THONG GUAN INDUSTRIES BERHAD
MANUFACTURING
MAKING PLASTIC SUSTAINABLE We unwrap the emergence of Thong Guan Industries Berhad as one of the largest stretch film manufacturers in Malaysia, as General Manager, David Ang, emphasises the importance of sustainability in plastic packaging Writer: Jack Salter | Project Manager: Matthew Taylor It feels like I’ve been a part of the company for as long as I can remember.” David Ang, General Manager of Thong Guan Industries Berhad (Thong Guan), is the face of the fourth generation at the family-owned plastic packaging powerhouse. Founded as a tea and coffee trader in 1942, it wasn’t until two decades later that Thong Guan entered the plastics industry, where it now specialises in stretch films while investing heavily in flexible packaging, namely stretch hood, shrink film, wicket bread bags, courier bags and more. “Thong Guan saw great potential in the plastic market at the time, so the company decided to delve into the production of stretch film and flexible packaging,” explains Ang. From stretch films and food wraps to perforated bags and sheets, Thong Guan today is one of Malaysia’s largest plastic packaging manufacturers. “We sell high quality stretch films that are on par with the best in the market, focusing on performance consistency for our customers. “We are constantly innovating to help customers achieve performance consistency, load stability and safety, and sustainability goals. Our
customers come back to us because of the integrated innovation of our products,” Ang acclaims. The establishment of the Newton R&D Centre in 2016, equipped with state-of-the-art testing facilities, has helped Thong Guan to better understand customer packaging problems and provide solutions that focus on load stability, safety, and visibility of the entire wrapping process, which promotes sustainability. The centre is a leading research institute, offering expertly designed packaging solutions for palletised loads, courtesy of a dynamic simulation lab focused on load stability and safety during transportation.
“As of now, we are increasing our footprint in Europe with Newton Europe. Thong Guan is considered a local player by our European customers due to our solid presence in Italy and Germany, so we are highly regarded in terms of performance and quality consistency. “Together, we are also helping our customers through education where the Newton Europe Academy covers training topics like load stability, wrapping optimisation, and more,” Ang affirms. “Thanks to our local warehouses, we can achieve faster order fulfilment – they know they can count on us to deliver, instead of waiting eight to 12 weeks for us to ship from Malaysia to their factory. In many instances, we are faster than their local providers.” Thong Guan has joined forces with Newton in the ENGAGE programme, a special collaboration to help optimise clients’ stretch film applications, thereby reducing waste and increasing profit. W&H Machine
APAC Outlook issue 53 | 3
THONG GUAN INDUSTRIES BERHAD Pallet delivery performance can be impacted by variables such as weight, contents and travelling distance, which are factored into the ENGAGE programme to help customers find the best optimised wrapping
THONG GUAN AT A GLANCE Products and solutions: • Stretch films • Industrial flexible packaging • Consumer flexible packaging • Food wraps • Additives • Food and beverage manufacturing Industries served: • Industrial packaging • Commercial packaging • Waste and energy • Retail and e-commerce • Transport and logistics • Food and beverage • Hygiene and medical
Cast film
4 | APAC Outlook issue 53
solutions. Thus, Thong Guan does not merely produce and supply packaging products, but also helps customers in achieving better load safety and cost efficiency, delivering value-added services that give impetus to their business goals.
PLASTIC GOES GREEN The Newton R&D Centre has enhanced Thong Guan’s innovative spirit, which is also being channelled towards the development of cleaner, greener plastics. As part of LIVE GREEN, Thong Guan’s sustainable transformative goal towards plastic circularity, sustainability is being made possible for customers and partners through innovation, as well as education, recycling, alternative resourcing and more. “Since 2018, Thong Guan has embarked on a journey of posterity to progress our business and make our customers more sustainable,” Ang states. “Through our LIVE GREEN initiatives, we hope to mobilise industry players to accelerate green innovation and progress. We inculcate sustainability not just in our products, but in our culture as well.
NO.EL. NO.EL. is a private company founded in 1983 and is involved in the development of the industrial technology underlying the production process of stretched films after extrusion. The company’s strength lies in special systems for winding and stretching extruded films. Today, thanks to its high levels of quality, the company is able to compete on the global stage, and its systems are used by the biggest and most important stretch film producers worldwide. One of the company’s strengths is its constant investment in research and development, which enables it to always be at the cutting edge of technology. All this is made possible and is thanks to the important collaborations that NO.EL. has built over the years with its main customers, working side-by-side to develop new and sophisticated systems that are now used on world markets. Since 2020, Thong Guan has been producing film by the highest quality, latest-generation, pre-stretch film machines. Roberto Colombo V.P. Global Sales
www.noel-automation.com
PRE-STRETECHED FILM
v. G. Leopardi, 30 – San Pietro Mosezzo (NO) - Italy
www.noel-automation.com info@noel-automation.it
Why NO.EL.
EXPERIENCE
IMPROVEMENT
INNOVATION
TECHNOLOGY
SPEED
NO.EL. has over 20 years of experience in producing pre- stretch film machines. More than 800 machines installed.
NO.EL’s goal has always been to improve its machines in reliability, performance and profitability (best price / productivity ratio).
Since 2004, NO.EL. developed and patented different innovative solutions involving the cold pre-stretch.
The selection and relation of the technological components (choice of materials, their treatment, special technical solutions) guarantees the highest performance.
New algorithms that allow our machines to pre-stretch at speeds well above 1.0001.100 mt / min. while guaranteeing optimal features to the product.
CORELESS FILM Why NO.EL.
EXPERIENCE
SPEED
OUTPUT
TECHNOLOGY
INNOVATION
Hundreds of coreless winders (off-line and inline) working all over the world in 500/1.00/1.300 mm. More than 300 machines installed.
Winding speed of up to 1100 m/min.
Manual and Machine rolls up to 300 mm. diameter.
Coreless, pre-stretched, and conventional films
Patented shaft for coreless from 30 mm. (diameter).
Patented rewinding shafts able to run up to 7000 RPM without vibrations (from 1.5” to 3”).
Sophisticated algorithms that control and modify the tensioning of the film every second during the winding process.
Sophisticated algorithms that control and modify the pressure applied to the roll every second during the winding process.
Auto tuning of the machine according to the characteristics of the film.
THONG GUAN INDUSTRIES BERHAD “Whilst it may be hard to believe that a plastic manufacturer would want to promote sustainability, right now we are very focused on it.” Driven by a philosophy of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Thong Guan even has a dedicated subsidiary, TGSH Plastic Industries, devoted to recycling with an annual output of 5,000 metric tonnes. It comes as recent National Geographic figures show that billions of tonnes of plastic have been made over the past decades, a whopping 91 percent of which isn’t recycled. “We cannot eradicate plastic use in many areas of our lives, but we can manage it,” Ang acknowledges.
THONG GUAN’S VISION AND MISSION VISION To be a leader in providing value, solutions and services as the most technologically advanced plastic packaging film and additives manufacturer in Asia Pacific. MISSION • Deliver quality products and trustworthy services to customers, partners and stakeholders. • Continuously acquire knowledge and make improvements that exceed customer expectations. • Create a safe working environment to promote a strong, positive culture.
“That way, we are making a conscious effort to leave the planet in a good condition for the next generation. Thong Guan’s in-house recycling machines, meanwhile, can convert rejected plastics into recycled resin, which is subsequently reused in the manufacturing process to produce certain plastic packaging products. The company’s R&D team is focused on producing performance and quality consistency in bags and films containing recycled resin, in the hope of increasing the use of recycled resins in more products. “We are working with plastic waste that has already been generated. As such, we ensure we have internal recycling processes and facilities to support our initiatives,” adds Ang. It is clear that Thong Guan is serious about its sustainability goals as it takes the necessary steps to enable customers to participate in closing the loop. Thong Guan’s total end-to-end solution supplies customers with their stretch film needs, helps collect postusage waste via strategic recycling partners, and processes waste into stable recycled resins, which are transformed to produce high-quality repurposed products to serve another lifespan in the economy.
SIGNODE Signode Wrapping Every product packaging should be optimised for transport to minimize costs and ensure customers remain confident in your brand. No matter how your products are transported, it is essential they do not shift, tilt, or topple, which could lead to product damage. The right investment in wrapping equipment can provide you with the optimum outcomes at the optimum cost-performance ratio. Start with an assessment of application requirements to identify your biggest challenges and then choose the right wrapping solution for your needs. The Signode Octopus® range of stretch wrappers are available for many products in multiple industry segments, including food and beverage, eCommerce, retail business and others. The innovative wrapping technology allows for both variable pre-stretch and lay-on-force providing huge flexibility in applying the right amount of film tension at any place on the load providing optimum load stability at reduced costs. A sustainable solution – saving film and thus having less environmental impact. The Signode Lachenmeier stretch hooders offer more than just a closed film hood being applied to a uniform load. The machines apply film sleeves as well as short hoods, and they can wrap the load with perforated film to avoid condensation as well as apply film reinforcement on the load where needed. In addition, stretch hood is suitable for products with different shapes and sizes and especially onelayer loads where traditional stretch wrap is not as effective. For more information: www.signode.com
• Relentlessly pursue technological innovation. • Cultivate a spirit of giving back to the community and helping out the world. www.signode.com
6 | APAC Outlook issue 53
STRETCH WRAP AND STRETCH HOOD EQUIPMENT WE’LL PROTECT IT FROM HERE
The Octopus ring wrapping technology allows for both variable pre-stretch as well as variable lay-on-force providing huge flexibility in applying the right amount of film tension at any place on the load providing optimum load stability at reduced costs.
Lachenmeier stretch hooders provide load stability at reduced costs for products in multiple industry segments, including food and beverage, building, construction, chemicals, and others. A sustainable solution – saving film and thus having less environmental impact.
| DIGITAL SPACE Explore our Digital Space showroom – a new interactive and digital way to experience and discover Signode’s Transit Packaging Solutions. www.signode.com/digitalspace
Signode Phone +60 3-8025 9363 email info@lachenmeier.com www.signode.com
Signode offers a comprehensive portfolio of end of line packaging products and systems designed to protect, secure, simplify and streamline the bulk transportation of goods, continually adapting our product line to address evolving supply chain demands.
THONG GUAN INDUSTRIES BERHAD It means that when consumers recycle their stretch film waste, they are knowingly contributing to the development of the circular economy.
CLOSING THE LOOP Despite this, plastics remain a valuable commodity in the packaging space, but Thong Guan is
striving to close the plastic waste loop through recycling in order to reduce waste and the company’s carbon footprint. Not only are recycled plastic machine films comparable to conventional stretch films, but the move towards recycled films is sustainable for the packaging ecosystem.
APAC OUTLOOK: WHAT ROLE DOES INNOVATION PLAY AT THONG GUAN IN FURTHERING YOUR SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS?
Hudson-Sharp Now part of Paper Converting Machine Company, the HudsonSharp brand still sets the standard for bag and pouch making equipment. With 100 years of experience and industry leading technology, the Hudson-Sharp name is known for high-quality machinery and worldrenowned customer service.
David Ang, General Manager: “Innovation plays a leading role in our sustainability efforts.
From wicketers to stand-up pouch machines to the revolutionary InnoLok® and Pour & Lok™ pre-applied closure product lines, HudsonSharp brand is the solution for bag converting companies.
“NanoGreen, our 30 percent recycled machine film, contributes to customers’ sustainability goals while adhering to the packaging policies of certain countries or regions, for instance the EU’s Plastic Packaging Tax.
Our innovative team of engineers and dedicated support staff can custom design machinery for your specific flexible packaging applications.”
“Bolt is a stretch film dispenser uniquely designed to achieve hand wrapping consistency. As a fatigue fighting tool, Bolt’s super-lightweight design is suited for anyone, anytime to hand wrap with consistent containment force. When there is consistency in the hand wrapping process, there is no unnecessary tension that may cause the film to snap – all this reduces waste, wrapping time and ensures the safety of pallets. Bolt also comes with one-inch paper core stretch films, compared to typical market three-inch core and nano thin films to increase sustainability efforts. “Then, we have iPak5, the eagle-eye for achieving operational excellence and sustainability goals. As an IoT solution, iPak5’s data-centric ecosystem is designed to provide holistic solutions to customers, enabling performance visibility and traceability for every wrapped pallet. Connecting the entire supply chain from end-to-end with data, iPak5 is a tool for monitoring consistency, sustainability, and savings on your wrapping machine. The collected data allows our customers to make informed decisions about machine film usage, optimised to prevent wastage among many other benefits. It has just launched, and with it we plan to infiltrate the European market.”
8 | APAC Outlook issue 53
mark.bampfield@pcmc.com
That brings us to NanoGreen, Thong Guan’s first high-quality recycled machine film made with 30 percent recycled materials. Specially formulated to meet packaging requirements, NanoGreen is characterised by its excellent containment force, high tear resistance and outstanding puncture resistance, proving that pallet load stability need not be compromised by recycled materials. With NanoGreen, Thong Guan helps customers to reach their sustainability goals faster through high-quality recycled machine films. “By ramping up our recycling efforts, introducing NanoGreen recycled machine film and acquiring the necessary certifications for our green products, we are spearheading the circular economy and closing the loop,” outlines Ang. “As we continue to do our part, we are helping and encouraging other brand owners to achieve their
MANUFACTURING
Our latest state of the art high dynamic servo technology allows production speeds over 450 bags per minute. The Apollo series will help your business: • Improve your accuracy on recurring orders • Reduce your scrap rates • Collect improvement metrics to help you make the right production decisions
Learn more by contacting Mark Bampfield at mark.bampfield@pcmc.com • +63 929 407 0191
sustainability goals.” Thong Guan is also focused on bio-based plastics. The TG Bio series, for example, is made of green polyethylene resins from renewable feedstock such as wood chips. Thong Guan’s bioplastic products, which range from plastic bags and garbage bags to stretch film, shrink film and even meat liners, are further reducing plastic packaging waste in the industry.
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Thong Guan believes that environmental sustainability is just as important as business sustainability, practiced by carrying out business operations responsibly and creating a positive impact in the community through investment in education, sports, community care, environmental projects, and occupational health and safety. Over the years, Thong Guan has also supported charities and other
Features: • Quick changeover features including automation • Enhanced ergonomics and user interface • Increased output speeds • Industry 4.0 smart features
meaningful causes, efforts through which the company hopes to foster community spirit as well as encourage its 2,200 employees to be actively involved in CSR programmes. In the fast-paced era of globalisation, meanwhile, Thong Guan has been continuously evolving to strive for sustainable growth. With an annual turnover of over RM 960 million, it is one of the fastest-growing companies in Asia Pacific, bolstered by additional manufacturing operations in China and Thailand. As Thong Guan
continues to grow, however, it believes in striking a harmonious balance between its business pursuits and social responsibility. “Our sustainability goals are at the top of our list, so we will continue to work on reducing waste and closing the loop as we aim to hit RM 2 billion turnover by 2027,” confirms Ang. “Next year, we are looking to invest in many areas. We have machines coming that include stretch film, shrink film, stretch hood, and flexible packaging capabilities.” With Thong Guan at the plastic packaging helm, the future of film is green.
el: 604-4417 888 T info@thongguan.com www.thongguan.com
APAC Outlook issue 53 | 9
THONG GUAN INDUSTRIES BERHAD (Company No:199401038519) (324203-K), Lot 52, Jalan PKNK 1/6, Kawasan Perusahaan Sungai Petani, 08000, Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia Tel: 604-4417 888 Fax: 604-4419 888 info@thongguan.com www.thongguan.com
PRODUCED BY APAC OUTLOOK MAGAZINE