Plastics & Rubber Review (Jan-Feb 2014)

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Plastivision India 2013 - A Great Success -

Vietnam Customers Trust The Amut-Comi Quality

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Weathering Testing

Vol.2 No. 1 | January-February 2014 | New Delhi, India

Annual subscription: US$100 Managing Editor Sarvjit Associate Editor & Public Relations Director Reny Joint Editors Vishwapreet Amrita Advisor Rajiv Sanghavi

Efficiency 30 million times

Production Rakesh

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Marketing & Communications Surinder Circulation Surekha

Solid business and good prospects for Russia’s plastics and rubber industry

EuroMold 2014 World Fair

QUICK VIEW TURKEY: Second top plastic producer in Europe According to a report released by the Turkish Plastics Industrialists Federation (PLASFED), the production value of plastic products increased to USD 34.3 billion, marking a 17 % increase compared to 2012.

In 2013, the export volume of plastic goods rose to USD 4.58 billion, a 13 % increase in comparison to the previous year, while imports totaled USD 2.9 billion.

The sector ran a USD 1.68 billion foreign trade surplus, becoming one of the few sectors to achieve a foreign trade surplus in Turkey.

The Asia-Pacific is emerging as a prime growth driver for the plastics industry, with China expected to foster growth in the medium- to long-term period.

Design, Art & Web Development Diamond Infomedia Correspondents Germany - Sandra UK - Mike Steele Australia - Andy McCourt Netherlands - Alex & Lilly China - Ying / Adrian Indonesia - Upi Thailand - Amy For advertising, subscribing or to submit a press release, contact us: info@plasticsandrubberreview.com Head Office: Plastics & Rubber Review D-182, PR House, Anand Vihar, 110092 New Delhi - India.

Tel : +91 11 22141542 / 4309 4482 Fax: +91 11 22160635 Published, printed, & owned by S. Singh, on behalf of Milinia Inc. at D-182,PR House, Anand Vihar, 110092, New Delhi, India and printed by him at Technical Press, D-182/C, Anand Vihar, 110092, New Delhi, India.

Views expressed in this magazine are of the contributors, authors and companies and not necessarily of the publisher and/or editors’ and they do not take any responsibility for the errors and/or accuracy of the information published in this publication. No part or design of this magazine can be reproduced without prior permission of the publisher, who reserves the right to use the information published in this magazine in any manner whatsoever.

Plastics & Rubber Review | January-February 2014 | 3

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Plastivision India 2013 - A Great Success Garners Business Worth Rs 1500 crores Indian Oil Corporation Ltd etc Exhibited in Plastivision India from India similarly many big International players like Kraussmaffei, Yudo, Borouge, Lanxess, Piovan, Reifenhauser, and Breyer also participated to promote their Machinery and products.

The major exhibitors groups included - Auxillary Equipments - Machinery Molds and Dies - Raw Materials Semi Finished / Finished Products - Others From L to R Raju Desai- Chairman, Plastivision India 2013, Anand Oza- President, AIPMA, Arvind Mehta-Chairman Governing Council - AIPMA

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lastivision India 2013 witnessed a grand response from the plastics industry, where more than 110,000 visitors attended the exhibition and recorded a participation from more the 1225 exhibitors from over the world.

Plastivision India was spread over 75,000 sq. meters area covering 9 halls. The fair showcased various innovations and technologies from the plastics industry. The ninth edition of Plastivision 2013, organised by All India Plastic Manufacturers’ Association was inaugurated by Mr. Indrajit Pal, Secretray (Chemicals & Petrochemicals), Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers in the presence of Mr. Avinash Joshi, Jt. Secretary, Petrochemical Division, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers and Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah.

The show had dedicated pavilions like Indiamold, Plastiworld, Plastics in Agriculture, Automation & Robotics in Plastics Pavilion, Green Pavilion, Solar Energy Pavilion and Plastics in Medical Pavilion. One of the areas where more attention was focused is bio-degradable plastics.

Big players like Lohia starlinger Pvt. Ltd, Reliance Industries Ltd, Windsor Machines Ltd, Rajoo Engineers Ltd, J P Extrusiontech Ltd, Ferromatik Milakron India Pvt. Ltd and

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Speaking on the five-day international event, Mr. Raju Desai, chairman of the Plastivision India 2013, said “We are humbled by the positive response that we have received this year at the exhibition and are very optimistic about the growth reaching new heights. The event has successfully generated a business of Rs 1500 crore this time, bringing 50% growth when compared with business of Rs 1,000 crore recorded at the previous Plastivision. We are hopeful to receive all the required support from the government that would facilitate the further growth of the plastics industry”.

The government is also encouraging the setting up of Plastics Parks in various states to help the growth of the plastics industry, which is so important for the economy as well as employment generation. The Ministry has already cleared two plastics parks, one in the state of Madhya Pradesh and one in Orissa and some funds have already been disbursed. Some more parks are under consideration to facilitate the

growth of the plastics industry.

AIPMA president Mr. Anand Oza said. “Our aim is to emphasize the needs of the government to promote policy changes, and better development of the industry. He pointed out that plastic waste and innovative ways and infrastructure construction, government and industry should work together. Mumbai AIPMA to apply for $ 3.9 billion investment in the country to build more plastic park area Plastivision is India’s second largest plastics exhibition, the last show was held in 2011. Compared to 2011, this year, India’s economy is full of a lot of uncertainty.

President of the National Advisory Committee Plastivision Mr. Arvind Mehta said the slow growth of the plastics industry in India is because the Indian economy as a whole, there are some problems.

But he also pointed out that Indian Oil Corporation on the line after the new capacity will soon be absorbed by the market, from that point you can see the Indian plastics industry continues to grow.

The infrastructure provided by Plastivision India was flawless the Hall was allotted perfectly keeping in mind about the national and international Exhibitors even the reach was so easy because of the division of section such as Machinery, Raw materials , Finished goods ….. Etc. The Stalls have been designed and decorated by the exhibitors to woo the customers; on an average more than 25000 visitors has been visited Plastivision India 2013 on daily basis.

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at many Halls. The banners, site map were placed in such a fair condition which leads visitors to reach easily over the destination Conclusion: Machinery items played the key role many visitors’ attentions were dragged by the machinery section where they got a chance to enjoy the live demonstration of injection & blow moulding products as well as Extrusion machineries. The visitors gave thumbs up for the major players who demonstrated their products. Recycling was the next followed by the visitors who showed their keen interest in Green Pavilion also which kept the players of Recycling Machineries busy. Similarly other Exhibitors group like Auxillary Equipments, Molds and Dies, Raw Materials, Semi Finished / Finished Products and Others got good response from the visitors.

The Indian exhibitors were very happy with the response which they have received during Plastivision India 2013 and many of the exhibitors are waiting for Plastivision India 2017.

The international exhibitors got a positive response from the visitors their products has been highly appreciated they were also busy with their customers.

Plastivision India has not left any stone unturned to mark the success of the Exhibition. The current scenario clearly shows that believers in plastics have grown to the large extent and the craze for Plastivision India has swept the anti Plastic community.

About Plastivision India 2013 Plastivision India 2013 would be the 9th edition of the trade fair that is organised by AIPMA. This event is held at Mumbai at the interval of every three years. Over the years, Plastivision India has become a flagship event in India and is on the calendar of plastics industry worldwide. Plastivision India 2013 would be the biggest in the series so far and would be held on 12-16 December. Plastivision India 2013 would witness participation by over 1500 companies from India and 30 other countries. The trade fair would be held in area spanning nearly 75,000 sq. mtrs and expect visits by over 100,000 core businessmen and other key stakeholders. Plastivision India 2013 would be the biggest trade fair held in the city of Mumbai.

For more information, please visit: www.plastivision.org and www.aipma. net

Talking about the food & beverage organized by Plastivision India it has been arranged well by the organization. Exhibitors, Visitors reach was within a stone throw for food and cafeteria. Even the cleanliness maintained by Plastivision India was par excellent.

The directory produced by Plastivision India helped all the exhibitors as well as the visitors which were available Plastics & Rubber Review | January-February 2014 | 5

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InterPlas Thailand 2014 - The Future is Here!

ASEAN is soon becoming a single market. The continual demand for automotive parts, packaging, design products and general appliances will drive the needs for production further.

Institute of Thailand in collaboration with PTT, SCG & IRPC. • “Japan Plastic Technology”: a special pavilion to promote exclusive Japanese Plastic Technology to specific target of Japanese visitors.

• “Composite Thailand” Profile: Add more value to your products with composite materials, technology and know-hows to increase your business potentials.

• “Taiwan Mold & Die Pavilion” : meet with the mold & die makers of Taiwan and discuss on possible business collaboration.

“InterPlas Thailand 2014”, the only international plastics & rubber manufacturing machinery and technologies exhibition in Thailand, is proud to be an arena that offers business opportunities to industrialists in the plastics and rubber industries throughout the region. Moreover, InterPlas Thailand has been certified by a world-class exhibition organization called UFI as an “UFI Approved Event” so that is a proof that the event is high standard and a genuinely international event which participants can benefit from. The exhibition will be held from 19 – 22 June 2014, at BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand.

With innovations from 260 brands from 14 countries including Japan, South Korea, China, Germany, Italy, visitors will find here the technologies that represent a various segments of plastics and rubber manufacturing, as well as endless number of potential suppliers and partners to strengthen your business!

Meet these special featured zones at the show: InterPlas Thailand will provide more than trade exhibition as visitors will also get to attend forums, asks for advices from the specialists, as well as joining in activities that will further their experience and enable their productivity development.

• “Chemical & Raw Materials Zone” : a unique venue where leading suppliers will offer their high-performance materials for more efficient plastics production • “Innovation & Consultancy Center” : Professional advices will be provided by the experts from PETROMAT and the Plastic Institute of Thailand. Visitors will also learn new knowledge from the conferences organized by the Plastic 6 | January-February 2014 | Plastics & Rubber Review

A part of “Manufacturing Expo 2014,” Thailand’s Largest Manufacturing and Supporting Industries Event Manufacturing Expo 2014 incorporates three other UFI

approved events: Automotive Manufacturing (for auto parts manufacturing), InterMold Thailand (for mold and die) and Assembly Technology (on industrial automation). The Show will put up bigger scale, wider ranges of technologies, more insightful conferences and seminars, and more beneficial onsite activities to show the complete convergence of technology, know-how, network and products through value chain.

Come grab the abundant opportunities, enhance your brand images, expand your business connections, and increase your production efficiency with innovative machinery and technologies only available at InterPlas Thailand 2014 from 19 – 22 June 2014, at BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand.

For more information, please visit www.interplasthailand.com

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VIETNAM CUSTOMERS TRUST THE AMUT-COMI QUALITY - Sheet index with double toothed chains and wear-resistant slide plates; - Chains adjustment on one point, with independent electric drive; - Control in percentage of transversal rows in the lower thermoforming oven; - Thermoregulation gearcases of the mould with 2 zones; - Fine adjustment of upper and cutting mould, with electric drive; - Dual moving system of mould traversing/tilting; - Non-cutting device with pneumatic drive; - SIEMENS PLC to control the line operation and to supervise working parameters.

Technical data: ~ Mould: 20 cavities. Orthogonal mould with skeleton reduction of 38%.

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fter supplying two thermoforming machines in Indonesia for the production of 90.000 drinking water cups/h in PP (model AMP850), AMUT-COMI, a part of the AMUT GROUP specializing in the thermoforming field, has gained confidence also in Vietnam. This shows that the Asian market continues to put its trust into the high performing technologies of AMUT-COMI. AMP 630-GP second generation is the model set up and destined to be the first, for typology, extrusion and termoforming plant “in line� with high capacity installed into the south-Vietnamese market.

Equipped by an automatic pick up stacker in line and an extruder EA100, the plant is able to produce large quantities of disposable cups in PP with diameter 95 mm, in particular 33.000 cups/h for capacity of 500 ml and 35.000 cups/h for capacity of 450 ml. A 3 stations volumetric dosing unit with capacity up to 600 kg/h, a static mixer and a mill grinding the thermoformed skeleton, placed in line after the thermofoming machine, are also supplied.

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EA100 extruder (100 mm) permits to reach an hour production of 600 kg/h using only the 38% of recycled material originated from the thermoformed skeleton.

The line AMP 630-GP can be distinguished, as every other AMUT COMI thermoforming machines, for a sturdy and solid design and for a guaranteed resistance in cutting harder materials as PET and PP also under high speed.

Features: - Forming and cut simultaneously with tilting movable lower platen to 80 degrees; - Forming cycles by compressed air injection;

~ Mould max dimensions: 630 x 500 mm ~ Cutting area: 610 x 430 mm ~ Positive forming depth: 15 mm ~ Negative forming depth: 150 mm ~ Sheet width max: 685 mm ~ Pitch max: 430 mm ~ Cutting press: 40 ton ~ Dry cycle: 45/min

For more information, please contact: AMUT SPA Via Cameri,16-28100 Novara,Italy http://www.amut.it

international|event

Introducing T-PLAS - International Trade Fair for the Plastics and Rubber Industries To be held along with PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL 2015

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ormerly known as TIPREX, launched in 2006, the trade fair has been rebranded to T-PLAS to signify its relevance to the robust growth and developments in the plastics sector, enhance the regional focus and international outlook of the event, and to highlight a

Thailand also features a robust local presence of factories of global car and electronics manufacturers, and has the ambitious goal of being the regional leader in the production of bioplastics.

More significantly, Mr Ringling added that T-PLAS substantiates an inevitable evolution of Messe Dusseldorf Asia’s plastics and rubber trade fairs to deliver a meeting place with a strong local flavour and global appeal. “This ensures we provide participating companies with strategic opportunities to springboard their foothold into the regional plastics and rubber markets.”

unified business platform for the plastics and rubber industries.

The rebrand to T-PLAS, wil l see the trade fair colocate with the well-established event PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL 2015, emphasising the global market synergy of the plastics, rubber, packaging and printing sectors. T-PLAS and PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL 2015 will take place at BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand, from 26 to 29 August 2015.

Mr Gernot Ringling, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf Asia said: “The T-PLAS brand underpins Messe Dusseldorf Asia’s expertise in delivering a highly relevant platform that features a full spectrum of solutions, including the latest machinery and equipment, semi-finished products, technical parts and reinforced plastics, raw materials to services for the plastics and rubber sectors. T-PLAS 2015 is also strategically positioned as Thailand is home to more than 4,000 plastics processing companies, making it Southeast Asia’s largest plastics processing industry.”

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The co-location of T-PLAS and PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL 2015 will sharpen the profile and enhance the relevancy of the two independent trade fairs, “particularly with T-PLAS 2015 rising demand in the rigid plastic packaging and flexible plastic packaging markets,” he said. Both trade fairs will also come against the backdrop of the AEC (ASEAN Economic Community) in 2015 – the economic integration of the region under a single market and production base.

Held biennially, the combined depth and offerings of T-PLAS and PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL will bring emerging industry trends centrestage and further highlight the fast-growing markets of Southeast Asia’s plastics, rubber, packaging and printing sectors.

T-PLAS is part of Messe Düsseldorf Asia’s comprehensive portfolio of trade fairs focused on the Southeast Asian region, which includes 14 well-recognised trade fairs.

T-PLAS is supported by the No. 1 global trade fair in the plastics sector, K, organised by Messe Düsseldorf.

T-PLAS 2015 will continue on its successful path of serving a diverse customer base from a wide range of markets such as building and construction, mould and die, to electrical and electronics engineering. Space application is now open for T-PLAS 2015! For more information on the exhibition, please visit www.tplas.com or contact: For more details, please contact: Lee Ai Ling ailing@mda.com.sg Tel: (65) 6332 9644

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The SAVE FOOD Initiative welcomes its THAILAND: Rubber City to kick off 100th partner from industry two years earlier than planned NESTLE® is the next major company to join the initiative

A growing number of companies and organisations are supporting the SAVE FOOD Initiative dedicated to the fight against global food loss and waste. NESTLE ®, the world’s biggest food company, has now joined.

This means that a hundred industrial companies, associations and media are now working together with SAVE FOOD – a broad-based alliance that covers large stretches of the food value chain.

• The involvement of industry makes it possible to pool the resources of private and public organisations.

• The combination of expertise that arises in this process is used for the development of basic strategies and programmes.

• Building on this, the aim is to establish concrete investment programmes that encourage and call for engagement by public and private enterprises.

Each year, worldwide, a third of all food is thrown away or lost, while some 842 million people are suffering from hunger at the same time. In 2011, to rectify this distressing state of affairs, Messe Düsseldorf and the FAO jointly launched the SAVE FOOD Initiative, which has also been enjoying support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since the beginning of 2013. By networking with its public partner organisations and members in industry, the initiative aims to identify specific ways of reducing international food loss and waste.

Central to the SAVE FOOD approach is its networking with industry, because international organisations rely on cooperation with industry in the battle against food loss and waste. interpack as the flagship fair for the packaging sector and related processing industries is therefore playing an important part in this initiative by contributing the expertise of its international contacts in industry and associations to the initiative’s work. At upcoming interpack 2014, a SAVE FOOD Congress on the subject of food loss and waste, bringing together experts from industry, the political sphere and civil society, will be taking place in Düsseldorf on 7 and 8 May.

“Reducing food loss and waste is an important part of the journey to be able to feed 9.6 billion people by 2050. We are delighted to join the SAVE FOOD Initiative as the complex issue of addressing food loss and waste can only be tackled through an holistic and collaborative approach. NESTLE ® is firmly committed to further reducing food loss and waste along the entire production chain from farm to consumers and beyond,” says Dr. Anne Roulin, Global R&D Sustainability Manager, NESTLE ®.

The SAVE FOOD approach To achieve its goal of a substantial reduction in food loss and waste, the SAVE FOOD Initiative is pursuing four successive goals: • It is essential to draw the necessary attention to the problem and raise awareness.

A multi-faceted global issue The reasons for food loss and waste differ greatly from one region of the world to the next. In the less developed countries, up to forty per cent of food spoils before it even reaches the consumer. By contrast, in the western industrialised nations like Germany, food waste mainly takes place at the end of the food value chain, i.e. with the consumer. Here, up to thirty per cent of all food is disposed of unused. Just a quarter of the food currently lost worldwide would be sufficient to feed all the world’s hungry.

Companies interested in joining SAVE FOOD can contact Ms Isabel Chanteaux, Tel. +49 211 4560 208, Email: ChanteauxI@messeduesseldorf.de.

Nattapon Nattasomboon, director-general of the Department of Industrial Works, said Prasert Boonchaisuk, the caretaker industry minister, wanted to see the zone open two years earlier than originally planned.

The zone is part of the ministry’s policy to increase the utilisation of the nation’s rubber resources and add value to rubber products.

Thailand produces 3.1 million tonnes of natural rubber per year, of which 500,000 tonnes is used in the industrial sector. The ministry wants to raise this proportion to 750,000 tonnes per year in 2014 before reaching a million tonnes in 2015.

Isocyanate emission removal equipment Emissions of isocyanate fumes from storage tanks must also be controlled.

These emissions are normally produced either in tank venting due to tank pressurisation or during filling or emptying of the tanks. The company provides a range of tank fume scrubbing units for this purpose. Opus says that it also supplies units with special particulate filters to reduce the emissions during flame lamination of PU foam to acceptable limits. The company has put together a service package providing the manufacturing drawings and specifications of the main adsorber tank and activated carbon to be purchased locally.

This reduces both the price of the equipment and the shipping costs.

Opus provides inlet filter, main extraction fan, and control system. The company also assists during installation and start-up. The activated carbon adsorption can remove up to 100 % TDI emissions from the foaming process, is easy to operate, with minimum maintenance (for example recharging the carbon over five yearly intervals). It can easily be installed into the existing foam line without interrupting normal foam production. Opus Technical Ltd, based in Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK, supplies equipment and technology for the polyurethane foam industry.

The directors and engineers have over 40 years of experience in the design, manufacture and installation of over 500 flexible and rigid foam machines which have been supplied worldwide to foam companies.

Two of the world’s largest foam companies have installed Opus activated carbon equipment in several of their foam plants in Europe and the USA. The Opus equipment range includes conventional, Maxfoam, Vertifoam, Ultima and variable pressure foaming VPF as well as rigid foam laminators and slabstock machines, flat topping systems, bulk tank farm equipment, and liquid carbon dioxide systems and environmental control systems.

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Atlas’ Weathering Testing Offers a Glimpse into the Longevity of Wind Turbine Coatings Atlas offers high-irradiance Xenon weathering instruments to decrease testing times, as well as a unique immersion accessory that allows for simultaneous exposure to saltwater and light for offshore coatings testing.

For more information about Atlas weathering testing equipment and services visit Atlas online at www. atlas-mts.com or contact atlas. info@ametek.com.

About Atlas Material Testing Technology – www.atlas-mts.com

Atlas Material Testing Technology, the global leader in weathering technology and services, presented its state-of-the-art solutions for weathering testing of rotor blade coatings at the Wind Turbine Blade Manufacture Conference held from December 3 – 5, 2013, in Duesseldorf, Germany.

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ind turbines are installed in some of the harshest climates on earth, ranging from tropical to arctic offshore.

Smooth rotor blade surfaces are key to a wind turbine’s efficient performance. Utilizing the best materials and components when constructing a wind turbine can help reduce its maintenance and downtime and increase its long-term efficiency.

Multifunctional coatings are a critical component of a

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wind turbine’s rotor blade. These coatings must provide a smooth and aerodynamic surface and protect the blade matrix from an array of environmental impacts such as erosion due to rain, hail and UV light. They also need to possess anti-icing and self-cleaning properties that will last for the required lifetime of the coatings.

Atlas’ xenon arc instruments provide realistic testing to determine the long-term effects of sunlight, heat and moisture on the efficiency and functionality of rotor blade coatings. Accelerated weathering is essential in order to select the right coatings and avoid premature failure and costly downtimes.

Atlas is a recognized leader in material testing, offering a complete line of instruments and services for accelerated and natural weathering. In addition, the Atlas Consulting Group helps clients from various industries including photovoltaics, coatings, plastics, textiles, automotive and cosmetics develop the best weathering processes for their products.

Atlas is a unit of AMETEK Measurement & Calibration Technologies, a division within AMETEK’s Electronic Instruments Group, a recognized leader in advanced monitoring, testing, calibrating and display instruments. AMETEK, Inc. is a global leader in electronic instruments and electromechanical devices.

Atlas Material Testing Technology is ISO 17025 and ISO 9001:2008 registered. Atlas products are designed and manufactured to conform to international, national and industry standard test methods including ISO, ASTM, DIN, JIS and numerous others.

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Cooper Tire shareholders approve sale to Apollo Tyres

GN THERMOFORMING EQUIPMENT PRESENTING THE LATEST GENERATION OF GN760 THERMOFORMERS

Cooper Tire and Rubber Co said its shareholders approved its sale to India’s Apollo Tyres , bringing the tire makers one step closer to completing their $2.5 billion deal.

About 96 per cent of the shares that were voted at a shareholder meeting on Monday were in favor of the merger. The company said about 78 per cent of Cooper’s outstanding common shares were voted at the shareholder meet.

Michelin launches XZY3 HD tyre for commercial vehicles French tyre maker Michelin today announced the launch of its ‘XZY3 HD’, for commercial vehicle industry.

XZY3 HD tyre, which aimed at improving mileage, fuel saving and safety, was unveiled at the three-day International Commercial Vehicle Fair here, Michelin said in a release.

The new tyre would cater to the growing needs of fleet owners from multiple commercial vehicle segments and the tyre would deliver superior performance on Indian roads, the release said.

Michelin XZY3 HD, which offers a reinforced bead design with more bead wires designed to better cope with heavy payloads, also helped in equal distribution of weight, reducing stress spots around the tyre which enabled longevity, it claimed.

GN Thermoforming Equipment Co. is a leader in roll-fed, in-mold-cut thermoforming machines, is featuring its second-generation GN760 Model, plug-assist, 60-zone, radiant heat machine.

The machine boasts energy saving electronic regeneration, automatic chain-rail tensioning to reduce sag, twin servo motors and a rotary-driven toggle.

The GN760 has a 30-inch by 21-inch (762 Millimeter by 533mm) forming area and is designed to be able to handle sheets up to 32 inches wide, in thicknesses varying fro, 0.001 to 0.5 inch (0.25 to 1.5mm).

“We do in-mold cutting using common-edge knives,” an industry innovation that allows closer placement of individual items produced from straight or blended materials, said GN Thermoforming Marketing Manager, Mr. Jerome Romkey. Those materials include PET, High impact Polystyrene, Polypropylene, Polylactic Acid, PVC and Polyethylene/PET laminate.

The GN760’s electrical consumption, compared with competitors’ equipment, is 35-50 percent lower, saving customers as much as $9,000 (about 6,300 Euros) per year, according to the company. The efficiencies have been realised by servo-driven plugging, transport, stripping and stacking.

Those advances, according to GN, are integrated to improve high-speed de-nesting and stacking performance.

GN currently owns the zone in radiant-heat thermoforming machines, with a 95 percent market share.

The GN760 can also produce in an hour as many as 36,000 lids for takeout coffee cups and cold drinks.

“As long as it’s ‘makeable’, we can make it,” Mr. Romkey said in a recent interview at the company’s headquarters in Chester.

For More Details please contact: Satellite Plastic Industries, 2A2, Court Chambers, 35, New Marine Lines Mumbai 400 020 Phone: 022-22006477, 66346816; Fax: 022-22006556 Email : rajiv.satellite@gmail.com; Website: www.gnplastics.com Plastics & Rubber Review | January-February 2014 | 13

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Freeformer impresses again at the Euromold • • •

Arburg exhibit in Frankfurt for the first time Two Freeformers demonstrate new levels of freedom with Arburg Plastic Freeforming (AKF).

High level of interest in additive manufacturing among trade visitors

Interest in the Freeformer and its innovative technology was already phenomenal among the plastic processing community at its world premiere at the K 2013 in Düsseldorf. This success continued at the Euromold, where the Freeformer also impressed trade visitors from the mould construction, design and product development sectors.

The trade fair’s association with additive manufacturing and 3D printing also produced several important new contacts with positive prospects for the future.

The Freeformer attracted a great deal of interest and the Arburg stand was extremely busy on every day of the fair. Dr. Oliver Kessling, Head of Plastic Freeforming at Arburg, was consequently delighted: “We were in great demand at Euromold. The many visitors came not only from the German-speaking countries, but also included many members of the international public. There was considerable interest among representatives of the automobile, aerospace and medical technology industries.

Because the spectrum of visitors was so varied, it was impossible to pick out any one industry above the others. The new target groups for us were service providers from the additive manufacturing sector and material manufacturers.”

“We also had interesting discussions with other suppliers of additive systems, who consider the Freeformer as an ideal addition to this booming market segment”, adds Arburg’s Managing Director Technology & Engineering 14 | January-February 2014 | Plastics & Rubber Review

For Arburg, the Freeformer heralds a new era in plastic processing – the additive manufacturing of functional components as one-off parts and small-volume batches.

Herbert Kraibühler.

Freeformer convinces visitors at the Euromold As one of the world’s leading

manufacturers of injection moulding machines, Arburg enjoys an excellent reputation as a reliable partner for the plastics processing industry.

“The Freeformer and the Arburg

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feel of the surface quality of the components, most of them assessing it as exceeding expectations,” says Dr Oliver Kessling.

Freeformer: additive manufacturing reinvented

Dr. Oliver Kessling, Head of Plastic Freeforming at Arburg

Plastic Freeforming (AKF) technology have expanded our product portfolio and mark our entry into additive manufacturing, which will benefit the entire industry,” says Herbert Kraibühler.

The potential of the Freeformer and of Arburg Plastics Freeforming (AKF) was demonstrated at the Euromold with two exhibits which produced different one- and two-component parts from standard material right at the stand. The demonstration was supplemented by the exhibition of wide-ranging components produced using the new technology.

“Our exhibits were extremely well received by the public. Visitors were impressed with the look and

Arburg’s Managing Director Technology & Engineering Herbert Kraibühler

With the Arburg Plastic Freeforming (AKF) process, it is standard granulates, rather than special resins, powders, strips or other pre-fabricated materials which are melted and processed. This means that a wide selection of materials and colours is available. The material costs are accordingly low.

Material preparation in the Freeformer is very similar to that for injection moulding. The machine is filled with plastic granulate and a heated plasticising cylinder ensures an optimally prepared plastic melt.

The parts are produced from tiny droplets of plastic which are produced by the fixed discharge unit featuring a nozzle and a piezoelectric nozzle closure.

With the movement of the three or five-axis component carrier the desired part is being built-up layer-by-layer from droplets. With the optional five-axis execution a wide range of undercuts without support structures can be realized.

This means that even complex 3D geometries can be produced waste-free with minimal material consumption, achieving highly cost-effective results. However, the Freeformer can do even more.

The version with two discharge units can also be used to process two components. In this manner, movable hard-soft combinations, for example, or parts with a special appearance or texture can be produced, in which both components are firmly joined and the parts can be used functionally.

Complex technology, simple to use Arburg has consistently followed the same approach with the Freeformer as with its injection moulding machines, developing complex

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technology in-house and making it simple to use. The parameters required for the construction of the parts are automatically generated by the Freeformer control system with a gesture-controlled multitouchscreen. This receives the 3D CAD data for the components to be manufactured in the form of STL files, processes it automatically through slicing, after which production can start. No special programming, processing knowledge or extensive training is required.

Clean production, free from dust and emissions One aspect that proved extremely popular among developers and design offices in particular were the plug-and-play features of the Freeformer. The parts are produced completely free from dust and emissions. The machine is therefore suitable for virtually any application environment, whether in production, the office, the design department or a clean medical technology environment.

No extraction or filtering equipment is required.

The Freeformers are mobile and universally usable thanks to their compact dimensions and immediate production readiness. The machines are simply connected to the power supply and production can begin straight away.

In addition to the questions relating to technical features and availability, according to Dr Oliver Kessling, a particularly large number of

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questions had also been asked in relation to the production of parts and the plans for other Freeformer sizes.

Efficient production of one-off parts and small-volume batches Herbert Kraibühler answers the question of how the Freeformer fits into the company’s important overarching philosophy of production efficiency: “The Freeformer is the ideal addition to our range for the cost-effective production of plastic parts. The central question for our customers in the future will be: ‘How many parts do you plan to produce, how quickly and in what quality?’ Injection moulding will always be the right solution for the production of high-volume runs in top quality. One of the benefits of the Freeformer is that it operates without a mould on the basis of 3D CAD files. It is possible to change products in just a few minutes, producing one-off parts or smallvolume batches as required.” Summarising their impressions of the fair, Herbert Kraibühler and Dr Oliver Kessling agreed: “The Euromold is an important platform in the area of additive manufacturing. This event enables us to establish links with service providers in this sector, for example, something that is vitally important for newcomers to this industry like us. The enormous interest shown in our Freeformer by target groups such as developers and provides is certainly an affirmation that we have chosen the right approach.”

About Arburg As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-end injection moulding machines for plastics processing, ensuring your success in injection moulding production is part of our day-to-day business. Our decades of experience guarantee you a competitive edge. We are your expert partner for efficient injection moulding.

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German wholesaler Baro seeking African distribution partners at Tyrexpo Africa 2014 Show dates 4-6 March, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa German wholesaler Baro Ltd will be seeking new distribution partners for its European manufactured ranges of car, truck and agricultural tyres when it makes its first appearance at Tyrexpo Africa 2014 in Johannesburg next March.

Baro is well known as a major distributor of products from Russia, Ukraine and other former CIS countries, with brands including TyReX, Voltyre, Dneproshina, Rosava, Kama, Omskshina and Cordiant.

Baro currently enjoys a distribution agreement in east Africa with DJIB International Trading, which includes Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. BaRo’s aim at the exhibition will be to extend its African coverage by establishing similar arrangements with dealers from the north, west and the south of the continent.

“This will be our first appearance at Tyrexpo Africa and we regard it as an important opportunity to promote our European manufactured brands, particularly for truck applications and PCR fitments for SUVs and small trucks”, says BaRo’s sales director Alexander Artamonov.

“Over the last few years we have established a presence in East Africa and now we’re ready to extend our market penetration into the rest of Africa, by working with well-established and experienced distribution partners. We are confident that our offer of high quality products at competitive prices will be attractive to a wide range of customers in Africa,” added Mr Artamonov.

In addition to its portfolio of eastern European brands, Baro is a distributor of Continental, Bridgestone, Hankook, Falken, Antyre, Mitas and BKT products, for trucks and agricultural applications.

Since its launch in 2004, Tyrexpo Africa has established itself as an influential niche event, bringing together leading domestic and international suppliers. In addition to passenger cars, trucks, OTR, industrial and agricultural tyres, the show will also be an important showcase for the retreading, tyre repair and recycling sectors as well as for suppliers of workshop equipment, tools, accessories and consumables.

Tyrexpo Africa 2014 takes place between 4-6 March at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg (SCC), South Africa.

For more information go to www. eci-international.com About ECI International ECI specialises in the organising and management of global niche market tyre trade events. Exhibitions currently organised by ECI are Tyrexpo Africa’14, 4-6 March 2014, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa; Brityrex International ‘14, 7-9 October, 2014, EventCity, Manchester, England; Tyrexpo Asia’15, 24-26 March, 2015, Singapore Expo Centre, Singapore and Tyrexpo India’15, 7-9 July 2015, Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai, India.

ECI is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singex-ECI International Pte Ltd. Singex, a veteran with more than 30 years of MICE experience in the development and organisation of a strong portfolio of exhibitions and conventions, also manages the Singapore EXPO Convention and Exhibition Centre which is one of the leading convention

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and exhibition centres in Asia, holding over 600 expositions and other activities annually, and attracting 6 million visitors yearly. For more information, please visit www.singex.com.sg.

Massive business potential for buyers and sellers at largestever Tyrexpo Africa 2014 4-6 March 2014, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg

More than 150 exhibitors from all sectors of the tyre and equipment trade have signed up for Tyrexpo Africa in Johannesburg next March.

With four months still to go before the doors open at the Sandton Convention Centre, the show is already the largest edition since its launch in 2006.

It’s easy to understand the enthusiasm and interest in doing business in South Africa. The country is the undisputed powerhouse of the African automotive market. It has the most vehicles, the largest economy and by far the biggest and most dynamic automotive manufacturing, retail and aftermarket business in the continent.

There are over 20,000 businesses involved in selling and providing aftermarket support for the country’s seven million passenger cars and commercial vehicles.

In addition to cars and trucks, mining and agriculture are two very significant markets for tyres and services. The mining sector accounts for about 18% of South Africa’s total GDP, while agriculture is a R9.6 billion business in the country and generates around 35% of GDP across the African continent.

Collectively, these figures reflect the high demand and business opportunities that exist for car and van, OTR, agricultural, commercial and industrial tyres and services. Which is why a day at Tyrexpo Africa is such a valuable business investment..

Pre-register now at www.eci-international.com for hassle-free entry on the day of your visit.

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INTAREMA® – the 30-year evolution of the global market leader From a vision to the new dimension in plastic recycling systems

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n its 30th anniversary year EREMA has launched INTAREMA®, a plant system with new core technology and groundbreaking technical innovations at K 2013 held in Düsseldorf,Germany this year, heralded a new era and a new dimension in plastic recycling systems. The successful company has been regarded as the global market and innovation leader in this field for years and EREMA technologies are considered to be the leading standard worldwide for a wide variety of recycling tasks in the in-house recycling of production waste and strongly contaminated post consumer waste. The EREMA story began with a vision when it was founded in the year 1983 – to specialise in the development and manufacturing of plastic recycling systems and technologies for the plastics processing industry.

30 years of innovations from EREMA EREMA managed the major breakthrough with the first generation of systems launched in 1983, the year it was founded. The company combined for the first time ever a cutter/compactor with a – back then still radial – extruder and thus

made it possible (also for the first time) to cut, compact and extrude waste plastic in a single, continuous process. "Waste" was transformed into high-quality recycled pellets – a valuable secondary raw material.

The machines were straightforward to operate, had low space requirements and consumed on average 30 % less energy compared to the competition at that time. Major importance was attached to this new technology for the economic recycling of thermoplastics (especially very light plastics) within a very short time.

EREMA continued to develop this technology and with the launch of the second plant generation in 1993 once again brought about an advancement in the industry on a large, almost dramatic scale. Thanks to the extruder now being located tangentially to the cutter/compactor, EREMA was able to enhance the quality of the end products enormously while increasing output and performance considerably, too. Additionally, a newly defined and optimised scaling of the cutter/compactor in relation to the screw diameter of the tangentially connected extruder made feeding even easier with very large individual portions and optimised material preparation for the extrusion process. Furthermore it was possible to direct the preheated material to the extruder with much more homogeneous temperature distribution, thanks particularly to the longer residence times in the large cutter/compactor. This technology has

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since become a genuine all-round talent and has now culminated in the inverse-tangential configuration of the new development INTAREMA®. The groundbreaking new feature can be seen in its name which comes from INverse + TAngential + eREMA® and is based on the newly developed and globally patented Counter Current technology from EREMA. Centrepiece: the multitalented cutter/ compactor/extruder combination Cutting, homogenising, heating, degassing, compacting, buffering and dosing – all in a single step: the patented cutter/compactor is an all-round talent and rightly called the "centrepiece" of an EREMA facility. It stands out in particular through its flexibility in processing a multitude of feed materials – irrespective of which polymer type, density, shape and moisture content – and prepares it in the best possible way for the robust singlescrew extruder. This is a crucial factor, because the better the plastic material is prepared already at the beginning of the recycling process, the higher the quality and throughput at the end of the process – in the finished recycled pellets.

Feeding is automatic: loose material such as film shreds or regrind material is fed in via a feed conveyor belt and film enters direct on rollers using a roller intake system. The cutter/compactor cuts and mixes the feed material with rotating tools.

At the same time the feedstock is dried – solely by the frictional heat which is generated – and compacted ready for intake in the extruder. The inverse and tangen-

tially connected extruder is now filled directly and continuously from the cutter/compactor with the material that has been pre-dried and pre-compacted. This results in the following benefits: the compacted material contains hardly any oxygen which can otherwise lead to oxidative degradation of the polymer and the sensitive melting procedure in a short extruder takes place with minimal shearing stress.

All in all this means a stable extrusion process and less wear on the extruder screw and cylinder. Inside the extruder the material is melted, homogenised and then pelletised after passing through a fully automatic, self-cleaning filter.

K 2013: EREMA sets new standards with the Counter Current system With the patented Counter Current system, the central core technology of the new INTAREMA® plant, EREMA has set another milestone in the plastic recycling systems in 2013. The innovation is in the interface area of the cutter/compactor and extruder. To date the worldwide technical standard has been a system in which the material in the cutter/compactor moved in the direction of the extruder. The difference with the Counter Current system is that the material spout in the cutter/compactor is now reversed and thus moves against the direction of the extruder. The result of this inverse-tangential configuration is increased process stability and, at the same time, considerably higher throughput. With this new innovation EREMA confirms once again its position as global market leader in plastic recycling systems.

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New Strategic Orientation of Maplan

Setting the Course for further Growth 2.

Strengthening sales and service structure 3.

Concentration on core business and Expanding manufacturing 4. and development capabilities.

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Strengthening Staff In 2013 the management was expanded in order to promote the success of Maplan worldwide even faster and more targeted. The result is a double leadership with Leopold Heidegger as CFO for the entire financial sector and Wolfgang Meyer as CEO on the operative side in sales, development and production. It has invested in specialists in many important fields of the company. New experts in the fields of mechanical design, production management and purchasing have strengthened the Team in Ternitz. n 2012, a change of ownership took place in the Starlinger Group within a family. The Starlinger Group was restructured and thereby since then Maplan GmbH has been owned by the Soulier family that had previously held senior positions within the Starlinger Group. With their experience in machine construction business, this new owner wants to expand Maplan significantly. Starlinger will continue to be a co-partner of Maplan.

In 2012, the company achieved a turnover of 36 million euros. The aim was to expand significantly by upgrading sales, service and market presence in many countries in order to operate closer to the customers. These efforts are bearing fruit: In 2013, Maplan has 60 sales and service locations worldwide.

New Strategic Orientation The new strategic orientation is basically defined by four strategic approaches: 1.

Investing in specialists

Strengthening Core Business With this new team, there is a unique, new strategic orientation with a focus on core business, that is, rubber injection moulding.

Maplan stands for commitment to quality and highly practicalityoriented solutions. Maplan will use this reputation and concentrate all our resources in the areas of innovation, reliability and customer service in order to offer our existing clients or the entire rubber injection moulding market energy efficient and optimized Maplan machine concepts even faster and more effectively.

Investing in the Structure As already mentioned, in recent years we have done much

preliminary work on the development of new markets. Already in 2013, these investments in the structure start to show first positive effects. The fast-growing markets such as Turkey, India, China, Brazil ... just to name a few, are among the priorities that will be pushed massively. At the same time, Maplan will also intensively modify and expand its traditional “old” priority markets. The goal is to provide an even better service to customers in Europe and USA in the next few years. These markets stand for requirements that are technically demanding and are therefore central to Maplan’s current and future performance in development and innovation.

Expansion of Production Capacities Due to vibrant demands worldwide, our capacities so far have been stretched to the limit.

Therefore, Maplan will open a new production site which will in the first step roughly double production capacities. This switching of position incidentally allows for an optimization of the entire production process which enables a lean, fast and cost-effective production of machines. The new site will be located in Austria. The expertise of our employees, combined with optimal global processes and today’s global purchasing, will make it possible to produce machines in Austria which are very good technically and competitive in terms of cost. Wolfgang Meyer commented: “Quality Made in Austria is what has made us strong - and this will remain a key factor in the future.”

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packaging|machineery

Best of Imola-developed know-how to go on show at Fruit Logistica with the new stacker, redesigned

by Sacmi to cope with the high output rates of the new machine and so manage two trays in parallel, up to a maximum length of 800 mm, and make stacks without any height limit.

Other new Sacmi-developed advantages for the fruit and vegetable sector include reduced maintenance requirements, user-friendliness and fast size changeovers: advantages that really make the difference compared to competitors’ machines.

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acmi Packaging will be heading to Berlin with the allnew TF 40 Imola. Also taking centre-stage will be the “compact” TF 80 and the modular TF 70, flagship units of a range that has won widespread market acclaim thanks to great productivity, reliability and flexibility.

Sacmi’s top tray-forming technology will play a starring role at Fruit Logistica, the international fair dedicated to fruit and vegetable processing technology being held in Berlin from 5th to 7th February.

Taking pride of place on the 102 m2 Sacmi stand (hall 4.1, stand A-13) will be the brand new TF 40 Imola, a perfect synthesis of all the best tray-making machine know-how developed in Imola. The TF 40 Imola encapsulates Sacmi Packaging’s more than 20 years’ experience (which led to the TF 40) and the very best technology from Imola-based SMI Packaging, the tray-forming machine branch of which was taken over

by Sacmi at the end of 2012. The result? A machine that combines maximum performance with outstanding reliability.

With the modular TF 70, instead, the focus shifts from

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the all-new to the more tried-andtested. Already presented in 2013 as a prototype, Sacmi can now provide this machine complete with a TS 60 stacker. The distinctive characteristic of the machine is, naturally, its modularity, which allows – starting from different base modules (magazine, press and corner unit) – the user to obtain a forming machine for standard trays (the TF 50) or the new TF 70, currently the most competitive, highest-performing solution on the market for the manufacture of trays with corner posts. The strong points of the modular TF 70 also include – in addition to the high output rates of up to 50 pieces/ min provided by the dual feed chain and other technical solutions – the possibility of working in line

Flexibility, productivity and – in this case – extreme compactness are also the key traits of the latest Sacmi solution, the TF 80, also to be showcased at the Berlin fair: this automatic tray forming machine can manage two different tray sizes in parallel with output rates of around 120 pieces per minute. The perfect attention-grabber, then, for a fair such as Fruit Logistica, expected to attract over 58,000 visitors from over 130 countries.

SACMI is an international group manufacturing machines and complete plants for the Ceramics, Packaging (including Beverage and Closures&Containers), Food and Plastics industries - markets in which it is a recognized worldwide leader. Its strength lies in the application of innovative technology, the outstanding position of the Group on international markets and its commitment to research and development and providing customers with top-flight quality and service.

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Hankook Tire’s 7th Global Production Plant Opens in Indonesia Hankook Tire’s new Indonesia Plant held an official opening ceremony in West Java, Indonesia A strategic investment to accommodate the growing demand for high quality tires both in Indonesia and global tire industry New plant to act as a major growth driver for the company, serving as an export base as well as a regional business hub Hankook Tire, the leading and one of the fastest growing tire companies in the world, will hold the official opening ceremony today for its 7th global plant in Indonesia. Located in Lippo Cikarang, Bekasi, West Java, the company’s newest plant will act as an export base for the North America and Middle East markets as well as a regional business hub for the emerging Asian market, reaching the production capacity of 6 million tires per year.

On September 17th, Hankook Tire is celebrating the grand opening of its newest Indonesia Plant with the presence of Hankook Tire’s top executives, including Mr. Seung Hwa Suh (Vice Chairman and CEO of Hankook Tire), Mr. Hyun Shick Cho (President and CEO of Hankook Tire Worldwide) and Mr. Hyun Bum Cho (President and CMO/CCMO of Hankook Tire). Welcomed by Hankook Tire’s top executives, the President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is also be present in commemoration of the plant opening, joined by several other government officials from Indonesia.

Hankook Tire’s Indonesia Plant, built in a strategically important location, will be a major growth factor contributing to the company’s continued global business expansion. Of the total production capacity of 6 million tires a year, approximately 30% will be allocated to cater for the Indonesian domestic market, while the remaining 70% will be exported to serve the demands in emerging markets across the globe including ASEAN region, North America and Middle East.

Covering an area of 60 hectares, Hankook Tire’s Indonesia Plant is a modern manufacturing facility equipped to produce mainly passenger car tires, Ultra-High Performance (UHP) tires, and light truck tires.

“Today’s commemoration of Indonesia Plant Opening marks yet another milestone in Hankook Tire’s ongoing growth as a global toptier tire company. This is also a clear manifestation of our strong will and commitment for further growth together with Indonesia and other emerging economies,” said Mr. Seung Hwa Suh, Vice Chairman and CEO of Hankook Tire. He also added, “As a leading global tire company, we will continue our relentless efforts to supply customers around the world with more advanced, globally acclaimed tires via our new export base in Indonesia.” With a Groundbreaking Ceremony held in June 2011, Hankook Tire commenced the construction of its 7th global manufacturing plant in Indonesia. The company currently employs approximately 1,400 staff members and will increase to a total of 4,300 employees by 2018.

Reflecting Hankook Tire’s commitment in further growth and business engagement in Indonesia, Hankook Tire has established its end-to-end distribution channel, called HANKOOK MASTERS. In Indonesia, Hankook Tire has already established its HANKOOK MASTERS outlets in Surabaya and Bandung, targeting to increase the number to 30 outlets by the end of this year.

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TYRE CARE & MAINTENANCE - For maximum life and performance To obtain maximum life and performance, tyre/tube care and maintenance is very important.

For proper tyre/tube care & maintenance, Bridgestone recommends the following: Proper Tyre Mounting and DeMounting • For optimum radial advantage, mount vehicle with full set of Bridgestone radials at both axles and at spare position. Mixed use of bias and radial tyres on the same vehicle is not recommended.

• Always use a new tube for a new tyre.

• Tyres/Tubes should be of the same brand.

• Always use the designated tube for the particular type and size of tyre being used.

• Always use correct combination of the tyre and rim.

• Rim should be free of dirt and rust and should be free of bends.

• Rim valve hole should be round and smooth.

• Clean tyre interiors before placing the tube inside.

• Use mounting machines as much as possible for tyre mounting and de-mounting. Avoid use of chisel and hammer.

• Lubricate tyre beads with mild soap solution before mounting and de-mounting.

• Before inflating the tyre, check whether the beads are seating correctly on the rim seats.

• Never exceed 44 psi (3.0 kgf/cm2) to seat the beads.

After beads are seated adjust inflation pressure to the level recommended by vehicle manufacturer.

Tyre Balancing • An un-balanced wheel may

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cause vibration to the vehicle. So it is recommended to balance the tyre-rim assembly under the following situations: • If some vibrations are felt • Mounting/De-mounting • After every 5,000 kms.

the vehicle, check the exterior of your tyre. If the damages exposing the ply cord and/or steel belt are visible, remove the tyre and consult with a tyre specialist.

Remove stones or nails which are entrapped in the tread of the tyre.

Tyre Rotation • Rotate tyre positions if any irregular wear is found on any of the tyre or after every 5,000 kms. The first rotation is important as it sets the stage for long and even tyre wear. Click here for recommend tyre rotation methods.

Tyre Change • The tyre being used currently should be replaced with a new tyre when the tread wear indicator (1.6mm height) is exposed.

Wheel Alignment • Always maintain proper wheel alignment.

• Wheel alignment should be done after every 5,000 kms. or whenever any irregular wear on tyre is found.

Daily Tyre Check • Every morning before starting

Inflation Pressure Maintenance • Always maintain inflation pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

• Inflation pressure should be checked when the tyre is cold.

• Check inflation pressure every week and before long trips.

• Watch for air leakage. The valve core should be renewed and lost valve cap should be replaced.

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APOLLO TYRES TO ACQUIRE COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY Combination Creates World’s Seventh-Largest Tire Company with $6.6 Billion in Revenue

Apollo Tyres Ltd (NSE: ApolloTYRE) and Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: CTB) today announced the execution of a definitive merger agreement under which a wholly-owned subsidiary of Apollo will acquire Cooper in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $2.5 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies, Cooper stockholders will receive $35.00 per share in cash. The transaction represents a 40% premium to Cooper’s 30-day volume-weighted average price.

This strategic combination will bring together two companies with highly complementary brands, geographic presence, and technological expertise to create a global leader in tire manufacturing and distribution.

Apollo, founded in 1972, has an international reputation for high performance tires across a portfolio of well-known premium and mid-tier brands, including the flagship Apollo brand and Vredestein. Cooper, the 11thlargest tire company in the world by revenue, was founded in 1914 and today supplies premium and mid-tier tires worldwide through renowned brands such as Cooper, Mastercraft, Starfire, Chengshan, Roadmaster and Avon.

The combined company will be the seventh-largest tire company in the world and will have a strong presence in high-growth endmarkets across four continents.

With a combined $6.6 billion in total sales in 2012, the combined company will have a full range of

brands and greater ability to satisfy customer needs worldwide.

The combination is expected to deliver value creation benefits of approximately $80-120 million per annum at the EBITDA level.

These ongoing benefits are expected to be fully achieved after three years and derived from operating scale, sourcing benefits, technology, product optimization, and manufacturing improvements.

The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to Apollo’s earnings.

Onkar S. Kanwar, Chairman of Apollo, stated, “This transformational transaction provides an unprecedented opportunity to serve customers across a host of geographies in both developed and fast-growing emerging markets around the world. Cooper is one of the most respected names in the tire industry, with an extensive distribution network and manufacturing infrastructure, and a particularly robust presence in North America and China.

The combined company will be uniquely positioned to address large, established markets, such as the United States and the European Union, as well as the fast-growing markets of India, China, Africa, and Latin America where there is significant potential for further growth. Our combined portfolio of brands and products will be amongst the most comprehensive in the industry.”

Roy Armes, Cooper’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, said, “This is a compelling

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transaction that is in the best interest of Cooper’s stockholders and offers attractive benefits to our customers and employees. We have watched Apollo’s successful transformation into a major global tire group, and have a great deal of respect for the company and its leadership. Together, our two organizations have almost no geographic overlap and significant opportunities for growth. We share a commitment to innovation, quality, and customer service, as well as to the core values of safety, environmental sustainability, the development of our people and giving back to our communities. We look forward to working together to drive continued growth in a dynamic global tire business where increased scale and expanded manufacturing footprint help to ensure long-term success.”

Neeraj Kanwar, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Apollo, said, “The combined company’s diversified product offering will serve the passenger car, light and heavy truck, farm, and offthe-road vehicle segments. Our extended global reach will create opportunities to provide our customers and distributors around the world with increased access to the quality tires they have come to expect from each of our respective brands. Together, we will have a significant presence in each of the three largest automotive markets in the world, namely the United States, Europe and China.”

He added, “Importantly, both Apollo and Cooper have built strong reputations on the strength of their people, and this transaction will maintain the networks and

workforces in each organization’s respective regions, while creating new opportunities in others. We are excited by the possibilities created by our partnership and look forward to welcoming Cooper’s employees to the Apollo family.”

The close of the transaction, assuming timely regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, as well as approval by Cooper’s stockholders, is expected to take place within the second half of 2013. Following the close, Cooper will become a privately held company and its common stock will no longer be traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

It is expected that Cooper will continue to be led by members of its current management team and will continue to operate out of its facilities located around the world. Cooper will continue to recognize the labor unions and honor the terms of collective bargaining agreements presently in effect while generally maintaining compensation and benefit levels for non-union employees.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. served as financial advisors and investment firm Greater Pacific Capital acted as strategic and financial advisor to Apollo.

Standard Chartered is the sole provider of transaction financing at the Apollo Tyres level and is also the structuring advisor.

Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Standard Chartered and Goldman

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Sachs Bank USA are joint lead arrangers providing committed funding to Apollo’s acquisition subsidiary.

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co served as legal advisors to Apollo. BofA Merrill Lynch served as financial advisor and Jones Day served as legal advisor to Cooper.

About Apollo Tyres Ltd Apollo Tyres Ltd is a highperformance tire manufacturer headquartered in India. It is built around the core principles of creating stakeholder value through reliability in its products and dependability in its relationships.

The company has manufacturing units in India, the Netherlands,

and South Africa and exports its products around the world. In each of its markets the company operates through a vast network of branded, exclusive and multiproduct outlets.

About Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: CTB) is the parent company of a global family of companies that specialize in the design, manufacture, marketing, and sales of passenger car and light truck tires. Cooper has joint ventures, affiliates and subsidiaries that also specialize in medium truck, motorcycle and racing tires.

Cooper’s headquarters is in Findlay, Ohio, with manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities within its family of companies located in 11 countries around the world. For more information on Cooper Tire, visit www.coopertire.com.

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Limitless film converting. GOEBEL GOEBEL Schneid- und Wickelsysteme GmbH presented its trade fair highlight of this year under the motto “More productive, wider and faster”.

The MONOSLIT GIANT proves that GOEBEL knows no limits when it comes to manufacturing customised machine equipment. Boasting an impressive working width of 12,000 mm, which can convert film webs at speeds of up to 1,500 m/min, this absolute world first presented at K 2013 show.

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Keep your eyes open – getting ahead with Goebel After developing the MONOSLIT, which converts stock reels up to a width of 9,000 mm on finished rolls with slitting widths of up to 300 mm, GOEBEL is now introducing the MONOSLIT GIANT, the widest and fastest slitter rewinder for films. As well as increasing production capacity, many machine components have been further developed to reduce changeover times considerably. A razor blade cartridge automatically exchanges the industrial blades used within a

short space of time. The advantages of the film converter: greater safety, ease of operation and a considerable increase in productivity.

The GOEBEL XTRASLIT 2 is the new secondary machine with a broad application spectrum. It converts films, metallised films, cigarette films, flexible packaging materials and sensitive papers with working widths of up to 3,600 mm.

This makes it possible to produce narrow cuts at 270 mm, or even narrower in special cases. Thanks to the modular design principle,

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many different equipment variants can be configured according to customer requirements.

The GOEBEL TWINWIND dual-shaft machine is a universally applicable machine for the converter. It converts flexible packaging materials, metallised and laminated films, and self-adhesive laminates. Areas of application include friction winding on two rewind shafts and direct winding on pneumatic expanding shafts.

Converters of metal films, compounds, technical papers and flexible packaging materials rely on the GOEBEL OPTIMA 2000. Thanks to its range of integrated rewind systems, it is able to convert almost any material up to a working width of 2,100 mm, and down to the narrowest slitting widths of 5 mm.

GOEBEL set an important benchmark for the Korean market with a custom-built machine in January 2013: The widest slitter rewinder for aluminium foil from 9 μm thickness with an unwind weight of up to 14.5 t and a max. unwind diameter of up to 1,850 mm left the production halls in Darmstadt. It is the largest slitter rewinder ever built by GOEBEL. Innovations at a glance • GOEBEL MONOSLIT GIANT for converting packaging films with a width of 12,000 mm.

Speed up to 1,500 m/min, unwind diameter up to 1,550 mm, rewind diameter up to 1,250 mm, min. slitting width to 300 mm.

• GOEBEL MONOSLIT for converting films made from a wide range of plastics with a working width of up to 9,000 mm, speed up to 1,500 m/min, unwind diameter up to 1,550 mm, rewind diameter up to 1,250 mm, min. slitting width to 300 mm.

• GOEBEL XTRASLIT II rewinds and slits packaging films, e.g. PVC, PE, CPP, BOPA, as well as compounds and even sensitive papers with a working width of up to 3,600 mm. Speed up to 1,200m/min, unwind diameter up to 2,000 mm, rewind diameter up to 1,250 mm, minimum slitting width to 270 mm, or narrower in special cases.

• TWINWIND for converting flexible packaging materials up to a working width of 2,100 mm, speed up to 800 m/min, unwind diameter up to 1,500 mm, rewind diameter up to 800 mm, minimum slitting width up to 30 mm.

• GOEBEL OPTIMA 2000 for

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premium converting of plastic and metal films from 5 μm. Working width up to 2,100 mm, speed up to 800 mm/min, unwind diameter up to 1,850 mm, rewind diameter up to 800 mm, minimum slitting width 5 mm.

GOEBEL – a company with a vision GOEBEL Schneid- und Wickelsysteme GmbH is a leading provider of slitter rewinders for converting papers, plastic films and flexible packaging materials. The range of products includes two-drum winders for paper and cardboard converting, fully automatic machines for manufacturing narrow rolls and the latest equipment for film converting. For more than 160 years, GOEBEL has demonstrated its expertise and know-how in slitting and winding. For all that time, the machines have been developed and built in Darmstadt according to individual customer requirements.

They meet the highest standards in productivity, quality and precision.

The company has belonged to the Italian mechanical engineering corporation IMS Deltamatic S.p.a. since 2013.

Plastics & Rubber Review | January-February 2014 | 31

Opening up a new world: Easy Open for PP*STAR® poly-woven pinch bottom bags Starlinger & Co. GmbH has developed an Easy Open feature for the patented PP*STAR® pinch bottom bags. For the first time it is now possible to use this consumer-friendly opening feature on packaging made of BOPP laminated polypropylene tape fabric, a very lightweight but strong packaging material.

Why Easy Open?

Due to its simple and practical concept, this convenient opening feature is used in many differ-

ent packaging applications: for food, animal feedstuff and pet care products, dry powders and bulk goods, in the industrial and end-consumer sectors, etc. For common easy open bags that hold larger quantities of content and thus weigh a lot, however, the packaging material has to be very thick and heavy to avoid breakage and provide adequate protection.

Higher bag weight means more raw material input at the beginning of the bag’s life cycle, and more waste at the end.

Starlinger concluded important sales projects in the course of the trade show in Düsseldorf, Germany, and the Starlinger Open House, which was held around the same time in Weissenbach, Austria.

“The visitor quality during this year’s K exhibition was extraordinarily high”, says Starlinger sales director Herman Adrigan.

“Most of the people who came to see us were experts from the respective industries – woven packaging production and

Starlinger leads the world market in the field of machinery and process technology for woven plastic sack production. This means: -

the widest range of woven sack plant machinery

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machinery for the most comprehensive scope of processes in connec-

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worldwide presence

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45 years of global market experience

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the largest number of customers

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the biggest range of possible end products

The Starlinger product range covers all types of machinery for the production of modern woven polypropylene sacks. plastics recycling – and knew what they wanted. And as always, also many long-time customers used the opportunity to come by and discuss current or future machinery investments.” With the multinational Starlinger sales staff and many of the Starlinger agents present at the booths in Hall 9 and Hall 16, plastic bag manufacturers and plastics recyclers from all over the world met with competent partners to find

the best solutions for their needs and requirements.

All four Starlinger business units – textile packaging, consumer bags, recycling technology and viscotec – closed important sales contracts during the eight exhibition days.

Together with the Starlinger Open House at the company premises in Lower Austria, the total sales generated during the exhibition period reached close to €30 million.

Plastics & Rubber Review | January-February 2014 | 33

c h i n a | e v e n t

CHINAPLAS 2014 to Drive the Evolution of Sustainability

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any enterprises have well-recognized the importance of building a sustainable future through resources management, recycling and energy saving. With its durable, lightweight and versatile features, plastic products make a significant contribution to the global sustainability. Lightweight vehicles reduce fossil fuel energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions, whereas innovative plastic packaging protects food in shipment and keeps it fresher and longer.

High-tech plastic insulation reduces energy consumption in buildings. Energy and resources efficiencies have drawn plastics and rubber practitioner’s attention as it becomes ever more pressing issues for many enterprises to stay competitive in the world with scarcity of resources. Green technologies and industrial processes have become the promising ways leading the world to a more sustainable future.

Echoing the increasing demand for more sustainable business practices, CHINAPLAS 2014, held at Shanghai New International Expo Centre, PR China from April 23 - 26, 2014, will promote sustainability under the theme of “Greenovation - Solution to Sustainability”, with “The City of Tomorrow” and “Green Conference” as two featured events.

“The City of Tomorrow” will feature a circular shape structure at Central Square of the

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exhibition centre to showcase a comprehensive sustainability model which covers the sustainability concept in four aspects, namely Green and Alternative Raw Materials, Energy-efficient Machinery, Plastics and Rubber Applications, and Recycling. Visitors can explore the latest green messages and trends from manufacturing till the end of the life of the products through interactive displays and game booths in a fun and relaxing manner.

Green Conference, another remarkable event of CHINAPLAS 2014, is a 2-day conference co-hosted

by Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd, Plastics Information Europe (PIE) and Association of Green Molding Solutions (AGMS). It will be held on the second and third day of the event (April 24-25), covering the sessions of “Innovative Solutions for Plastic Recycling” and “Green Molding to Halve the Cost and Double the Wealth” respectively.

The conference will highlight a range of forward thinking topics such as green molding, 3D printing, plastics recycling as well as various solutions for end-of-life plastic wastes, etc.

The Organizer expected that the conference will attract experts and decision makers in plastics and rubber industries from manufacturers, converters, end users, institutes, machinery suppliers and media to grasp the latest developments of green technologies, inventions and practices from manufacturing methods, to waste management and renewable resources in the plastics and rubber industries. The conference, presented in technical presentations and case sharing format, has invited international brand names and global market leaders across various sectors to share their experiences and insights, making it an unmissable event in CHINAPLAS 2014. For more details on the concurrent events, please visit: www.

ChinaplasOnline.com/Event CHINAPLAS 2014, Asia’s no. 1 and world’s no. 2 plastics and rubber trade fair, will gather more than 2,900 exhibitors, occupying an exhibition area of over 220,000 sqm, with 14 international pavilions and more than 3,200 sets of machineries. For more information about CHINAPLAS 2014, please visit the official website at www.ChinaplasOnline.com. v

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Fig. 1: 80 per cent of Kunststoffwerk Kremsmünster’s production consists of pharmaceutical packaging. An important line within the product portfolio is dosage spoons for liquid medication.

Efficiency 30 million times That the correct dosage in medicine makes all the difference between a healing remedy and a deadly poison has been common scientific knowledge ever since the discoveries made by the mediaeval physician Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, commonly known as Paracelsus. Consequently, precise dosing aids are important tools in pharmacy. The Upper Austrian company Kunststoffwerk Kremsmünster (KWK) has specialized increasingly in this market segment during its more than 60 years of existence. It supplies a wide range of dosage systems. To step up its dosage spoon production, KWK chose the all-electric injection molding technology from Wittmann Battenfeld. The new production cell, consisting of an EcoPower 110/35 injection molding machine, two W832 linear robots from Wittmann and an automatic packaging station, has impressively demonstrated its efficiency during its first year in production by churning out more than 30 million dosage spoons.

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oughly 80 per cent of the injection molding products manufactured by the family-owned, Upper Austrian company KWK (Kunststoffwerk Kremsmünster) are primary packaging components for the pharmaceutical industry. The portfolio includes closures for glass and plastic bottles, with or without tamper evidence rings, with or without integrated desiccants, dropper nozzles, sealing liners, pouring spouts and dosage syringe adapters, as well as dosage spoons, dosage cups and cream jars (Fig.1).

Dosage spoons – a high-precision product Dosage spoons are used for dosing liquid substances such as antibiotics or cough mixtures, and one is added to every package. They remain in use until the package is empty, consequently they are one-way products adapted to specific applications, which are manufactured in large quantities.

The main requirements for the products based on these facts are: the minimum technically feasible material consumption, maximum efficiency in producPlastics & Rubber Review | January-February 2014 | 35

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Fig. 2a+b: Extensive re-design of the molded part, including fine tuning to optimize cavity filling, and 100 per cent monitoring of the molded parts via sensors inside the robot gripper were the prerequisites for accelerating the production.

tion and, last but not least, high precision in volume and design accuracy. Dipl.-Ing. Georg Weiermair, graduated engineer and Technical Manager, comments: “When we were faced with the decision to invest in stepping up our production capacity for 5 ml spoons, our most important size, we saw this as an opportunity for a comprehensive re-engineering project. Our aim was more than just purchasing an additional injection molding system, while maintaining the existing technical standard in product design and parts logistics. Our intention was to achieve the production increase with just a single system, by means of consistent exploitation of existing efficiency potentials.”

The exploitation of efficiency reserves started with

Fig. 4: A second handling device removes the stacks one by one from the full stacking station and inserts them into the tube bag packaging station.

product design. The first criterion was that it had to become “faster”, i.e. wall thicknesses, flow channels and the choice of material had to be reviewed. The process window of the injection molding process was also to be made both wider and more stable, with a simultaneous further improvement in product quality. This agenda was the starting point for comprehensive design optimization, filling and cooling simulations and, of course, practical tests. The end result is a 5 ml dosage spoon made of PP with a length of 90 mm and a part weight of just 1.8 g. The completeness at the final point of the material flow, the tip of the spoon, was defined as an indirect criterion for good product quality. Product quality was to be ensured by the precision of the injection molding machine, but also to be monitored 100 per cent by optical sensors in the end-of-arm tooling of the parts removal robot (Fig.2a+b). Another quality attribute which, however, is not so easy to monitor online, but can be effectively controlled with an efficient tempering system, is the straight, warpage-free form of the spoon. It is a prerequisite for stable parts stacking by peripheral downstream equipment.

High-performance, thin-wall injection molding with electrical precision After the homework had been

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completed in product design and the in-house mold-making shop had been commissioned with building a 12-cavity mold, the next step was to select a partner for the injection molding technology and automation equipment for parts handling up to transport packaging.

Weiermair, the Technical Manager, explains what this involved: “In fact, we knew from the process simulation that a cycle time of about six seconds would be possible.

Accordingly, the machine technology and the automation system in particular should be able to handle the 600 production cycles per hour with an output of 12 parts per cycle in continuous operation.

And it had to perform this task with a higher degree of precision than the machine we had used previously. The decision made easy in the case of machine technology.

We needed a machine with either an all-electric or a partly electric drive system – but which one?”

Wittmann Battenfeld scores with best automation concept “Three brands of machines were short-listed, of which each had shown the required performance.

On that score, the actual choice of supplier could have been left to the purchasing department.

However, the selection of the right automation equipment proved not quite so easy”, Georg Weiermair recalls.

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Fig. 3a+b: A warpage-free, straight spoon contour (3a) is the prerequisite for stacking 130 or, alternatively, 160 parts in each of the parts container units at the rear of the machine. The parts are stacked separately in 12 containers according to the number of cavities. The stacking container station comes as a twin model which can be rotated by 180 degrees.

The actual automation task for the production of such a “simple” spoon proves to be surprisingly complex, since the required specifications already start with depositing all 12 molded parts in separate stacks “according to cavities”, and that with freely adjustable stacking heights ranging from 100 to 160 units. Hence, the above-mentioned requirement of a warpage-free, strictly straight form for the spoon (Fig.3a+b). On reaching the preset stacking height, the full stacking container had to be replaced automatically by an empty one.

Each of the twelve stacks of dosage spoons was to be removed individually from a separate parts removal position and transferred to a tube bag packaging system by an additional handling device (Fig.4). Immediately afterwards, the dosage spoon packages were to be inserted into transport or storage boxes, also fully automatically and space-optimized by mirrorinverted positioning of each layer (Fig. 5).

quotes were on the table ready for decision-making, we very soon realized that the engineers from Wittmann had done an excellent job. The very compact equipment layout as well as the individual detail solutions tipped the balance in their favor.”

The Wittmann Battenfeld Regional Sales Manager Wolfgang Glawatsch also looks back with some pride: “This particular case demonstrates that Wittmann’s automation com-

petence provided the decisive arguments which led to KWK acquiring its first Wittmann Battenfeld injection molding machine.”

Expectations fully met The production cell, consisting of an EcoPower 110/750 injection molding machine (110 tons clamping force / 750 injection unit with a 40 mm L/D 22 screw) combined with a Wittmann W832 UHS (ultra-high-speed) linear robot for fast parts removal, a further W832 stand-alone robot for finished parts handling, and the packaging system positioned parallel to the machine’s non-operator side, was delivered in December 2012. Since January 2013, it has produced more than 30 million 5 ml dosage spoons.

In this way it has fully come up to expectations, as has been confirmed

by KWK’s Managing Partners Ing. Dkfm. Eberhard Habermann and Ing. Mag. Manfred Habermann in their résumé (Fig.6).

Fig. 6: KWK Managing Partner Ing. Dkfm. Eberhard Habermann, Wittmann Battenfeld Regional Sales Manager Wolfgang Glawatsch, KWK Managing Director Ing. Mag. Manfred Habermann and the Technical Manager Dipl.-Ing. Georg Weiermair look back on a year of successful, continuous operation with an output of 30 million high-precision dosage spoons.

This was no routine task. Especially the synchronization of performance between the machine and peripheral equipment, and the process and capacity planning it required, demanded close cooperation between KWK and the machine supplier’s automation engineers. Georg Weiermair once more: “When all concepts and Plastics & Rubber Review | January-February 2014 | 37

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Demag Plastics Machinery (Ningbo) demonstrates a new record in the manufacture of screw caps at the Chinaplas 2014 in Shanghai

PE-HD screw caps for mineral water bottles, produced in a stable process with a 96-piece mould on the fast running machine El-Exis SP 420 in a cycle time of under 2 s.

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With two production cells for the packaging and medical sectors, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery GmbH, Schwaig/Germany and its Chinese daughter company Demag Plastics Machinery (Ningbo) Co., Ltd. will be present this year from 23 to 26 April 2014 at the Chinaplas in Shanghai. With the help of the hybrid highperformance El-Exis SP and the hydraulic allround machine Systec C, the manufacturers will be presenting two examples of injection moulding machines on their Stand E3J01 in Hall E3.

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ith the El-Exis SP, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag has meanwhile set the standard in packaging injection moulding, with regard to dynamics, speed and durability. This machine can perform the fastest process and injection movements with high precision and safety - during the production of standard caps, as well as thin-walled and packaging parts with minimum tolerances, as well as precision applications with high injection pressures.

The El-Exis SP is offered with a clamping force range of 1,500 to 7,500 kN. One example of the high dynamics of the machine: In the specification with the 2,500 kN clamping force, the El-Exis SP accelerates to a screw advance speed of 800 mm/s in around 25 ms.

The performance will be demonstrated on the Chinaplas 2014 with the production of PE-HD screw caps using an El-Exis SP 420-3000 (clamping force 4,200 kN). For this, a 96-fold hot runner mould is used for the 1.2 g light 28 mm caps with tamper-evident protection for still mineral water. A barrier screw with an L/D ratio of 25:1 delivers the necessary dosing capacity with sufficient reserves; a special backflow barrier ensures process safety and high reproducibility. With the hybrid drive technology, with activeAdjust optimised movement of all axles and the further developed machine control NC5 plus; this cap production already achieved a cycle time of approx. 2 s. at its premier at the K-Messe 2013 in Dusseldorf. The application has been further optimised since then, and at Chinaplas achieved yet another cycle time reduction of around 10 %.

Systec 120-200 C produces threaded rods for the medical area A hydraulic Systec 120-200 C with 1,000 kN clamping force produced toothed racks from polyoxymethylene

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other Asian markets since 1998.

The Chinese daughter company of the German-Japanese manufacturer Sumitomo (SHI) Demag has its own factory with a production area covering 11,000 m². The injection moulding machine program is comprised of the hydraulic construction series Systec C, with a clamping force of 500 to 10,000 kN, for the Asian markets.

Thanks to the servo-pump motor, the POM threaded rod is produced with low energy input.

(POM) on the exhibition stand of Demag Plastics Machinery. The 16-fold hot runner mould from KEBO AG, Neuhausen/Switzerland, affords the Systec C high performance and precision with a 12-second cycle time. On this exhibit, a whole series of machinery contributes to the reduction in the specific energy consumption: The servo-pump motor offers high performance at low energy usage.

A Success 11 line robot from the French company Sepro Robotique, La Roche-sur-Yon, performs the removal of the parts. A quality inspection system from Avalon Vision Solutions, LLC, Lithia Springs/USA takes over the job of 100 % quality control of all the toothed racks and the evidence of reproducibility.

Demag Plastics Machinery (Ningbo) Co., Ltd plans to expand the production capacity in Chinese Ningbo (Province Zhejiang). Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is investing around seven million Euros in the extension of production capacity. It is envisages that the current annual production of around 650 will expand to 1,000 by the year 2015.

The Chinese market is not only covered optimally by Demag Ningbo in production, but also in sales and service. Therefore, the customer service in China is also structured according to the origin of the machines. In this way, the After Sales Department with its headquarters in Ningbo, manages 20 engineers in Dongguan, Chengdu, Suzhou and Shanghai and Peking. The team is responsible for the commissioning of new Chinese machines at the customer, for machine approval, test runs, mould proving, process

optimisation and last but not least, customer training. The After Sales Department is responsible for the servicing, training and spare part sales for imported machines installed in China. Apart from the German machines, the After Sales Department is responsible as well for the machines from European and American production locations, and represents Sepro Robotique in China. It is responsible for the marketing and servicing of the French manufacturer of line robots. Additional regional offices in Guangdong (South China), Suzhou, province Jiangsu, Peking, Shanghai, Chengdu (West China) and Shenyang (North China) ensure a local presence.

For more details, please contact: Stephan Greif, Chief Executive Officer Demag Plastics Machinery (Ningbo) Co., Ltd Tel. +86 574 86181500 Fax +86 574 86181518 E-mail: Stephan.Greif@dpg.com Stefanie Lauterbach, Marketing Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery GmbH Tel. +49 911 5061-2915 Fax +49 911 5061-750 E-mail: Stefanie.Lauterbach@dpg. com

The fully regulated, hydraulic multi-purpose machine series Systec C is available in 12 sizes and is fully modular in the clamping force range from 500 to 10,000 kN. Demag Plastics Machinery (Ningbo) Co., Ltd. offers its Systec C with an hydraulic clamping unit – from 500 to 1,200 kN with full hydraulics, from 1,300 to 10,000 kN with hydromechanic toggle clamping unit. There are four sizes of injection moulding units on offer for every clamping force class. As a fully regulated, hydraulic multi-purpose machine, it can be used in the manufacture of a multitude of plastic parts for a wide range of customer sectors.

Demag Plastics Machinery (Ningbo) in profile Demag Plastics Machinery (Ningbo) Co., Ltd., Ningbo/China, has been producing high-performance injection moulding machines for the Chinese and

The energy efficient, hydraulic injection moulding machine Systec C from the production system of Demag Plastics Machinery (Ningbo) – here as Systec 120-200 C

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EuroMold 2013: More Visitors and Increasing Internationality With 58,673 visitors, 1,056 exhibitors and increasing internationality, the World Fair for Moldmaking and Tooling, Design and Application Development was the most successful in five years.

On the occasion of its 20-year anniversary, the trade fair presented a comprehensive model of the entire industrial product development process chain from 3 to 6 December 2013. With 58,673 visitors from 83 countries, the number of people visiting the trade fair this year exceeded the values of the previous five years. A total of 38,593 (66%) of the visitors came from Germany and 20,080 (34%) from abroad. Most 40 | January-February 2014 | Plastics & Rubber Review

of the foreign guests were from Italy (7.4%), France (6.4%), Turkey (6.3%) and Switzerland (5.9%).

The trade fair was pleased to welcome visitors from Japan and Finland for the first time.

Overall the visitors to the trade fair were comprised of department and development managers (24%), owners/managers (21%), skilled workers (18%), foremen (11%), production managers (9%), sales managers (5.5%) and plant managers (4%).

In a comparison of industries, most of the visitors came from the automobile industry (34 %) followed by mechanical engineering (26%), the electrical

and electronics industry (11%) and medical technology (10%).

Visitors also came from the sectors of household appliances (8%), consumer goods (7%), aviation and aerospace (6%), plant engineering and apparatus construction (5%) and packaging (5%).

The number of exhibitors at 1,056 from 37 different countries was kept at a high level compared to the prior year. Furthermore, the proportion of international exhibitors increased from 36.2 to 40.8% compared to last year.

Segmented by industry sectors, companies presented their innovations in the fields of tool and mould construction (28%), rapid

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prototyping and tooling / generative manufacturing (11%), model and prototype construction (11%), machine tools (7%) and software (6%).

Forums on a wide variety of topics offered more than 120 top-class speakers with interesting presentations for the visitors. The international Terry Wohlers Conference on the topic of “Business and Investment Opportunities in Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing”, a one-day event, was once again highly successful this year with more than 100 participants.

Generative manufacturing in relation to various materials and production methods was explored at the two-day Material Forum, which also enjoyed high attendance. It reached 120-140 people and gave scientists and developers as well as producers and designers of additive techniques the opportunity to present innovations and developments. The Fabmaker Expert Forum examined the impact and opportunities of additive manufacturing processes, and ended with a podium discussion with lively participation.

The forum with a total of around 12 presentations on both days had 15-60 visitors per day. With more than 50 participants, the Lightweight Construction Forum presented the latest trends in tool and mould construction for fibre composite applications to numerous trade fair visitors. The design+engineering Forum, which dealt with the topics of virtual reality and simulation, rapid prototyping and industrial design, was held on 4 days and encompassed 40 presentations that attracted up to 65 listeners each.

The Career Exchange which simultaneously serves as a networking platform and information centre was a great success as well. More than 100 job descriptions are currently online (status quo) and it continues to be actively used by numerous companies and professionals.

A selection of award-winning exhibits from the past 15 years of the EuroMold Award – the Oscar of product development presented for outstanding technical innovation – was on display as well.

Additional highlights included the guest country of Italy, the e-mobility test course and the joint “DigiFabb” exhibition stand presenting 3D

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printing for anyone, the special topics of lightweight construction and hybrid technology, and the topics of thermoforming and turning and milling technology.

Theme parks were presented for the jewellery industry and dental technology as well as development and simulation processes. There were also special exhibitions on rotational moulds as well as VDI/ NCG guidelines for evaluating the production quality of machine tools.

EuroMold 2014 is being held from 25 to 28 November 2014 in halls 8.0, 9.0 and 11.0 at the Frankfurt am Main Exhibition Centre.

More information at: www. euromold.com

About EuroMold: EuroMold – World Fair for Moldmaking and Tooling, Design and Application Development – celebrated its 20-year anniversary in 2013. Based on the process chain “from design to prototype to series”, it presents products and services, technologies and innovations, trends and tendencies for the markets of the future. The EuroMold process chain promotes the formation of networks, partnerships and business relationships. EuroMold offers a unique trade fair concept that closes the gap between industrial designers, product developers, fabricators, suppliers and users. The EuroMold trade fair reveals methods for the faster, more cost-effective and efficient development and manufacturing of new products. This increasingly plays a central role in the modern economy. The renowned trade fair organiser DEMAT GmbH transfers the successful concept of world-leading EuroMold trade fair to attractive foreign markets on a total of five continents.

The purmundus challenge was held for what is already the second time under the topic “Design 3.0 – Opportunities for Customisation through 3D Printing”. Ranging from jewellery to lamps to a customisable urn, the range of the 12 finalists on display was highly varied. During the trade fair, the jury consisting of professionals in the fields of design, economics, teaching, industry and the press decided on the design, conceptual quality, originality, innovativeness and design tailored to the manufacturing technique. First places were awarded respectively in the categories of Best Product, Best Concept and Best Interface.

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Automatic Pipe Bender BMS 63

New standardised hot runner manifold concept

The BMS 63 is Sica’s automatic machine for bending and socketing with exceptional rapidity PVC pipes common in electronic and telephonic systems. In particular, this machine can process pipes with a diameter from 16 to 63 mm, with possible final length from 140 to 650 mm. The machine is equipped with a versatile multi-bender and multi-belling system that can bend with a variable angle between 90 and 0° (so, it can also avoid bending) and with bend radius from 1 to 5 times larger than the diameter of the pipe itself.

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ASCO introduced a completely revised hot runner concept for the first time at K2013. This offers a very wide range of options for the layout of a hot runner system, despite the different, standardised outside dimensions of the manifold blocks.

Not only can the hole distances for the nozzles be freely selected within the pre-defined limits – HASCO also tailors the flow channel cross-sections in the manifolds to the application in question. The H4000/... manifold concept is combined with the nozzle series in HASCO’s current nozzle range to provide high-quality hot runner systems that meet the most stringent of requirements for injection moulding production.

The HASCO turn plugs that have been successfully used for many years are employed for the melt channel deflections and as plugs on the manifold bars. This guarantees a leak-free manifold and optimum passage of the melt through the deflection, while ensuring that the molten polymer is subject to only minimal shear.

The H4000/... manifold concept takes in a series of manifold geometries. Simple deflector manifolds are supplied for nozzle spacings from 35 mm to 440 mm. Naturally balanced manifolds for 2 or 4 nozzles arranged in a row can similarly be supplied with a maximum distance of 440 mm between the outside nozzles. The cross-shaped manifolds are designed for a symmetrical nozzle configuration on a square, with a maximum distance of 315 mm possible for the nozzle spacing.

At every end of each bend/pipe, the machine can also socket (through suitable thermoforming process) both solvent cement and O-Ring type (optional) in every desired configuration, such as: •

simple bend

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bend with single socket end

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bend with sockets on both ends (double socket)

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straight unbent pipe with single or double socket

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In this way, every possible production need can be satisfied.

The bending is hydraulic/pneumatic, and it is controlled through specific proportional valves and linear encoder that guarantees absolute precision and repeatability of the process. Every setting is automatically adjusted from the operational panel with the machine in operation, which prevents interruptions, manual changes or dangerous access into the unit.

Security, management ease, rapid set-up and format change, minimal level of required maintenance, high productivity per hour and high precision in realizing the characteristics of the desired product, distinguish and confirm the quality and the technology of Sica products.

For More Details please contact: Satellite Plastic Industries

Hot runner systems based on the new, standardised manifold concept H4000/... offer an outstanding price to performance ratio. They are also the answer to tightly scheduled mould projects, since they can be supplied within just a few working days.

2A2, Court Chambers

Our specialist advisers and application engineers will be pleased to assist you in selecting the right hot runner system for your application.

Email : rajiv.satellite@gmail.com

35, New Marine Lines Mumbai 400 020 Phone: 022-22006477, 66346816 Fax: 022-22006556 Website: www.sica-italy.com Plastics & Rubber Review | January-February 2014 | 43

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Plastics Industry needs to believe in itself to be globally competitive: Avinash Joshi

Plastindia 2015 launched amidst optimism to be the biggest-ever trade fair in India Plastindia Foundation, which has worked ceaselessly over the past 25 years today announced the launch of the 9th Avatar of Plastindia 2015 with the vision of taking the Industry forward on its path as one of the fastest growing sectors in the Industry. The plastics industry was present in full strength at the launch, with industry reflecting optimism that the resilience displayed in the past 25 years by the industry will ensure its success and see it reach new heights and meet and overcome future challenges.

Each of them believed that India is one of the fastest growing markets for Plastics in the World.

Plastindia 2015, which is among the top three international platforms for the Plastics Industry, was formally launched by Mr. Avinash Joshi, IAS, Joint Secretary-Petrochemicals Division, Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizers - Government of India in the presence of the Guest of Honor, Mr. Nirmal Thakkar (Managing Director of TIPCO Industries.). Also present on the dais were Shri Subhash Kadakia, President Plastindia Foundation; Mr. J.R. Shah - Chairman, National Executive Council, Mr. L. K. Singh, Co-Chairman - National Executive Council, Mr. Rajeev Chitalia - Vice President and Mr. Rajiv Raval, Honorable Treasurer.

The ninth edition of Plastindia 2015 to be held from February 5-10, 2015 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, is supported by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers 44 | January-February 2014 | Plastics & Rubber Review

and will be one of the three largest shows in the plastics industry globally, with strong international participation Plastindia 2015, spread over 125,000 sq. meters of area, will have over 2000 exhibitors from over 40 countries and over 150,000 business visitors.

Joining hands with the Plastindia Foundation, the apex body of major associations, organizations and institutions, including Government & semi government organizations associated with plastics are major internationally acclaimed partners such as Messe Dusseldorf, EUROMAP - The European Plastics and Rubber Manufacturers Association, the British Plastics Federation, Adsale Exhibition Services, Messes Pilatus International Co among others.

The Foundation’s main objective is to promote the development and growth of the Indian Plastics Industry in India and is dedicated to national progress through plastics.

In his welcome address, Shri Subhash Kadakia, President of the Plastindia Foundation said, “The exciting developments of the recent past, ranging from the Wiintech cluster initiative, to the push for TUF’s implementation and the unprecedented show of strength at K 2013 gives me immense confidence in the future of Indian plastics. The 9th edition of this event will be bigger, better and aspire to achieving much greater ambitions. Exchange in Abundance

-Expanding Horizons. This is the biggest business platform for our industry and I invite you to join us in our continued quest towards becoming responsible global leaders in plastics.

Launching the latest edition, Mr. Avinash Joshi, IAS, Joint Secretary-Petrochemicals Division, Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemical &Fertilizers - Government of India, said that “the Industry has unlimited potential to be a world leader if it continues to believe in itself as it has done so far.” Joshi also stated that “Plastindia 2015 would bring in a lot of opportunity to the various stakeholders as it will be among the biggest in the world,” Elaborating this view, Shri J.R. Shah, Chairman National Executive Council, Plastindia Foundation, said, “With the main objective of Plastindia Foundation being the promotion, development and growth of the Indian Plastics Industry in India, we have initiated steps to be the driving force for the MSME’s by facilitation, counseling and advising them on the processes and steps to avail of the Technology Upgradation Fund offered by the Government of India.” He continued by stating, “This will be an eye-opener to many and emphasize India’s position as the world’s sourcing hub for plastics finished products.”

The six-day mega event, Plastindia 2015 will bring under one roof

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major global and Indian Plastics Industry innovators.

The exhibition and conference will reveal the cutting edge technological developments, equipments and products. Plastindia 2015 takes further the innovations from the earlier version, in that; it will concurrently host Proplast 2015 and an International Conference to draw the attention of the entire business fraternity. Eminent academicians, consultants, professionals, technocrats, research scientists and industry experts will participate and share their views during various seminars.

The previous exhibitions organized by the Plastindia Foundation, have already established India as a desired destination to the global plastics industry players as well as depicting the eagerness of Indian entrepreneurs to absorb and deliver to the growing market demands.

Every exhibition organized by the Plastindia Foundation have bettered the previous one and grown to become a much sought after event, both nationally and internationally.

Key attractions for this exhibition: * 24th ASEAN Plastics Forum * Proplast 2015 - finished goods section, This will showcase the forays made by the Indian processed plastics sector.

* PLASTICON Awards to encourage and recognize innovation and growth in all facets of Indian Plastic Industry and to honor significant contribution made by Indian business enterprises, Institutions, NGOs and individuals who have excelled in their endeavor. * Wiintech - Worldwide Intercluster Initiative for New Materials and processes focused on Clean Technology - The European Gateway to develop business and technology opportunities.

About PlastIndia Foundation: PlastIndia Foutndation is the apex body of major Associations, Organisations, and Institutions connected with plastics including Government and SemiGovernment Organisations. The main objective of the Foundation

is to promote the development of Indian plastics industry and to assist the growth of plastics and related materials and their products. It is dedicated to the national progress through plastics and is striving hard to make India a preferred sourcing base for plastics products for the world. Working as a catalyst, the Foundation works to build awareness of the significant contribution made by plastics to society and the environment.

It also creates a positive policy framework with all statutory entities and increases per capita consumption of plastics, encourage exports thereby significantly contributing to national growth.

In order to enhance the image and the growth of Indian Plastics Industry, the Foundation holds world-class exhibitions in India at regular intervals, where it provides opportunities to demonstrate the industry’s capabilities. v

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Solid business and good prospects for Russia’s plastics and rubber industry Positive result for interplastica 2014 – Increasing importance of energy efficiency and recycling

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he CIS market for plastic and rubber products stands for solid business and positive prospects. Despite the dampening effect of political vagaries and the current weakness of the rouble on the demand for plastic and rubber products, the country still has a significant need for investment. Production capacities are being modernized and expanded, particularly in the packaging and medical technology segment. The consumer goods and automotive segments are growing steadily, and the infrastructure of the largest European country with a population of 143 million is facing major challenges. In this situation, innovative solutions for all areas of the plastics and rubber processing industry are very much in demand, particularly because issues such as energy efficiency and recycling are becoming increasingly important.

predominantly positive feedback on the four-day international trade fair for plastics and rubber. They reported a keen interest among specialist visitors, promising customer contacts and several signed contracts. Between 28 and 31 January 2014, 20,000 visitors from all members of the CIS attended interplastica and the packaging fair UPAKOVKA/UPAK ITALIA, both of which took place at the same time in Moscow. This result ties in with the one achieved by both trade fairs in the previous year.

Accordingly, exhibitors at interplastica 2014 gave a

Erhard Wienkamp, Division Director

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of Messe Düsseldorf, was delighted with this positive result: “Thanks to its representative international portfolio, interplastica is perceived and valued as an outstanding platform for technological innovation in Russia. This positive feedback and the fact that there was even a slight increase in the demand for exhibition space - only a few weeks after the flagship fair K 2013 - underlines the importance of this event. The companies know how important their market presence is.

Even in turbulent times, they rely on interplastica to present their innovations to customers from the CIS market, to maintain their customer contacts and to initiate new relations. Introducing a clearer structure to the fair, the new hall distribution elicited predominantly positive feedback from visitors and exhibitors.“

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Organised by Messe Düsseldorf and its subsidiary OOO Messe Düsseldorf Moskau, the 17th interplastica was again hosted at Moscow’s trade fair grounds of Krasnya Presnya. A total of 687 exhibitors from 28 countries presented their products and services on 13,500 sqm net exhibition area, the “Forum” as well as exhibition halls 1 and 8 and, for the first time, hall 3 were fully booked, the latter by a cluster of extrusion and injection moulding machinery manufacturers. Official national participations came from China, Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Portugal. The largest contingencies of exhibitors came from Russia, Germany and China.

Germany remains to be number one among the most important suppliers to the Russian plastics and rubber processing industry, exporting a total of 32.2 % to this segment, followed by Italy (15.5 %) and China (13.9 %). In the first eleven months of 2013, German exports in this segment amounted to EUR 204 million, up 10,2 % on the result posted for the same period during the previous year. Between 2011 and 2012, global exports from plastics and rubber machinery manufacturers to Russia increased by 7.5%, corresponding to an overall value of about EUR 640 million.

For Bernd Nötel from the German Association for Plastics and Rubber Machinery within the VDMA (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau - German Engineering Federation), the Russian market remains promising, despite the dampening effect of political vagaries and the current weakness of the rouble on the demand for plastic and rubber machinery: “Negotiations drag on, some projects are postponed. In other areas however, there is still a great willingness to invest, contracts that were prepared at K 2013 in Düsseldorf for example, are now being signed. Business is going strong in the injection moulding and thermoforming segments, and rubber processing machines are in high demand. Thanks to state funding, investments into plastic pipe production and into the production of insulation material are

rising. The emergence of recycling as an important issue in Russia is rated as a positive development.

So far, this development is still in its infancy, but there is a growing awareness that even countries with an abundance of natural resources must economize.“ Dr. Rüdiger Baunemann, Director General PlasticsEurope Deutschland e.V., recognizes a lot of potential in the raw material segment, both for polymer producers as well as for suppliers of additives such as stabilizers and flame retardants. At interplastica’s “Meeting Point Raw Materials”, Dr. Baunemann’s presentations on resource and energy efficiency as a driving force for innovation and sustainability attracted a lot of attention and met with keen interest. For the second time at interplastica, open seminars for exhibitors on new developments in raw material production and application were again conducted

in cooperation with the Russian plastics portal Plastinfo.ru.

The exhibitors were impressed with the high level of professionalism among interplastica’s visitors, who appeared to be well prepared and approached the exhibitors with practical inquiries. In turn, visitors were delighted with the wide range of international exhibits presented at interplastica.

The next interplastica will take place in Moscow from 27 until 30 January, 2015, as usual in tandem with UPAKOVKA/UPAK ITALIA. More information at www. interplastica.de and at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, Stefan Koschke, Phone: 0211/4560-7768, Email: KoschkeS@messe-duesseldorf. de, and Claudia Wolfgram, Phone: 0211/4560-7712, Email WolfgramC@messe-duesseldorf.de

The Messe Düsseldorf Group With over 50 trade fairs at the Düsseldorf location – including 24 globally leading trade fairs – and roughly 100 own events and participations abroad, the Messe Düsseldorf Group is one of the leading export platforms in the world.

Organizer of the leading international trade fair K, Messe Düsseldorf Group commands special expertise in the innovative plastics and rubber industry, which is successfully expanded worldwide.

A special focus of our activities is on eastern European markets and, in particular, on the CIS. Over the past 40 years, the Messe Düsseldorf Group has developed into one of the most successful trade fair companies in Russia. Our subsidiary Messe Düsseldorf Moscow disposes of profound knowledge of the market, many years of cooperation with local partners and a committed team of qualified personnel.

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Exibitors’ comments on interplastica 2014: Victor Nemera, CJSC ATLANT, Baranovichi/Belorussia We participate regularly in interplastica, know what we want and usually get it. It satisfies our expectations. It’s important to note that this year there are more professional visitors than in previous years. It’s obviously very good.

Grishin Maxim, Country Representative A/O Bayer Polycarbonates, Moscow/Russia At interplastica 2014 we basically met with our old, established partners.

This exhibition is well known in the plastic and rubber industry and every year we meet with lots of customers and get in contact with new customers.

Sebastian Schneider, Key-Account-Manager PM Rezyklate, DKR – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kreislaufwirtschaft und Rohstoffe mbH, Cologne/Germany As we are new to the Russian market, it presents some challenges, one of which is the language barrier. Also, recycled products do not have a good reputation in Russia, mainly because very few such products are available in high quality. But appreciation for regrinds is growing in the CIS states along with the interest in high-quality recycled products. At interplastica, we had some interesting new contacts, and the prospects for long-term business cooperations seem positive. However, we are well aware that this market requires a lot of patience.

Dragan Visekruna, Director of the Plastics Sales Units in Central and Eastern Europe, Greece and Turkey, Dow Europe GmbH, Moscow/Russia Dow took part with an own booth in interplastica 2014 for the first time ever. We consider that the exhibition is very successful. The customers appreciated our desire to participate in the exhibition highly. Our approach is to work in co-operation with distributors. In the previous years we joined the booths of our partners and this year we invited them to work on our own booth.

Robert F. Binder, Area Sales Manager, EREMA, Ansfelden/Austria Our equipment has met with a keen interest. As a supplier of recycling systems for all thermoplastic materials, we have been active in Russia for sixteen years. So far, our core business focused on in-house recycling of waste scrap directly at the processing company’s site. Recently however, the post-consumer market seems to have become more active as the population demands recycling regulations. This development could open up a major market for us! We are optimistic about the future development of our business relations with the CIS states, because we have consolidated our position and won the trust of our customers in that market – not only because of our training programmes and cooperation with research institutes but also because of our tenacity.

Rauf Rustamov, Sales & Marketing Director, Mikrosan, Gebze-Kocaeli/ Turkey We have been exporting pipe and profile extrusion machinery and pelletizers to Russia since 1991. With more than 1,000 machines installed in that country, we have become established as a major player in this segment. We expect to continue our business in Russia successfully.

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the World Cup 2018 will trigger further growth. There is a lot to do and enough money for investment, particularly in window construction, in the infrastructure of this vast country and in centralized heating. These projects are supported by state funding. We participate in interplastica because we want to promote our good reputation, maintain our existing customer contacts and make new ones.

Ulrich Reifenhäuser, Managing Director Reifenhäuser GmbH & Co. KG, Troisdorf/Germany The CIS market continues to have a lot of potential for the plastics processing industry. The exhibition was livelier and the visitors even more professional than expected. But the currency problem is a real dampener, particularly as the Russian mentality seems to have a bias towards pessimism when confronted with such problems. Therefore, some projects will likely be delayed.

Alexei Stolyarov, Chief Expert, Department of Advertising, Exhibition Activities and Branding, LLC Sibur/Sibur Holding OJSJ, Moscow/Russia We have long and fruitful cooperation and ties with Messe Düsseldorf Moscow. We are always satisfied by the attentive attitude and professionalism of the organizers’ team.. Next year we plan to expand our stand area and to occupy the central part of the first pavilion. We had active and large work with our clients during interplastica and it’s time to expand and reveal.

Antonio Cappadono, General Director Transtechnika-Vostok – Representation of Arburg, Moscow/Russia While the Russian market is characterized by steady ups and downs, it offers excellent long-term prospects. We have been active in this market for a long time and have become well established – reliability and comprehensive service are the key to success! For me, the current weakness of the rouble does not constitute a major problem, but an opportunity: the export of finished products such as packaging has become more expensive, hence domestic products will be in demand. Arburg customers from the packaging segment are enjoying full order books. The Russian automotive and medical technology segments are also experiencing an upturn, and they are now investing in modern, efficient machinery.

Dr. Semen Chlesberg, Senior Sales Manager, Zeppelin Systems, Friedrichshafen/Germany Moving into the CIS market requires money and patience. In the long-term however, this commitment will bear fruit. Twelve years ago, Zeppelin started its activities in that region, initially with one sales agency. Only recently, we set up our own subsidiary there, so as to provide a localized services and spare parts supply and support for our sales team. As a leading global plant engineering company for the handling of high-quality bulk materials and liquids we work in a wide variety of industry sectors, i.e. polymer producers and processors, the rubber and tire industry and plastic cable sheathing. We also operate a separate division with a special focus on the food segment. We provide our customers, mainly major corporations, with a complete service package from the delivery of complete lines right through to training. This will consolidate our long-term success even if this market is prone to ups and downs.

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Steril from A to Z

Those responsible for packaging solutions for sterile medical products require a great deal of imagination and perception concerning the risks to which packaging is exposed from commencement of production through to the time of use. Packaging is exposed to an enormous level of stress en route to patients with numerous potential hazards lurking during the production process in the factory, the packaging process and transport.

In the development of new products in medical technology, it is therefore necessary that right from the start the aspects of packaging, sterilization, transport and storage are complied with in order to eliminate any potential hazards endangering sterility.

Even the raw materials for manufacturing medical packaging and medical products must be sterilizable just as the same applies for thermoplastic elastomers as a group of materials.

Ulterior proceedings are the choices of sterilization processes. Apart from electron and x-radiation, ethylene oxide (EtO), gamma irradiation or hot vapor in the autoclave are also used as sterilization methods in medical technology. When applied as designated, each of these methods is regarded as both effective and safe.

Ethylene oxide sterilization is a low-temperature method which kills microorganisms at 10 °C by forming a compound with the protein molecules and destroying them. As the sterilization time depends on the temperature – the higher the temperature, the shorter the sterilization time – a temperature range of 37 to 60 °C is usually applied. Combined with a low process temperature, this method is suitable for many thermoplastic materials and is applied in particular for disposable items such as syringes, compresses, swabs and medical products which are sensitive to temperature.

Sterilization with hot vapor is at 121 or 134 °C and overpressure of up to three bar in the autoclave. When the vapor condenses on the item to be sterilized, energy is released which damages the microorganisms. Hot vapor sterilization at 134 °C is the most popular method of sterilizing reusable medical products.

High-energy, ionizing gamma irradiation deactivates the microorganisms.

When this low-temperature method is applied, the minimum radiation dose must be observed. But not all plastics are suitable for multiple sterilization by gamma rays: this method is only applied industrially and almost exclusively for disposable items.

All of these methods can prevent biological contamination. But they each have advantages and disadvantages and above all significant effects on the material used. In order to prevent any negative impacts, the material formulae need to be compiled very carefully using stabilizers and other supporting ingredients – as is the case with the ProvaMed® portfolio offered by Actega DS. Extensive tests of the various variants comparing gamma irradiation, autoclaving and gassing with ethylene oxide indicate the resistance displayed by these materials to signs of wear such as swift ageing, brittleness, discoloration or changes in mechanical properties possible in the case of high-energy gamma irradiation, for example, while hot-vapor sterilization can cause shrinkage, deformation or even melting of the plastic.

Tests on ProvaMed® compounds indicate that tensile strength remains virtually unaffected even after irradiation with 50 kGy. The high temperatures in the autoclave can even have a positive effect on the relaxation and crystallization processes of some polymers contained in the TPE recipe.

This can increase tensile strength and elongation at break. Similar effects have been detected when gassing with ethylene oxide.

Materials for cosmetics

Those responsible for packaging solutions for sterile medical products require a great deal of imagination and perception concerning the risks to which packaging is exposed from commencement of production through to the time of use. In the development of new products, it is therefore necessary that right from the start the aspects of packaging, sterilization, transport and storage are complied with.

But this not only apply for the area of medical technology. Those who think the cosmetics sector has nothing to do with sterility are wrong.

National hygiene guidelines and regulations, for example, stipulate that “... reusable devices, instruments and items whose application generally involves injuring the skin or mucous membranes, e.g. needles for permanent make-up, must be subjected to hot-air or vapor sterilization after each use”, whereby it goes without saying that this equipment must be sterile and in sterile packaging prior to first-time use. And a federal regulation also decrees: “When piercing and tattooing, exclusively sterile equipment, dyes and materials must be used with which no documented health risks are associated.” And sterility is also indispensable in the case of wrinkle treatment with injected implants such as hyalutonan (restylane), liquid silicon or plastic beads.

Ethylene oxide (EtO), gamma irradiation or hot vapor in the autoclave are current sterilization methods. When applied as designated, each of these methods is regarded as both effective and safe.

Ethylene oxide sterilization is a low-temperature method which kills microorganisms at 10 °C by forming a compound with the protein molecules and destroying them. Combined with a low process temperature, this method is suitable for many thermoplastic materials and is applied in particular for disposable items.

Sterilization with hot vapor is at 121 or 134 °C and overpressure of up to three bar in the autoclave. When the vapor condenses on the item to be sterilized, energy is released which damages the microorganisms. Hot vapor sterilization at 134 °C is the most popular method of sterilizing reusable products.

High-energy, ionizing gamma irradiation deactivates the microorganisms.

When this low-temperature method is applied, the minimum radiation dose must be observed. But not all plastics are suitable for multiple sterilization by gamma rays: this method is only applied industrially and almost exclusively for disposable items.

All of these methods can prevent biological contamination. But they each have advantages and disadvantages and above all significant effects on the material used. In order to prevent any negative impacts, the material formulae need to be compiled very carefully using stabilizers and other supporting ingredients – as is the case with the ProvaMed® portfolio offered by Actega DS. Extensive tests of the various variants comparing gamma irradiation, autoclaving and gassing with ethylene oxide indicate the resistance displayed by these materials to signs of wear such as swift ageing, brittleness, discoloration or changes in mechanical properties possible in the case of high-energy gamma irradiation, for example, while hot-vapor sterilization can cause shrinkage, deformation or even melting of the plastic.

The market for sterilization equipment for cosmetic, pedicure, tattoo, piercing and nail studios, and hairdressing salons is growing. One prerequisite is that the device to be sterilized is manufactured from a material which allows this type of sterilization without causing any signs of wear.

Cosmetic devices and packaging manufactured from the ProvaMed® TPE help to prevent the negative effects associated with sterilization.

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Hot half H4420/… 2 motion

Innovations in the field of plastic pipes Sica presents a wide-ranging innovation in the field of Plastic Pipes. Three “green” initiatives designed to save energy, materials and costs.

We can speak directly of a revolution for TRS 160 W cutting machine, because finally it can cut and chamfer without removing material. Yes, you read that correctly: without removing material.

This manages to save a considerable quantity of raw material that affects the 80% of the pipe cost, but also to avoid problems of scrap suctioning and recycling. In traditional cutting machines, also in those with knife or tool, chips and dust end up partially between saw mechanisms despite suctioning; for this reason, the necessity of maintenance increases.

An electric drive unit with intuitively operated touch screen controls has been developed to meet present-day requirements for clean and cost-efficient injection moulding. Two linear units, operated by servomotors, are flanged onto the outside of the mould and transfer their force directly to the lifting plate package. They ensure the reliable and preciselypositioned movement of the shut-off needles in the hot runner system. The straightforward way in which the servodrive has been integrated in the hot half facilitates assembly and maintenance, since the drives are easy to access. The simple principle behind this drive solution is rounded off by the intuitively operated compact control unit. This allows the parameters of stroke, force and speed to be individually controlled. The position of the valve needle in the gate, and hence the quality of the gate, can be corrected directly with the aid of the control unit. The required force and the position of the needles is displayed on a cyclic basis for each motor and is similarly used for process control.To transmit release and alarm signals, the servomotor control unit is connected up to the injection moulding machine via an interface cable, All the production and safety monitoring signals thus have open and closed-loop controls. A signal-generating LED strip on the servo control unit shows the status of the process at a glance.Apart from an integral cycle counter, memory functions are included for different moulds as well as for a number of operator levels and user languages. A USB interface permits smooth and rapid data exchange. The units and also the corresponding control systems can also be adapted to other moulds, permitting a high level of efficiency in system capacity utilisation and ensuring that the cost savings in production rapidly become visible.

HASCO supplies the needle package drive with servomotors in conjunction with a complete H4420/… hot half. The name 2 motion refers to the configuration with two servomotors running in parallel. The hot half comes with all the connection cables and the servo control unit. Our specialist advisers and application engineers will be pleased to provide you with detailed information on the potential uses of this system for your specific application.

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In contrast, the new TRS 160 W removes the problem with an innovative system (Patent Pending) that guarantees not only a clean and perfectly perpendicular cut with knife but also a precise and well-defined chamfer, maintaining the same productivity and a satisfactory speed; these are requirements for modern extrusion lines.

Sica’s saw can cut any PVC, PP and PE plastic material.

The second important innovative product is the new Multibell 200M belling machine for PVC sewage pipe. This new machine has been completely revised and optimized, maintaining an important productivity per hour that reaches 900 sockets/hour with the flagship version. Maintaining unchanged the quality standards and product reliability, the new machine introduces numerous technical features in view of a greatly reduced price both of machine and equipment. The machine is still completely pneumatic, with the inevitable advantages related to the higher cleanliness and the superior ease of management thanks to the absence of the hydraulic unit.

Sica endeavor always to produce new technologies and innovative products is the Introduction of the Unibell 200 E&P belling machine distinguished by the electromechanical movement of the forming carriage. With this solution the hydraulic movements are eliminated from the machine, bringing many advantages from both functional and environmental points of view. Moreover, with the elimination of hydraulic movements any possible oil leakage into the environment are avoided and ordinary maintenance is reduced. The energy necessary for the forming positioning is used just for the duration of the carriage movement. Moreover, the total absence of hydraulic units brings a significant energy saving, because hydraulic units have a clearly lower total efficiency than this new device.

The obvious consequences are: faster return on investment, greater market competitiveness and greater respect for the environment.

With the launch of these machines, we can speak of Sica’s “green” turning point. Along with functionality, productivity and quality at the right price, more attention is paid to the environment, and energy and material savings for a sustainable economy. Environmental conservation and savings for a better world!

For More Details please contact: Satellite Plastic Industries 2A2, Court Chambers, 35, New Marine Lines, Mumbai 400 020 Phone: 022-22006477, 66346816 Fax: 022-22006556 Email : rajiv.satellite@gmail.com Website: www.sica-italy.com

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Swiss Thermoforming Machines for disposable packaging

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uge number of professionals in the thermoforming field from all over the world, visited WM Wrapping Machinery Sa’s booth at K 2013. Many visitors has been registered from Asia and Middle East and from North and South America.

system. The forming station is also equipped with a servomotor unit to drive the deep-drawing, which pre-stretches the sheet.

Both of the machines displayed, Model FC 780 E IM2 Speedmaster Plus series, vacuum thermoforming machine and FT 500 Desmoformer, simultaneous form-cut machine with lower tilting platen equipped with the new stacking devices, have been sold.

During the Show the machine has been displayed with a mould for an APET double eggs container.

The FT 500 has been sold in Vietnam and the contract has been concluded during the Show, while for the FC 780 E IM2 the negotiation started during the show and has been successfully concluded these days. Following the numerous requests received, new projects for machines with the same configuration are under negotiation.

The model FC 780 E IM2 Speedmaster Plus forms and cuts, using a steel rule blade, all in the same forming station. It is equipped with a second cutting press for products that requires a second cutting step. In addition, the machine can also install a three axes robot for counting, stacking (even with A-B or A-B-C sequences) and remove the stacked products. The machine can carry moulds up to 780x570 mm, with the forming unit generating a closing force of 750 kN. The standard versions come equipped with motorised height adjustments for both the lower and upper fixed platen. Thus, it can carry moulds with different heights, without the need for adapter plates. The platen movements, guided on four columns, of the first forming/ cutting press and of the second cutting station, are achieved with servomotors that independently drive a double toggle

The model FT 500 is a simultaneous form-cut machine with lower tilting platen. This machine can carry moulds up to 570x375 mm, with the closing unit generating a cutting force of 300 kN. It is also equipped with a wide range of devices, starting from the plugging system with servomotor, and continuing with the stacking system with rotating plate used for the removal, count and single row stacking of the thermoformed products.

Interesting is the tilting unit of the lower platen, which can rotate 75 degrees. The system uses a combination of cams and levers, driven by servomotor, and based on an innovative double desmodromic system. This ensures maximum precision and repetition of movements, as well as power calibration

during both the movement and cutting phases.

The thermoforming machine shown a mould with 22 cavities for a conical container with flat edge made of polypropylene.

The positive remarks WM received have been highly appreciated and will be an incentive to continue innovations and a reason to search for new technological solutions.

The results of this fair are very positive on the whole, the discussions started with the visitors seems to have a good follow up.

WM would like to thank all the visitor for the interest shown and the staff and agents for the good work done.

WM will be present from 17th to 20th February at Saudi Print & Pack in Riyadh and from 23rd to 26th April at Chinaplas in Shanghai at the Swiss Pavilion. For more information about where to meet please visit our website www.wm-thermoforming.com.

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B+B Anlagenbau and EREMA supply an expansion line for food grade HDPE to Closed Loop London Process The processing steps comprise Dry cleaning – Air classification – Hot wash – Sink float separation– Mechanical drying from B+B and subsequent extrusion with upstream decontamination from EREMA. This process enables Closed Loop London to produce rHDPE pellets from HDPE milk bottles for direct food contact in line with efsa requirements.

High-quality material treatment The basic principle of B+B’s plant concept is to treat the regrind material in a dry state as long as possible while it is in the process. This means that expensive resources such as water can be saved and no elaborate plant engineering is required for processing.

The core component of the washing facility is the hot wash which removes any unwanted elements such as stickers or adhesives from the regrind material. This particular application also features the removal of milk residues and the

associated odours as a crucial part of the cleaning process. The hot wash system works continuously and is fully automatic to ensure maximum availability and minimum maintenance intervals.

Efficient decontamination and extrusion In the subsequent extrusion process food contact grade HDPE regrind material is made on two VACUREMA® Advanced 1716 TE systems which is then reused in the production of milk bottles. Closed Loop London ordered what is now the third of these systems – each with a capacity of 7,000 t/year – as part of the expansion.

With a market share of 50% in the USA and 30% in Europe, VACUREMA® technology from EREMA for the processing of rPET for direct food contact has proven itself on a global scale.

The concept also works in a slightly modified form for the recycling of food contact grade HDPE pel-

lets which requires an additional extruder degassing.

The deciding success factor of VACUREMA®, however, is above all the highly efficient, food contact compliant decontamination UPSTREAM of the extrusion process.

The patented pre-treatment of the HDPE flakes at raised temperature and in high vacuum before the extrusion process removes moisture and migration materials from the feedstock very effectively and in a stable process environment.

Another benefit for the user is that the parameters for direct food contact compliance are monitored and archived continuously in the recycling process on all VACUREMA® systems. The Food Contact Control (FCC) feature supervises the recipe data stored and if levels go beyond defined limits an alarm is triggered automatically and (optionally) material flow is diverted away from current production.

Worldwide interest in high-quality washing process

Higher-quality washing processes have posted significant growth in recent years as the cold wash used previously for the processing of polyolefins was not able to remove what was in part a strong odour. If these plastic regrind materials are then extruded, the end products made from them are often suitable only for outdoor use.

A number of potential users are now looking into using more enhanced processes such as those offered by B+B for the production of odourless recycled pellets. In the USA, for example, polyolefin repellets are already being used in the washing detergent and cosmetics industries. B+B has commissioned hot wash systems of this kind for HDPE around the world with an annual capacity already in the region of 90,000 t.

For more informaton, please contact: B+B Anlagenbau GmbH, Girmesgath 5, 47803 Krefeld info@bub-anlagenbau.de

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EuroMold 2014 World Fair Establishes New Directions in Global Engineering

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fter the 20-year anniversary, EuroMold is presenting itself as one of the most successful engineering trade fairs. In 2014, a stronger and self-confident EuroMold as the World Fair for Moldmaking and Tooling, Design and Application Development will present new innovations for the industry with sister fairs and representation on five continents.

Frankfurt/Main, 3 February 2014 – Following 58,673 visitors from 83 countries and 1,056 exhibitors from 37 countries in the year 2013, EuroMold 2014 is striving to set new records. Rising exhibitor and visitor numbers are demanding ever-increasing transparency in the transfer of know-how along the process chain. The 21st EuroMold held in Frankfurt am Main at the end of November 2014 will therefore be even more informative and

communicative.

Dr. Ing. Eberhard Döring, Exhibition Director: “Sustained high demand among exhibitors and visitors from the key global industries such as automotive and mechanical engineering, aviation and aerospace, electronics and medical technology makes EuroMold the leading marketplace for groundbreaking ideas and innovative solutions for global engineering.”

As a leading cross-industry trade fair, EuroMold is committed to Europe but provides impulses for the entire process chain of industrial product development around the world. With sister fairs in Egypt, South Africa, the USA, China, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates as well as representation at trade fairs in India, Japan and Russia, EuroMold sets standards as

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a true global player. The EuroMold trade fair concept from design to prototype to series is becoming increasingly popular worldwide, providing valuable assistance to exhibitors in market development and market penetration.

Döring: “EuroMold is an ideal setting to initiate business and also acts as a catalyst for the worldwide advancement of technology.

Exhibitors and industry visitors as well as exhibitors amongst themselves discuss problems in a familial atmosphere and develop potential solutions. With a broad spectrum of conferences and forums on various topics, exhibitors and visitors use EuroMold as a platform for intensive technical networking.”

EuroMold 2013 has already presented 120 top-class speakers, the who’s who from the disciplines of

moldmaking and tooling, design and application development. The international Terry Wohlers conference dedicated to the topic of Business and Investment Opportunities in Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing was a visitor magnet.

The EuroMold Award as the Oscar of product development will be presented for the 16th time in gold, silver and bronze at EuroMold 2014. Criteria such as technological innovativeness, sustainability, efficiency and design are taken into account.

EuroMold 2014 is being held from 25 to 28 November 2014 at the Frankfurt am Main Exhibition Centre.

Further information: www.euromold.com