FPT 2 2023

Multi-country study setting new

benchmark for detail and understanding of plastic packaging in European waste streams

Study of Printability of Bio-based Plastic in Gravure Process

European Packaging Producers embrace the Circular Economy but few

New study on the climate relevance of packaging: 94% less CO2 achievable by 2045

Dörken has started to produce technical building membranes on SML lamination lines

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Printability is function of different printing technical parameters which describes whether the printing on any media can be made at par with printing standards. In this modern era bio-based plastic have emerged as new alternative for replacing conventional plastic to protect Mother Earth as usages of printing plastic is very common in our day to day life.

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A recent study by the GVM Gesellschaft für Verpackungsmarktforschung market research company and ifeu – Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Heidelberg gGmbH, commissioned by eight industry associations, shows that the greenhouse gas emissions associated with packaging in the German market could be reduced by 94 per cent by 2045.

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New research commissioned by material technologies business, Aquapak, with sustainable packaging producers and users in the UK, Italy and Germany1, shows that European packaging businesses are committed to the circular economy, but few are acting ahead of legislation.

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CEFLEX and partners are conducting a multi-country compositional analysis to research the type and amount of flexible packaging and rigid plastic packaging in the post-consumer waste stream. The research is providing valuable data to understand the collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure needed in each country.

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Investments in capacity are just the tip of the iceberg for Minipak as it showcases quality and competitiveness in the flexible packaging industry

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Study of Printability of Bio-based Plastic in Gravure Process Printability is function of different printing technical parameters which describes whether the printing on any media can be made at par with printing standards. In this modern era bio-based plastic have emerged as new alternative for replacing conventional plastic to protect Mother Earth as usages of printing plastic is very common in our day to day life. In this domain Gravure printing is known for good printability with high speed production. But compatibility of bio-based plastic with gravure printing is still a major concern. Hence to study printability aspects on bio-plastic is an attempt to make for exploration of mutual compatibility of media and printing process which will prove a boon in upcoming future by replacing conventional plastic.

By Pankaj Kumar, Prof. Ambrish Pandey, Prof. Rajendrakumar Anayath Over In this era of glob- tic material and growth Need of Environmentalalization and ever- of industrializations ly friendly plastics for growing demand for leads to printing on Printing and Packaging: convenience in all walks plastic materials to ca- Plastics are not inherof life, polymer family ter the need of ever- ently bad in nature but offers a wide range of growing demand of they are bad for enviplastic films includes packaging especially ronment as they are not new generation envi- flexible packaging. environment friendly ronmentally friendly Printing on plastics was because plastic materisubstrates for various one of the most chal- als are not degradable. printing and packaging lenging jobs in last So, there is great need applications.

Plastics: century for printers. arises for the developWith the advent of plasment of degradable

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strates/ materials for among greatest inven- Gravure Printing Proprinting & packaging tion of mankind. It has cess: Gravure Printing applications.

Recently touched almost every Process is high-speed, some fossil/ bio-based life after its invention high-quality printing plastic has been report- either in form of printed process primarily used ed by the researchers product or in form for for printing on plastics which can be shaped packages. There are for packaging applicasuitably for application various processes of tions and comes under as substrates for print- printing, categorically flexible printing. Graing for packaging appli- divided into impact and vure process is suitable cations.

Sustainability non-impact process to produce consistent and biodegradability are printing suitable for and very high-quality the biggest strengths of printing on different printing even on thin bio-plastics and hence, substrates for different films and low-grade they have been readily applications.

Different substrates.

Gravure accepted even in appli- printing process has process has many adcations where they are their own applications, vantages, but it has marginally or some- advantages and limita- some operational diffitimes expensive than tions and is suitable for culties due to special reconventional plastics. printing on different set quirements on machine Bio-plastics have an ex- of materials. Printing on during printing, for subcellent potential to be plastics usually comes strates having tendency used for printing & under flexible printing in to elongate during packaging applications, which Gravure Printing printing under pressure. due to ability to their Process and Flexog- Printability: Printability degradability.

Printing raphy Printing Process refers to the suitability on Plastics: Printing is are leading printing pro- of substrate for reproconsidered as one cesses in this field. duction of good quality

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text, picture and pat- ment and incorporation Materials and Methtern in single as well as for better and specific odology in multi-color. So, Print- print production, howTo study and analysis of ability is the ability of ever following are the printability of bio-based substrate to take print, necessary print attribplastics on Gravure proit is sum total of various utes which should be cess following steps are factors affecting quality followed for determinafollowed: and quantity during tion of Solid Ink Density print production. It is (SID), Dot Gain and Preparation of Test an important factor af- Hue error.

Chart: Suitable test fecting selection of machart was prepared by Research Objective terials (Printing Subincorporating various strate, Inks, Auxiliary The key objective of the elements to check printarrangements and Spe- study is to analyses ability, run-ability and cial requirements) for printability of bio-based readability of printed print productions. Sev- plastic gravure printing samples. eral factors play im- process. ii. Printing Processes: portant role to decide Gravure printing proprintability of a substrate, which are surface characteristics like thickness, porosity, smoothness, color & whiteness and surface coating apart from that compatibility of substrate with printing process is also very important. Various printing attributes are measured for getting objective views for printability of selected materials either for selection or to determination for print production. There are various print properties elements are available for measure-

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cess was selected for parameters.

Prints Ink Density: Ink density this study under stand- were selected for study value (Avg. Value) for ard press room condi- on equal region to check all process color i.e. Cytion.

Magenta, Yellow the consistency and ac- an, curacy of printing pa- and Black is presented iii. Machine: Printing on rameters for checking in figure 1. During obGravure proofing maprintability. servation it was found chine was done for sethat cyan color demonlected substrate.

Data Analysis strated minimum ink value while iv. Selection of Sub- To study printability as- density strate: Selection of sub- pects of bio-based plas- black color demonstratstrate was limited to tic using gravure pro- ed highest ink density PLA (Bio- based) for this cess numerous printing value followed by yellow study. parameters were taken color. into consideration. ii. Dot Gain: Value of v. Selection of Printing These are as follow: dot gain for process colInks: Solvent based Gravure printing ink was used for this study. vi. Colorimetric Measuring instrument: X-rite, Exact spectrophotometer was used for capturing of data. vii. Gravure Cylinder Preparation: Gravure cylinder was prepared using Laser engraving on HelioKlischograph smart K5.

Selected substrate PLA (Bio-Based) was printed on gravure proof machine with suitable process inks in standard press room conditions maintaining all printing

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or at different level i.e. gain at 25%, it was ob- followed by magenta 75%, 50% and 25% on served that magenta color. bio-plastic i.e. PLA using color demonstrated Results and Discusgravure process is highest dot gain folsion shown in figure 2, 3 and lowed by black color, cy4 as below. a. Dot an color dot gain was In order to study printaGain at 75%: It was ob- lowest on PLA bio-based bility aspects on bioserved that magenta plastic. based plastic using gracolor demonstrated vure process numerous Hue Error: The average highest dot gain folparameters were taken hue error for all process lowed by black color on into consideration. Colcolor i.e. Cyan, Magenselected substrate, lected information while ta, Yellow and Black is while lowest dot gain study for various printdepicted in figure 5. It was observed for cyan ing parameters is sumwas found that yellow color. marized as below: color exhibited minib. Dot Gain at 50%: In mum hue error value Conclusion case of 50% dot gain, it while black color exhibwas observed that on ited highest hue error Analysis of data reflects that most of the printing magenta color demonstrated highest dot gain followed by black color, while yellow color exhibited lowest dot gain on PLA bio-based plastic. c. Dot Gain at 25%: While observing dot

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parameters are very vative Research in Sci- 226-231, ISSN: 0975 close to standard value. ence, Engineer ing and 7384.

It was observed that Technology, Vol. 5, Is7. Pathak S., Sneha Solid Ink Density (SID) sue 6, June 2016, ISSN CLR, Mathew B. B., and of all process color were (Online): 2319-8753, Bioplastics: Its timeline in the range even PLA ISSN (Print ): 2347Based Scenario & Ch (Bio-based) has accept- 6710. allenges, Journal of Polability of higher ink den3. Lewis K., Simon E., ymer and biopolymer sity which in turn leads (2016) Bioplastics Sim- Physics Chemistry, to better ink density plified: Attributes of Bi- 2014, Vo. -2, No.-4, 84 and colorimetric values. obased and Biodegr -90, DOI: 10.12691/ Dot gain was measured adable Plastics, SPI: jpbjc-2-4-5. at 75%, 50% and 25% The Plastics Industry for all process color, it 8. Joshi A. V., BandyoTrade Association, plasis found that dot gain padhyay S., (2013), ticindustry.org, Feb was in acceptable range Comparative Study of 2016. of 5 to 15 percent for Printability Analysis on printing along with solid 4. Chung S. & 5 more, PVC Cast and Pet-G ink density and other (2015), US Patient Films, International printing parameters. 9579878 B1 – Gravure Journal of Advanced ReHue error was also ob- Printing System and m search in Engineerin g served in range for Cyan ethods of using the and Technology and Yellow. same, for Industrial (IJARET), Volume 4, IsTechnology Research In- sue 4, May- June 2013, References stitute on 30/10/20 15. pp. 208-221, ISSN 09 1. Kapoor, S. G., & Wu, 76-6480 (Print), ISSN 5. Arikan E. B., Ozsoy S. M. (1979). Predicting 0976-6499 (Online).

H. D., (2014) Time to printability of gravure Bioplastics, Akademic 9. Pandey A., Poonia A., and embossed papers Platform, ISEM2014 Nishant, (2012), Study by time series analysis.

Adiyaman – Turkey. of Print Quality on difJournal of Physics D: ferent Substrates i n Applied Physics, 12(12), 6. Chen Y. J., (2014), Gravure Printing, Inter2005.

Bioplastics and their national Journal of Engirole in achieving global 2. Borude P., Tora S., neering Research and sustainability, Journa l Sharma S., (2016), EfDevelopment. of Chemical and Pharfect of Substrate Topogmaceutical Research, 10. Pandey A., Kumar raphy on Print Qualit y Bejing, 2014, S (1): P., Singh V., (2010), Apin Gravure Press, Interplication of Bioplastics national Journal of Inno-

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in Bulk Packaging: A ence, ISBN 978-1-60 revolutionary and sus- 643-379-9. tainable approach, Bulk 15. Kirwan, M. J., Plant, Pack 2010, Hyderabad, S., & Strawbridge, J. W. India.

(2011). Plastics in food 11. World Bank Group, packaging. Food and (2007), Environmental, beverage packaging Health, and safety technology, 157-212.

Guidelines for Printin g, 16. Emblem, A. 1.

by International Finance (2012). Plastics properCorporation, ties for packaging mate30/04/2007. rials.

In Packaging 12. Lv X., Liu C., Wu Y., Technology (pp. 287Ipsen H., (2010), Varia- 309). Woodhead Pubtion of Gravure printing lishing.

Characteristic Cur ve, in Proceeding of the 17th World Conference on Packaging in Scientific Research, i n 2010 ISSN:978-1-935068-36 -5 13. Wu Y. J., (2008), The Effect of Substrate Properties on Print Attributes for Gravure P rinting – From Proof to Press, Western Michigan University, June - 2008.

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Kuruppali Z., (2011), Green Plastics: An emerging alternative for petroleum-based Pl astics? Proceedings of the 2011, IAJC-ASEE International Confer-

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New study on the climate relevance of packaging: 94% less CO2 achievable by 2045 A recent study by the GVM Gesellschaft für Verpackungsmarktforschung market research company and ifeu – Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Heidelberg gGmbH, commissioned by eight industry associations, shows that the greenhouse gas emissions associated with packaging in the German market could be reduced by 94 per cent by 2045. The study predicts that packaging consumption in Germany will have peaked in 2021 and continue to decline in the future. On top of this, the use of recycled materials and recycling proportions will both increase.

The study entitled “The ratios, recyclate use, count governmental or contribution of recycla- packaging optimisation European control interble packaging to the and packaging volumes. ventions that are al2045 climate neutrality The life cycle stages of ready committed. Spetarget” was produced in raw material produc- cific regulations either May 2023 to mark the tion, packaging material in planning or expected, 9th Day of Packaging on production, distribution such as the new Euro15 June 2023. It ex- as well as disposal and pean Packaging and plores the contribution recycling were balanced Packaging Waste Reguthat recyclable packag- out to reflect typical lation (PPWR), have not ing can make across all German conditions. been included in the materials with a view to forecasts though. HowThe study’s reference the German 2045 cliever, the study indiyear is 2021. The situamate neutrality target cates that the trajectory tion in 2030 and 2045 and predicts the develis similar due to fundawas modelled.

The opment of relevant facmental ambitions that study takes into actors such as recycling are also found in the

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PPWR’s catalogue of from the “Packaging packaging has peaked measures. The results market and circular The study predicts that of the study were an- economy” field of ac- packaging consumption nounced by GVM and tion. These include, for will have peaked in ifeu at a press confer- example, lighter pack- 2021 and continue to ence in Berlin. The com- aging, reusable packag- decline in the coming missioning associations ing, packaging฀saving years. While packaging are happy to provide consumer behaviour, in- consumption (excluding the report to interested creasing use of recycled wood) was still 16 milparties. Greenhouse gas materials and, last but lion tonnes in 2021, the emissions on a continu- certainly not least, the study calculates that it ous decline “The results greatly improved recy- will drop to 14 million of the life cycle assess- cling of packaging. The tonnes by 2030 and to ment show that green- remaining 54.4 percent- 11.7 million tonnes by house gas emissions as- age points come from 2045. “This equates to sociated with packaging the “Climate and energy a 13 per cent saving by volumes are steadily transition and process 2030 and a 27 per cent decreasing, with a 94 optimisation” field of ac- saving by 2045,” says per cent reduction tion.

Kurt Schüler. Evaluation achievable by 2045. of the results The study “The key points here This corresponds to a was commissioned by are, for example, decarsaving of 18,025 kt CO2 the following industrial bonisation of industrial equivalents,” says Benassociations: Arbeitsgeproduction processes, edikt Kauertz, Head of meinschaft Verpackung green energy sources the Industry and Prod+ Umwelt e.V. (AGVU) and energy savings in ucts Department at ifeu.

(Packaging + Environproduction and “39.3 percentage points ment Working Group), transport,” says Kurt of the savings are atBundesverband GlasinSchüler, Managing Parttributable to factors dustrie e. V. (BV Glas) ner of GVM. Use of

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(Federal Association of ststoffverpackungen e. gests that the packagthe Glass Industry), V. (IK) (Plastics Packag- ing and recycling indusDeutsches ing Industry Associa- try can make an imVerpackungsinstitut e. tion), PRO฀S฀PACK portant contribution to V. (dvi) (German Pack- Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Germany’s climate neuaging Institute), Fach- Serviceverpackungen e. trality. In particular, this verband Faltschachtel V. (Working Group for look into the future Industrie e. V. (FFI) Service Packaging) and shows how the circular (Folding Carton Industry Verband economy will unleash its Association), Industrie- Metallverpackungen e. full effect in the coming verband Papier฀ und V. (VMV) (Metal Packag- decades – for example Folienverpackungen e. ing Association). through increased use V. (IPV) (Paper and Film of recycled raw materiPackaging + EnvironPackaging Industry Asals. (Carl Dominik Klepment Working Group sociation), Industrie฀ per, Chairman of the (AGVU) The study sugvereinigung KunBoard AGVU)

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German Packaging In- its product protection mate neutrality beyond stitute (dvi) As a society function. For example, 2045. A great deal is and as individuals, we food packaging only ac- possible if everyone inconsume and use many counts for around 3 per volved, from business raw materials and prod- cent of the climate foot- and politics to consumucts, meaning there is a print on average. 97 per ers, makes their contricorrespondingly large cent is in the food itself bution and keeps recyamount of packaging. It – which is why the cling used packaging. is clear that packaging greatest damage to the (Kim Cheng, Managing is a significant factor if climate occurs when a Director dvi) we are to achieve the product is unused and Plastics Packaging Inclimate neutrality tar- goes bad. The study by dustry Association e.V. gets by 2045. This re- GVM and ifeu shows (IK) For the first time, mains true even though what a key contribution the study shows in hard packaging is already a packaging can make on figures the shared reclimate protector due to Germany’s path to clisponsibility of politics,

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industry and society in be possible. As an inreducing greenhouse dustry, we are facing up gases from packaging. to these challenges. We As well as the essential are confident that we energy turnaround, can find the right and changed parameters sustainable solutions for close to the packaging flexible packaging made itself can also open up of paper and plastic. significant potential. As (Karsten Hunger, IPV far as plastic packaging Managing Director) is concerned, this also means a raw material turnaround no later than 2045. This means that in the future plastics will not use any fossil oil and that recycling, biomass and CO2 will provide the climate฀ neutral raw materials.

(Mara Hancker, IK Managing Director) Industrial Association for Paper and Film Packaging (IPV) Packaging that both safely protects the packaged products, fulfils all other necessary functions and at the same time significantly reduces their associated greenhouse gas emissions is a daunting challenge.

However, the study shows that if all relevant stakeholders work closely together, it can

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European Packaging Producers embrace the Circular Economy but few act ahead of Legislation New research commissioned by material technologies business, Aquapak, with sustainable packaging producers and users in the UK, Italy and Germany1, shows that European packaging businesses are committed to the circular economy, but few are acting ahead of legislation.

The study shows that place and a further 5% islation and 45% said the majority of busi- didn’t know. they respond quickly to nesses (85%) have a new rules when they With forthcoming legiscircular economy strateare announced. Howlation such as the regy which involves reusever, 24% described vised European Coming and recycling existtheir rate of change as mission’s Packaging and ing materials and prod‘medium’ and 10% as Packaging and Packagucts as long as possible, ‘very slow’. ing Regulation (PPWR) with 21% saying they as part of the Circular Commenting on the will be fully circular Economy package set findings, Mark Lapping, within three years. Alto have a major impact Chief Executive Officer, most a quarter (24%) on packaging and pack- at Aquapak, said: “Our have a three to fouraging design, the study study shows that the year time frame for also explored how this European packaging achieving circularity and was affecting the rate of producers is embracing a further 23% expect to change in businesses as the circular economy, meet this objective they seek to improve with a focus on achievwithin four to five sustainability and circu- ing full circularity. At years. However, 11% larity.

Just 20% of Aquapak, we are supsaid that they did not businesses said they porting this goal by have such a strategy in are acting ahead of leg- helping our customers

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use the world’s re- current regulations ing non-toxic and masources more effectively which allow the rine-safe. by reducing waste and ‘recyclable’ label to be To read the full report, increasing the reuse of used if there is up to visit Sustainable Packvaluable materials as 15% unrecyclable mateaging in Europe: The part of the circular rial in the product. If drive for change – aqeconomy through new littered HydropolTM is uapak technologies which pro- biodegradable, com(aquapakpolymers.com) vide the functionality postable, as well as beneeded to protect products, whilst reducing the impact on the environment.”

Aquapak has developed HydropolTM, a polymer based on PVOH, which can be successfully coated on to both paper and board, with proven gas and grease barrier properties, with additional functionality such as heat seal and increased paper sheet strength can also be imparted, making it suitable for a range of packaging uses such as bags and pouches.

Aquapak has already proven that HydropolTM coated paper is 100% repulpable in standard pulping systems and can be fully recycled and it proven to give real improvement when set against

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Multi-country study setting new benchmark for detail and understanding of plastic packaging in European waste streams CEFLEX and partners are conducting a multi-country compositional analysis to research the type and amount of flexible packaging and rigid plastic packaging in the post-consumer waste stream. The research is providing valuable data to understand the collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure needed in each country.

Following in- ward towards a circular CEFLEX will be focusing depth compositional economy for packaging on key takeaways speanalysis at sites in the materials. cific to flexible packagUK and Germany, and ing and collaborating In addition to the exnow also The Netherwith its rigid plastics tensive data gathered lands and France, a partners to explore inat each site, a first multi-country study by sights across all forround of country-toCEFLEX, Resource Fumats. country analysis is tures, and partners starting to be made. Separate collection and PCEP, Petcore Europe, Across four countries sorting can tap into lots Styrenics Circular Solu(UK-Germany-The of ready to recycle retions and the Tubes ReNetherlands-France), a sources cycling Project mantotal of 12.8 tonnes of aged by Stina Inc. conWhich waste stream residual waste and 4.9 tinues to gather insights flexible packaging is tonnes of recyclables on the reality of today’s found in shows the imwere sampled, sorted collected household pact of a welland analysed giving packaging waste. The established separate several levels of deinsights generated repcollection system for retailed data. resent a vital step for-

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cyclables. For instance, The study also found a The composition by flexibles are not widely significant amount of country – flexibles in separately collected for flexible packaging to be the recyclable stream recycling in the UK, in- recyclable mono- data shows variation in cluding by those local polyethylene (PE) and the proportions of the authorities where the mono-polypropylene different types of flexiresearch was conduct- (PP) – between 40% ble packaging structures ed. This explains a high- and 60% of flexible found in the separately er percentage of flexible packaging depending on collected recyclable packaging found in the the country and waste waste stream country to UK residual waste stream. country. This reflects stream compared to different collection This encouraging finding Germany and the Nethschemes in terms of indicates significant erlands what materials are and quantities of recyclable aren’t separately colHeadline percentage flexible packaging are lected, but also different splits – excluding carrier potentially available to consumer habits and bags and bin liners – by be sorted and returned markets in those counweight of flexible pack- to the economy, with tries. aging in separately col- amounts expected to lected recyclable and rise further as design In all countries studied residual waste streams changes increase the the greatest proportion in four major European proportion of mono- of flexible packaging countries: material packaging. found in the recyclable stream is mono% (by weight) of flexi- Country by country materials films, primarible packaging in: insights ly mono-PE and monoPP. This is a positive

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finding as these are the PE (HDPE) bottles. materials most easily There are relatively For rigid plastic packagrecycled and CEFLEX’s small amounts of other ing, categories most preference for designing plastic packaging incommonly found across flexible packaging. cluding tubes in the all countries and both in There is a varying prowaste streams. the separately collected portion of multi-material recyclables stream and Assessment and catestructures country to the residual waste gorisation country, with smaller stream were polypropylamounts of paperAll packaging was manene (PP) pots, tubs and based, aluminium foilually sorted, identified trays; polyethylene terbased, biodegradable and categorised using a ephthalate (PET) bottles and compostable strucstandard and consistent and pots, tubs and tures. set of categories. Catetrays; plus high density gory descriptions were

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simplified to support material type and prod- With the compositional this process.

‘Multi- uct area, with a analysis study now material complex com- handheld NIR used to achieving an important binations’ included flexi- identify multi-material threshold of completing ble packaging structures plastic films. An exten- fieldwork in four counsuch as those contain- sive number of catego- tries, CEFLEX stakeholding a combination of ries and data were de- ers and partners can PET, Aluminium and PE veloped with CEFLEX, look forward to further for example, or struc- its partners, brand own- webinars sharing intures with barriers ma- ers and packaging tech- sights and expert analyterials or layers. ‘Multi- nologists. This allowed sis, plus an executive material twin combina- for plastic film identifi- summary of findings tions’ included struc- cation based on a prod- during 2023. tures that contained PA uct or brand; and a liand PE for instance, or brary of known samples mixed PO structures’. built to support identification using a handAssessment at each faheld NIR scanner. cility took place over five days, with 20 sam- Next steps ples of 30-110kg recyThe four country study clables and 20 samples data has been extrapoof 140-180kg residual lated to a national waste at locations in scale, building our unUK, Germany, The Nethderstanding of how erlands and France in much and what types of 2020-2022.

Samples flexible packaging apwere taken from differpears in the recyclable ent loads, locations and and residual waste times, with the aim to streams in each counreflect variety in housetry. This is vital to unholds and socioderstand the collection, economic factors. All sorting and recycling insamples were taken prifrastructure needed in or to the waste being each country and the sorted or processed. Afimplications for Extendter identifying rigid ed Producer Responsiplastic packaging, flexibility schemes. bles were separated by

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Investments in capacity are just the tip of the iceberg for Minipak as it showcases quality and competitiveness in the flexible packaging industry Founded in 1976, Minipak S.A.S. is one of the largest flexible materials manufacturers in Colombia, servicing the whole Americas with high quality flexible packaging. Minipak has seen significant growth over the years and currently has a turnover of more than USD 125 million, thanks to an outstanding investment strategy in its two plants in Colombia. There has also been a strong focus on ensuring its 800 employees have the best skillset to provide customers with the highest performing solutions.

Minipak began by snacks, food, pet food, president of production providing the confec- personal care, and even of Minipak. Continued tionery industry with industrial applications, investment has also enhigh quality printed with more sophisticated abled the business to films. Since it was es- products. broaden its geographic tablished, customers’ reach – today, it ex“The investment level, needs and challenges ports more than 70% of which represents up to have always been front what it produces to 15% of Minipak’s turnoof mind to create a more than 35 countries ver, is targeted towards growth strategy that around the globe. state-of-the-art equipnow places Minipak as a ment, the best technol- As a company that leading player in the ogy available and relia- strives for quality, it is market. Over the years, ble technical services to no surprise that Minipak the company’s apdeliver an operation has a long history with proach and investments that is efficient and BOBST gravure technolhave enabled them to competitive,” says ogy. It first established enter new markets, inHumberto Portilla, vice- a relationship with Cecluding chocolates,

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rutti, which was ac- BOBST RS 6003 HS gra- enough to meet the inquired by BOBST in vure press. The result crease in demand, 2021, and then contin- was an increase in out- which led the company ued to invest its tech- put of 20% working at to consider investing in nology. Currently, the speeds up to 600 m/ more capacity. The natcompany counts 7 min, greater automation ural decision was to BOBST gravure presses and protection against purchase a new 9among its assets and is unplanned downtime of colour BOBST MASTER about to install a brand the machine. “Being RS 6003 gravure press. new one. able to convert cold seal “Two main reasons exapplications at the maxBesides purchasing best plain our decision for imum speed of conven-in-class equipment, BOBST machinery: tional materials was a Minipak also invests in Number one is the must for us, and the maintaining its assets to brand itself.

BOBST collaboration of BOBST ensure optimum perforbrand resonates among and the Minipak team mance at all times. Rethe main large corporamade it possible!” says cently, the company intions as the ultimate Humberto. vested in a Retrofit protechnology in the indusgram to its 10-colour, However, the increase in try, so when they are inline lamination, capacity was not evaluating suppliers like

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us for their packaged capability,” states the sources. “This is espegoods, the BOBST brand executive, mentioning cially important considon the equipment some key differentiators ering we are servicing nameplate is a plus. as the colour consisten- large global brands all Second, from an inter- cy achieved by colour over the world,” states nal perspective, is the registration features, Portilla. reliability of the equip- and tension control pro“A well-established proment and the repeata- vided by the servo syscess, and relying on bility of printing, which tems, which enables equipment that we can guarantees we deliver working on thinner and run faster, with the consistent quality time more complex materihighest degree of qualiand again to our cus- als. ty and accuracy, saving tomers,” says Portilla.

“There are also signifi- us a lot of time and reThe recent investments cant logistics gains, al- sources, ultimately not only support Mini- lowing us to deliver translates into less pak’s geographical ex- faster. Considering an waste, lower energy pansion, but also pro- export to the US, cur- consumption, and revides the company with rently our main market, source optimization, the quality and perfor- we can deliver in five to making Minipak the mance needed to deliv- six weeks. In some cas- supplier of choice when er more products, espe- es, we were able to de- it comes to sustainabilcially cold seal applica- liver in less than two ity.” tions, to customers. weeks!” he says. This is Technology and proespecially important in a “Improving our capacity cesses are run by peomoment when compawith a higher degree of ple, and that’s an addinies are witnessing high technology, has been tional strength of the pressure on the cost of key for us to gain signifcompany. Through the working capital and inicant new businesses ‘Campus Project’, an edterest rates. worldwide, mainly in ucational program cremore sophisticated Quality, sophistication ated by Minipak for products. The move to- and logistics gains are their employees, curwards cold-seal applica- not the only advantages rently 250 people are tions is a good example Minipak achieves. All studying towards a colof that. We recently these gains also trans- lege degree, in areas inclosed a deal with a late into a more sus- cluding engineering, fileading global chocolate tainable operation, as nance and logistics. The producer, which was on- you can achieve more goal is to have all emly possible due to this with the same re- ployees graduate in

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about five years. “We flexographic methods. are talking about indus- This latest partnership trial, mechanical, and further solidifies the chemical engineers, for company’s foothold in instance. We want to the global market. service the market in The company has a forthe most proficient and midable presence in the skilled way.” confectionary and cold “I think that all those seal packaging sector, things, having the right exporting 70% of these people, the right equip- products to over 35 ment, the right technol- countries worldwide. ogy, pumping in a lot of This strong global excapital into R&D and port network demonhaving very competitive strates the firm’s ability structure in terms of to meet diverse customcost and lead times er demands while mainmake us very optimistic taining a robust supply about the future ahead chain across different of us,” concludes Hum- continents. berto Portilla.

Joining the ERA will proRecently Minipak S.A.S., vide Minipak access to a has joined the European larger network of indusRotogravure Association try professionals, cut(ERA), marking a new ting-edge research, and chapter in its long- valuable insights into standing journey as a the latest industry key player in the inter- trends and developnational packaging in- ments. This move will dustry. further enhance Minipak’s ability to deliver Founded in 1976, Minihigh-quality, innovative pak has grown into a packaging solutions to dominant packaging its expansive clientele. printer boasting an impressive array of 10 presses, divided equally between gravure and

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