036x650mm, Drive: 75kw • Shini SG2336 Granulator - Throat: 400x400mm, Drive: 7.5kw • Remcaw DGS1500 Single Shaft Shredder - Dia: 700mm Width: 1000mm • Remcaw RWT 4080 Shredder - Throat: 1410 x 800mm, Drive 37 kW • Remcaw DGH 700/1000 Granulator - Diameter: 700mm Width: 1000mm • Zerma GSC 300/600 Granulator - Throat: 300-600 Drive: 11kw • Blackfriars 40-30 Granulator - Throat: 40-30 Drive: 17.5 Kw

sales@rawmec.com 01992 www.rawmec.com 471796

Weima ZMK 30 S Shredder. Hopper width and length: 1 x 1.4 (mm), Drive: 2 x 18.5Kw: Disk diameter (mm): 308, Working width and length (mm): 546 x 685

• Tria 45-35 Granulator - 11 kw motor • Cumberland 2-84 Granulator - 7.5kw new motor • Tria 42-20 Granulator - Throat: 420x200mm Drive: 3kw • Zerma GSC 30-30 Granulator - Throat size 300 x 300mm 7.5Kw Drive • Rapid 45-35 Granulator - 18.5kw Drive • Rapid GK1000 55Kw Granulator - Throat: 1000 x 600 mm Motor 55Kw • USI Cumberland 12-16 300 400 Granulator - Throat: 300-400 11Kw Drive • Getecha 440 400 Granulator - Throat: 400x440 18.5Kw Drive • SG-3660 Sound-Proof Central Granulator - 950 Motor Power (Kw) (60Hz): 30 Rotor speed (rpm) • Cumberland 30-23 Granulator - Throat: 300x230mm 4 Kw Drive • UPM 10-10 Granulator - Throat size 100 x 100mm 7.5kw Drive • USI Cumberland 38-60 - Throat: 380x600mm 75Kw Drive • Remcaw 35-65 Beast Shredder - 55kw motor, Throat 350x650mm

Download our full stock lists online

Soplar S.A MM400/420 Granulator. Throat: 400 x 420 mm, 15kw Drive, Heavy Duty, 3 Rotor, 2 Stator Open Rotor, 6 mm screen, Water Cooling

Kween B MD-C6540 Granulator. Throat: 1036x650mm, Drive: 75kw, 12 fly - 6 dead blades, Heavy duty rotor, 12 & 15mm screens, Water coolled

• Rapid 158-K Sprue Granulator - Throat: 150 x 80mm Drive: 1.5Kw Motor • Rapid GK-158-K Sprue Granulator - Throat: 150 x 80mm Drive: 1.5Kw Motor • UPM 12-16B Granulator - 12.5Kw Drive, Throat 300 x 400 mm • CMB ML220 Granulator - 4.6Kw Drive Throat 220 x 200mm • Polymer Systems 9-12 UPM Granulator - 7.5Kw Drive Throat 230 x 300mm • CMB MS20 Granulator - 4Kw Drive, Throat 200 x 210 mm • Cumberland 4-84 Granulator - 30Kw Drive Throat 410 x 380mm • UPM 10-10 Granulator - Throat size 100 x 100mm 8.5kw Drive • Tria 45-35 Granulator - Throat Size: 470 x 350mm 15Kw Drive • Remcaw RWT 4080 Shredder - 15 hours of work Motor Power: 37 kW • The Muncher Shredder - Twin shaft 11 kw • Gross Gaz 62 Single Shaft Shredder - Feed opening (mm): 600 x 800 • Bano Mac 630 Shredder - Throat: 600x750mm 15Kw Drive

• Carpet, Clothing, Cardboard, Foam, Paper Shredder Bailer - Carpet, Cardboard, Fibre Boards and more.

• Remcaw 35-65 Beast Shredder - 55kw motor, Throat 350x650mm Recently Sold • TRIA 50-30/XT Granulator - Throat: 300x550mm, 15kw Drive • Wittmann MC 34-60 Granulator - Throat size 350x600mm 16kw Drive • Weima NZ4S 310-600 Granulator - Throat: 310x600mm Drive: 22Kw • Blackfriars 40-40 Granulators - Throat: 400x400mm 22Kw Drive • Cumberland 40-30 Granulator - 11kW Drive Throat 400 x 300mm • Rapid GK700 Granulator - 18.5hp motor New • Rapid GK1000 75Kw Granulator - Throat: 1000 x 600 mm Motor 75Kw • USI Cumberland 500-300 Granulator - Throat: 500x300mm 11Kw Drive • Getecha GE 1000 Granulator - Throat 600x440mm 15kw Drive

Rawmec EEC Ltd, Rawmec Industrial Estate, Plumpton Rd, Hoddesdon, Herts. EN11 0EE See our machines in action More info, machines & photos visit: www.rawmec.com or email: info@rawmec.com on our YouTube account EPPM_210x143_09-15.indd 1

Over 40 Years of Service

2950mm wide Welex Davis Standard sheet extrusion line with 150mm DS extruder, 33D, Flex lip die, 2950mm x 500mm 3 roll stack, pump group, haul off, guillotine.

1700mm Wide Kuhne Sheet Line. 1997.

70mm Extruder. Vented . 1600mm Die. 1700mm Kuhne 3 Roll Stack. Haul Off And Winder. Type KF70E-4V/1700.

Tel: +44 (0) 1793 827666 Email: sales@transxl.co.uk Web: www.transxl.co.uk

115mm Davis Standard Thermatic extruder model 45IN45T . 30:1 L/D with barrier PP/ HDPE screw, 305kw motor, Fan cooled electrically heated 6 zone barrel 2008!!

1350mm Welex 3 Roll Stack. 300mm Dia Rolls. Silent Chain. Dc drive. 3 zone pump group. 2 roll haul off 1986.

1300mm wide Kuhne sheet extrusion line with K701E - 30D vented extruder, melt pump, 1200mm die head, 1300mm x 300mm chrome rolls, pump group, winder.

1650mm Wide Casplast Horizontal 3 Roll Stack . 500mm Dia Rolls Independently Driven Via 5.5kw Ac Motors. 2 roll haul off 2005.

760mm (30”) wide Lyle 130FM48 SPD form trim thermoforming machine. Unwind, servo platens, servo plug, 30” x 48” tool. 132PV vertical trim press. 2006.

MATERIAL HANDLING

1500mm wide Union/bandera sheet line;100mm Union Extruder 35d vented, 110kw DC, s/changer, 1400mm Die, 1500mm Bandera inclined stack and haul off.

1350mm wide Kaufman Welex sheet extrusion line:- 90+45mm Kaufman extruder, gear pump, ABA Welex feedblock, 1270mm die, 1350mm Welex roll stack & haul off.

OVER 300 VIDEOS TO VIEW

1120mm wide EDI close approach PET sheet die model H100 with Flex lip and decals. Lip heater. Lip gap up to 2.5mm 1996.

CHANNEL

1100mm wide Cincinnati Mega PET coextrusion sheet line. 115mm main extruder.

63mm coextruder. 1120mm EDI die, 300,500,500 sheet stack, haul off winder.

EXTRUDERS

SHEET LINES 2950mm Sheet line for HDPE 2290mm Sheet line for ABS 1700mm Kuhne Sheet extrusion line 1500mm Bandera stack 1350mm Welex/union sheet line 1300mm Kuhne Sheet line 1100mm SML Coextrusion 1100mm PET sheet line 1000mm Omv sheet line 1000mm Esde 3 rollstack 600mm Wide Killion sheet line

22/09/2015 14:34 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR

45mm Kaufman extruder 50mm Welex extruder 90mm Egan extruder 90mm Kaufman extruder 100mm Union Extruder 100mm Omv P.P extruder 100mm OMV PS Extruder 115mm Davis standard extruder 120mm Omv Extruder 150mm Egan extruder

Novatec IRD-3000 Infrared Rotary PET Dryer/ Crystallizer, Approximate Throughout 700 to 2000kg’s per hour.

PIPE EQUIPMENT

Piovan gravimetric blender 1000kg/hr Colourtronic Gravimetric Blender Plasmec 1000 litre batch gravimetric blender 2 off Process Controls Gravimetric Feeder blenders

150ltr Motan Luxor 50 Dryer With Twin Desiccant Beds dehumidifing dryer. Hopper loader and material blower.

1000mm wide Omv coextrusion sheet line.

120mm and 120mm extruders, melt pump, .

1000 x 500mm polishing stack, pump group, haul off, winder.

1000mm Wide Esde FL 1000 3 Roll Sheet Downstream. 350mm dia rolls. Pneumatic top nip. Individual driven rolls. 1998.

700 X 500mm Illig Rv74 Vacuum Former.

Unwind. Top And Bottom Heaters. Forming Station. Punch. Waste Wind Up. 1994.

100mm Union single screw extruder. 35D vented with fan cooled barrel. Vacuum vent.

110kw dc motor and drive. Temperature panel 1987.

2000mm Periplast P.E Pipe line 250mm Speedex vacuum unit 125mm Speedex vacuum unit 125mm Speedex Saw unit

2000mm diameter Periplast PE pipe extrusion line. 150mm extruder, 45mm coextruder. 2000mm vac + 3 spray tanks, haul off saw. 1700kg/hr. 2006.

125mm diameter Speedex pipe downstream comprising 1 x 6m vacuum tank and 2 x 6m spray tank with 3 belt haul off and upstroking travelling saw. 1995.

1100mm wide SML coextrusion sheet line for 150micron to 800micron PP. model SMLSC90,45/1100/. 90mm extruder 45mm coex, calender, haul off winder. 2003.

TRANSXL INTERNATIONAL • THORNHILL • SOUTH MARSTON • SWINDON • WILTSHIRE • SN3 4TA • ENGLAND MORE MACHINERY, MORE PHOTOS ON THE WEB: www.transxl.co.uk

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Compounding Pipe Film

Moulding Recycling Conduit

To advertise here please contact Graham Voss: T: +44 (0)1244 680222 E: graham@rapidnews.com

Speciality Engineering Polymers Whitelands Mill, Whitelands Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6UG, UK Tel: Fax: Email: Web:

(44) 0161 308 2550 (44) 0161 343 2026 aml@abbeymb.com www.abbeymb.com

MATERIALS HANDLING

Tweet All About It!

Follow EPPM & MEP Extruder and Extrusion Lines On Twitter Maschinenha @EPPM_Magazine

Used plastic pr

Follow the official Twitter feed for European Plastic Product Manufacturer magazine Injection mould if you want to be alerted to the latest news and the latest opinions to hit the European plastics market. Keep up to date with what's happening at the biggest and ac shows around the world from our reporters on the ground and join in the debate.

USED. TESTED. ALL RIGHT. RE-PROCESSING EQUIPMENT Purchase and sale: Injection moulding machines accessories and spare parts Phone: +49 2173 8 950 790 www.mhborowski.de

Tel. 0049-2173-89 www.mh info@mh

Tel: @MEP_Magazine +49-2244-83041 email : pmh.gmbh@t-online.de www.pmh-extruder.com The Middle East has an emerging plastics industry and Middle Eastern Plastics is

there for when the news breaks. With a growing following, count yourself among those in the know about this exciting region and track the goings-on at some of the most influential plastics events in the Middle East.

ADVERTIS

Company Abbey Masterbatch ACS/Cumberland WWW.EPPM.COM | WWW.MIDEASTPLAST.COM AIMPLAS Albis asiamold Birmingham Granulator Telephone: Buss CMA633552 Moldform David +44 (0)7540 Colines or email: Engel ‘All plastic moulding machines, info@plasticinvestments.co.uk EPPM ancillaries and associated plant’ Hasco Industrierat Turn Surplus machinery into cash Koch Technik We buy, sell and value single Lanxess machines and whole plants www.plasticinvestments.co.uk Maguire Maschinenhandel Boro Meusburger Netstal Plastic Investments Plastrep New and used Granulators, Shredders, PMH GmbH Pulverisers, Wash Plants Process Control Blades and Screens Rawmec To list a directory entry online, RUD Chaines Blade Sharpening visit www.plastrep.com Silvergate Plastics Ancillary Items S.i.S.e and join the world’s Service –plastics Repair - Spares fastest-growing Tinius Olsen community for free!

TransXL UK & Ireland Agents for

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

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To To advertise advertise here, or here, place or place display display adverts in adverts print or online in print or online

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Telephone: +44 (0)1244 680222 Email: graham@rapidnews.com

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Email: info@granulators.org

www.granulators.org 21/01/2015 16:43

49

EUREKA SERIES

Image credit: e-Nable, via Facebook

That’s handy The e-NABLE project is delivering children and adults a free alternative to costly prosthesis around the world thanks to a growing community of volunteers and 3D printing technology.

Words | Rose Brooke

Not only is 3D printing technology bringing new and exciting advancements to the medical world such as precise surgical guides and super-accurate orthodontic implants, but the technology is also giving ordinary people better access to the once mysterious world of prosthetics.

“These devices should be seen as tools and not a fully functional prosthetic device,” e-NABLE states on its website. “Children use them for simple tasks like holding water bottles while being able to hold a snack in their other hand at the same time, helping to give them balance by allowing them to use two hands to ride a bike or swing on the swings ... and other simple tasks that Children use them for simple tasks having two hands is helpful for.”

Founded in 2013 by Jon Schull, a research scientist at Rochester Institute of Technology, e-NABLE like holding water bottles while being has been making the headlines over able to hold a snack in their other Anybody with a functioning wrist or the course of this year as its global elbow can benefit from an e-NABLE hand at the same time, helping network of volunteers are using device, as the prosthetic responds to their own 3D printers, design skills to give them balance the elbow and wrist flexing, creating and time to make plastic 3D-printed tension to pull the fingers closed. prosthetic hands for those who need Children as young as three can be them quickly. The devices are totally fitted with an e-NABLE device - any free and are transforming the lives of many families, who have younger and the parts might be a choking hazard. found an alternative to finding the $6,000 (€5,300, £3,900) -$10,000 needed for a traditional prosthetic.

Today, e-NABLE has delivered its technology to 37 countries and describes itself as ‘a truly global volunteer organisation’ with “We currently estimate that we’ve delivered about 1,500 a Google Plus community of thousands of members, and even hands, mostly to children,” e-NABLE states on its website though the technology cannot be compared to the $40,000-plus enablingthefuture.org. These hands are going to individuals myoelectric hands with silicone skin and active finger movement, who are missing anything from their fingers or arms below the the technology is bringing many a quick solution without the elbow, but it is children who are benefitting the most from this financial pain. initiative, as youngsters do not usually have the option of having a traditional prosthetic fixed due to numerous factors including www.enablingthefuture.org cost, time and the fact they will ‘grow out of it’.

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International exhibition and conference on additive technologies and tool making

Frankfurt am Main, 17 – 20 November 2015 formnext.com

Innovations.

Impulses.

Inspiration.

The world’s leading companies in additive manufacturing technologies and highly specialized tool-making will show you their expertise at formnext powered by tct.

Discover how additive technologies can be intelligently combined with conventional procedures in product development and production, and how you can use innovative processes to reduce your time to market even further. New potential across the entire manufacturing process is waiting to be discovered by you. We are looking forward to seeing you!

Where ideas take shape.

Get your free ticket here: formnext.com/tickets

Information: +49 711 61946-825 formnext@mesago.com

Follow us on Social Media

@ formnext_expo # formnext15

Leading Masterbatch Producer in Black, White, Color & additives

Visit us on our stand at Fakuma 2015, Hall B, stand 1219 Ampacet Corporation is a global Masterbatch Leader with 24 manufacuring sites located in 17 countries oering the broadest range of customer color, special eect, black, white and specialty additive Masterbatch for molding and a multitude of other processes and applications. Ampacet corporation employs more than 2,000 people worldwide and operates technical and color development centers and manufacturing sites throughout, Americas, Asia and EMEA. For further information on our full product range, please contact us on: marketing.europe@ampacet.com / www.ampacet.com