Cooperation With RWTH and FH Aachen: Racing Cars With Solar Drive

• Covestro is main sponsor of Team Sonnenwagen for another two years
• CTO Thorsten Dreier: “Reducing emissions together”
• More sustainable material solutions for interiors, exteriors and powertrains

Protecting the climate is one of the greatest challenges of our time. One of the main sources of greenhouse gases in particular – transportation – is in urgent need of a climate-friendly transformation. At the Mobility Day North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) on December 18 in Essen, experts from politics, business and society spoke and discussed the current situation and possibilities for the rapid implementation of climate-neutral mobility in Germany’s most populous federal state.

Covestro is already making an important contribution to more sustainable vehicles and infrastructure with innovative material solutions. In this context, the company is also working in close partnership with Team Sonnenwagen, a team of around 50 students from RWTH Aachen University and Aachen University of Applied Sciences. It is dedicated to developing racing cars that are powered solely by the sun. Covestro shares the students’ enthusiasm because the racing cars, with their high efficiency and use of new technologies and materials, are a powerful symbol of the mobility of the future. That is why Covestro is supporting the team as the main sponsor with material solutions and technical exchange for another two years.

“In order to create a climate-neutral and circular mobility of the future, business, politics and society must pull together. At Covestro, we are contributing to this transformation by offering the automotive industry raw materials based on biomass or recyclates and manufacturing our products as energy-efficiently and with as few emissions as possible,” said Dr. Thorsten Dreier, Chief Technology Officer, during the discussion. “At Covestro, we want our production to be climate-neutral by 2035 and are relying on energy from renewable sources and innovative process technologies to achieve this.”

Covestro’s material developments focus on solutions for the major trends of electromobility, autonomous driving and the need for individualization. These include material solutions for compact, powerful and safe batteries for electric cars and robust charging systems, plastics for connected mobility and the Internet of Things, as well as various products for aesthetic and functional automotive interiors and exteriors.

Covestro has been supporting Team Sonnenwagen in the development of ever more efficient solar racing cars since 2017. The students are working together in a wide range of disciplines to improve the aerodynamics, optimize the chassis and install a particularly efficient photovoltaic system and battery. Participants at the NRW Mobility Day were able to take a look at the Covestro Photon, the predecessor model to the current Adelie racing car, and talk to team members. With the Photon, Team Sonnenwagen became European champion at the European solar race in Zolder, Belgium, in September 2022.

https://www.covestro.com/

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MRPC Gains Medaccred Accreditation –  Demonstrating Commitment To Quality And Opening Doors To New Business

MRPC, a full contract manufacturer of medical devices, instruments, and disposables is attracting new business opportunities less than 12 months after achieving MedAccred Accreditation.

The U.S.-based company is a turnkey manufacturing partner to some of the world’s largest medical device companies, and the accreditation is a clear indicator of the excellence of the company, and the quality of its critical manufacturing processes.

MRPC was looking for a proactive way to drive quality improvements and develop a competitive advantage and decided to explore MedAccred Accreditation further after an OEM reinforced its significance.

MedAccred is the supply chain oversight program that focusses on critical manufacturing processes in the medical device industry to improve device quality and enhance patient safety. Its audit criteria are set by its Subscribers, who are among the largest companies in the medical devices sector, including Baxter, Becton Dickinson, Boston Scientific, Edwards Lifesciences, Medtronic, Philips Healthcare, Roche Diagnostics and Stryker.

Carl Lider, Chief Operating Officer at MRPC, said: “Gaining the accreditation aligns with MRPC’s continuous goal of being a world class medical device manufacturer. This certification further demonstrates to our customers and perspective customers that we are dedicated to delivering on our promise of quality and service.”

MRPC was already partnering with the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network, for a program called Medical Manufacturers MedAccred Accreditation Pathway (MedMMAP). The program allocates critical process experts to conduct on-site assessments and prepare manufacturers for a gap closure process.

Before the MedAccred Auditor visit, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership assessed the business’ current position and identified gaps that needed to be addressed. While various actions, such as documenting what people routinely do, were relatively simple, others took a few months, as a team designed, documented and socialized new methods across the company’s sites, while focusing initially on gaining accreditation at the Hudson, New Hampshire facility.

MRPC reports that these steps enabled the company to pass its MedAccred audit assessment smoothly. Although it’s early in the journey, the company expects year over year improvements with key metrics such as the Cost of Poor Quality (CoPQ), and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).

An already proven benefit is an uptick in business enquiries, said Mr Lider: He added: “MedAccred accreditation has enabled us to build relationships with some of the world’s leading medical device OEMs. We have seen significant interest and excitement.”

Bob Lizewski, VP MedAccred, said: “MRPC took a thorough, systematic approach to achieving MedAccred accreditation. We’re delighted they are already seeing the quality and business benefits and are now pursuing MedAccred accreditation for a further site.”

MRPC achieved MedAccred Accreditation for Plastics Injection Molding, Insert Molding, and Overmolding at their Hudson, New Hampshire facility. The company also has facilities located in Butler, Wisconsin (headquarters); and Largo, Florida. Core competencies include Design For Manufacturability, Silicone Molding, Plastic Molding and Extrusions, Multi-Material Molding, Finished Medical Device Assembly, and Global Supply Chain Development and Management. It was one of the first manufacturing companies in Wisconsin to gain ISO 13485 certification.

https://mrpc.co.in/

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Bry-Air and DRI Conduct Sports Day at Bajghera, Gurugram to Celebrate International Day of Education

Sports Day, aimed at promoting the overall development of children, was attended by nearly 255 students
New Delhi, Observing the International Day of Education, Bry-Air and DRI, the flagship companies of the Pahwa Group, organized Sports Day for students of Bry-Air Pathshala and DRI Pathshala. The event was conducted for the Pathshala students at the Literacy India playground in Bajghera village, Gurugram which witnessed the participation of over 255 students.

Sports Day was organized with the aim of fostering inclusive education by promoting the overall development of the children. To instill enthusiasm among the children, Bry-Air and DRI, conducted a range of activities, namely, spoon race, relay race, 50-meter race, 100-meter race, three-legged race, sack race, and tug of war, etc., to name a few, to inculcate sportsmanship in students right from their formative years.The flagship companies conduct classes under the names Bry-Air Pathshala and DRI Pathshala, in Dharam Colony and Carterpuri village respectively. The Group has been working in close collaboration with NGO – Literacy India since 2011 and 2014, respectively, to fulfill the cause of providing education to underprivileged children. Staying true to its commitment to making education accessible for everyone, the Group is incessantly dedicated to providing free-of-cost education to underprivileged children. To achieve this purpose, the Group efficiently provides a primary school environment so that children in remote parts of the cities can avail quality education.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Anandita Pahwa, Head – CSR, Bry-Air & DRI, said, “The celebration of International Day of Education underscores our dedication to encourage elevation of the society. As part of the endeavor, understanding that education plays a pivotal role in shaping society and securing the future of children, we have been relentlessly working towards empowering underprivileged children with the power of knowledge. In the pursuit, the Sports Day on the occasion of International Day of Education promotes the overall development of the children while instilling sportsmanship in them, enabling them to navigate the future with sheer wisdom.”

Resolved to contribute to the upliftment of society as a responsible organization, Bry-Air, and DRI are continuously involved in empowering the youth and ladies to help them become self-dependent. To achieve this purpose, the Group conducts skill development courses in diversified fields aimed at supporting the women and girl child become self-earning members of the society. For which, they provide training on a wide range of courses such as beautician and tailoring courses, computer literacy, etc., and further provide them with necessary sewing machines, tailoring and beautician kits, etc. to help them set up their small business shops and manage the day-to-day expense of their families.
www.bry-air.com

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The 9th All In Print China Scales New Heights With A Record-Breaking Exhibition Space And Visitor Number

The 9th All in Print China concluded successfully in Shanghai on November 4. This year’s exhibition covered more than 110,000 square meters with 1,003 professional suppliers in the printing and packaging industry from 14 countries and regions, including China, Germany, India, Korea, and Japan, participated in the event. They represented the entire eco system of the printing sector, including publishing, paper packaging, flexible packaging, and labeling, among others. The objective of their participation was to promote trending new technologies throughout the industry chain. A total of 108,136 trade visitors from 126 countries worldwide attended the 4-day event, which received 148,165 visits in total, among which,10,164 international visitors attended the show, accounting for around 10%.

“This year marks the 20th anniversary of the All in Print China. This 20-year mile stone holds great significance and symbolizes a fresh beginning for propelling progress forward. All in Print 2023 met its high expectations with a record-breaking exhibition space and the highest number of visitors in the history of the event. This achievement further proves the rapid rebound of the global printing industry,” Evian Gu, Division Director of Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., stated.

Long-awaited international buyers displayed a strong intention to make purchases. Purchasing demand from domestic companies also rebounded clearly from the first half of the year, fostering a fervent trading atmosphere during the event. Consequently, All in Print now ranks among the most impactful and productive trade fairs in the printing and packaging industry for networking and conducting business in Asia.

Comprehensive categories pioneer industry innovations

The 9th All in Print took place at SNIEC (Shanghai New International Expo Center), spanning nine halls (N1-N5 and W2-W5), with a focus on 7 main themes: Digital Printing, Prepress and Digitization, Comprehensive Printing, Intelligent Post-press, Comprehensive Packaging, Innovative Materials and Label & Flexible Packaging Industry. The show featured two specialized zones — Printing Digitization Factory and Innovation Factory, and one special feature areas — Display on the Achievements of Digitalization of Printing Industry in Yangtze River Delta. The event focused on the digital and intelligent transformation of the printing industry, connecting all aspects of the industry chain ecosystem, and provided a platform for scientific and technological exchanges and achievements.

International and domestic exhibitors convened at the trade show, featuring renowned global brands including Canon, Epson, Kyocera, Manroland Goss, Dupont, Tesa, DIC Corporation, Toyo Ink, and APP, among others, alongside Chinese companies like Masterwork, Founder, Zenbo, UP Group, Zhongde, Guangming, JMD, Ounuo, Jingang, Fangbang, Shield, Inkj, Cron, and Weigang. Hundreds of companies unveiled their latest products at the exhibition, featuring a range of debut and signing ceremonies that infused the industry with a fresh perspective on innovation and development.

Domestic companies’ purchasing intentions are rebounding while overseas buyers continue to gain strong purchasing power

Ms. Sabine Geldermann, Director of drupa, mentioned: “I am pleased to see that with 20 years development, All in Print China, as a member of drupa has reached the new record with the largest scale in the exhibition space and visitor number.”

The exhibition halls were packed during the four-day event. Pre-registered attendance and show visitation percentages were both at all-time highs. As for group attendance, buyer groups from over 110 domestic associations, encompassing printing, packaging, and terminal associations from multiple provinces, cities, and regions, were drawn to the show. Nearly 40 international buyer groups attended the exhibition, and the total number of attendees set a new record.

Additionally, purchasing intentions of domestic and international visitors rebounded, resulting in a release of three years of pent-up demand. The exhibition floor saw numerous signing ceremonies and equipment marked as “SOLD”, leading to the establishment of partnerships, signed orders, and potential deals by exhibitors and visitors. According to data, the 9th All in Print has generated billions of yuan in direct transactions and subsequent collaborations, serving as a significant impetus for the printing industry’s ongoing growth and expansion.

During and prior to the show, 38 programs were live-streamed, encompassing six themes: “Bigshots visit the Show”, Concurrent Forums, Exhibitors Presentations, New Product Launches, Technical Experts Courses, and Matchmaking Sessions for overseas buyers. These events and programs offered trade visitors in-depth technical analysis and product introductions, resulting in significant traffic and a substantial impact. So far, the programs have received more than 200,000 views on the web and are expected to have a lasting impact beyond the show.

It has been two decades since the inception of All in Print in 2003. For two decades, the trade show has been promoting and observing the growth of China’s printing industry. All in Print, one of the leading global exhibitions, will serve as a platform and play a vital role in the convergence and growth of global printing technology and China’s printing manufacturing.

The 10th All in Print China is scheduled to be held on October 28-31, 2024, at SNIEC (Shanghai New International Expo Center). Looking forward to seeing you next year!

https://www.drupa.com/

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AVer Solutions Garner High Praise from Vice President Lai Ching-Te

Vice President Lai Ching-te visited AVer Information Inc., an award-winning provider of video collaboration and education technology solutions. After being warmly welcomed by all colleagues, Vice President Lai learned about the efforts AVer made in solar panel power generation at its Tucheng headquarters, commending the company’s investment in ESG. Later, he was introduced to the latest AVer AI solutions and met with AVer CEO Andy Hsi, National Policy Advisor Chin Chia-hung, Legislator Wu Chi-ming, and other distinguished guests.

Vice President Lai was thoroughly impressed by the AVer products, especially the Taiwan Excellence Gold Award winner, the MD330U medical-grade PTZ camera. He further complimented the CAM570 audio tracking camera, the popular TR211 auto tracking camera, and the avercasso CS One—the industry-leading AI coffee bean selection machine. He said: “Taiwanese manufacturers are brilliant technological innovators. We are very happy to see that
AVer continues to pursue innovation in the fields of medical, audio, anthrough its strong AI research and development capabilities to provide the world with exceptional products and services.”

Founded in 2008, AVer Information Inc. provides a full range of camera solutions, including medical-grade cameras, on-premise video conferencing cameras, professional auto tracking and PTZ cameras, document cameras, and intelligent charging carts and cabinets. The company has won numerous awards at home and abroad for its innovative products that meet the diverse needs of medical practitioners, enterprise users, and educators around the world.

https://www.aver.com

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Arburg Among The World Market Leaders Once Again!

• Ranked in the top 450 of German companies and even the top third
• Strict criteria of the University of St. Gallen fully met
• Arburg Managing Partner Michael Hehl: “We are most proud and would like to thank all of our employees!”

To achieve this, you have to have done a lot of things right! Once again, Black Forest injection moulding machine manufacturer Arburg from Lossburg is back on the list of German world market leaders. Every year, the University of St. Gallen lists the top 450 companies “Made in Germany” based on a number of strict criteria. Arburg has met all of them and outstandingly too!

The World Market Leader Index is compiled by the Swiss University of St. Gallen under the academic direction of Professor Christoph Müller. The co-operation partner is the Academy of German World Market Leaders, led by former Baden-Württemberg Minister of Economic Affairs Walter Döring.

It is based on a database with 1,300 entries of potential world market leaders. The best of the best are filtered for the list based on strict criteria.

The requirements that companies have to fulfil include being number one or two worldwide in terms of turnover in a relevant market segment.

With 875 million euros. Arburg is in an excellent position for 2022. In addition, at least 50 per cent of the annual turnover must be generated abroad and on three continents. Arburg achieves a 70 per cent export share on six continents.

Family tradition from the Black Forest

In addition, the owners must be based in Germany, at least in part. As the family business has been firmly rooted in Lossburg for exactly 100 years, this was not a major hurdle. Michael Hehl, Managing Partner and Spokesman for the Management Team: “We are naturally very pleased and proud that Arburg is once again on the list of 450 German world market leaders. It is also in the top third, among the best 150 companies. This demonstrates that, in our anniversary year too, we are still on the right track. Ultimately, of course, this fantastic result would not have been possible without our fantastic employees. I’d therefore like to say thank you very much to them for that!”

The complete list of the 450 companies is published in the current special issue no. 1 of “WirtschaftsWoche” from 6 November 2023: Title: ” Die 450 heimlichen Weltmarktführer”.

https://www.arburg.com/en/

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Cosmo First (Erstwhile Cosmo Films) Launches Metalised Capacitor Grade BOPP Films

Cosmo Films a global leader in speciality films for packaging, labelling, synthetic paper, and lamination applications recently launched Metalised Electrical grade BOPP films for Capacitor application. These Films are used for Capacitor manufacturing of various types of AC and DC Capacitors. These Capacitors have diverse application ranging from Electronics appliances, Industrial applications, Power Electronics, Automobile, Electric Vehicles, Renewable Power systems, etc.

These metalised capacitor grade films will be manufactured under clean room conditions with micro slitting capability and thickness ranging from 2.5 micron to 12 micron.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Kulbhushan Mallik, Global Business Head, Cosmo Films, “We, at Cosmo First, have proudly pioneered industry-first solutions for the past four decades. This strategic move aligns perfectly with the Cosmo Film’s vision of strengthening our global leadership in speciality films through innovative and sustainable solutions”.

There is lot of focus from Government to make the country self-reliant under Atmanirbhar Bharat Scheme and Electronics manufacturing and Electronics exports is a key initiative. Capacitors being an important component in electronics eco-system truly supports this Government initiative. Currently there is lot of imports happening of these electrical grade capacitor films from countries like China and with growing demand of high-quality Capacitor Grade Films, there is a large potential for these films for both domestic and exports market. The current installed capacity of these Metalised Films is approximately 750 MT per annum, and Cosmo Films will look to scale up this product category in future.

www.cosmofilms.com

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Clariant Proudly Celebrates 40 Years of Desiccant Manufacturing and Innovation in Belen, New Mexico, USA

• The Belen, NM, USA site opened in 1983 and has been processing responsibly mined bentonite clay into desiccant packets and bags for the past 40 years.
•  The site has provided innovative solutions for industries such as intermodal transport, packaging, electronics and semiconductors, nutraceuticals and food protection.
•  Beginning with Desi Pak bentonite clay desiccants, the site has developed other leading brands such as Container Dri II cargo desiccants, Sorb-It silica gel desiccants, Tri-Sorb molecular sieve desiccants and more.

Clariant, a sustainability-focused specialty chemical company, is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Belen, NM, USA desiccant manufacturing site. Beginning in 1983 with Desi Pak bentonite clay desiccants, the site has developed a range of innovative products for varied industries including intermodal transport, electronics and semiconductors, aerospace and defense, packaging, food protection, apparel and textiles, medical devices, and health and personal care. “This celebration is an opportunity to express our appreciation to our customers, suppliers, employees, and the Valencia County community where the site is located,” comments Ryan Grauer, Head of Sales, Marketing, & Technology, Cargo & Device Protection, Clariant Adsorbents & Additives. “Everything that we have achieved has been the result of our dedicated teamwork and collaboration with our partners. We are grateful to everyone who has contributed to the success of this site.”

Originally established in 1983 as United Desiccants (United Catalysts, Inc., Desiccant Division) by Munich-based Süd-Chemie AG, the Belen site was one of the original tenants of the Rio Grande Industrial Park in Valencia County. Using responsibly mined bentonite from their mine in Arizona, the site has specialized in the processing and packaging of high-grade activated bentonite clay desiccants, which quickly gained wide-spread recognition as a leading solution in military and industrial applications. Shortly after, in 1989, Clariant Cargo & Device business segment North America (then United Desiccants) acquired Humidial Corporation and their Colton, California, site.

As a leading provider and innovator of humidity indicator cards, Humidial offered a valuable complement to the portfolio of desiccants. Today, the combined experience of these companies brings together over 80 years of expertise in the field. The portfolio includes Container Dri II cargo desiccants, Humitector humidity indicators and desiccator plugs, Sorb-It silica gel desiccants, and Tri-Sorb molecular sieve desiccants. Other products include DESVOCANT adsorbents, which offer a solution for controlling the accumulation of volatile organic compounds, and Oxy-Guard oxygen absorbers (scavengers), which minimize oxygen in food packaging to prolong shelf-life and reduce preservative use. Desiccant Cartridges additionally provide moisture protection for containers, cases, and electrical and optical devices.

Earlier in 2023, Clariant launched the latest innovation in the portfolio, Desi Pak ECO, a responsibly mined natural bentonite clay desiccant in a plastic-free, bio-based package. The desiccant packets are specially designed moisture adsorbing solutions focused on sourcing raw materials and transportation packaging with a lower environmental impact. “Our desiccant products are designed for any customer in need of moisture protection for their products,” adds Justin Mueller, Head of Adsorbents Americas. “With our decades of experience and worldwide network of state-of-the-art manufacturing sites and support teams, we are committed to delivering quality, reliability, and sustainability in all of our products.”

www.clariant.com/desiccants

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Helping To Improve Crop Revenue And Ease Of Harvest, With Cooling Diffused Greenhouse Films

• Durability
• Toughness
• Cooling effect
• Cost optimization

Challenge:

Heavy rain and wind can limit production of tropical open field crops. While greenhouses protect against weather extremes, conventional films admit too much solar radiation, raising temperatures that limit yields.

Important considerations for greenhouse in tropical climates include:

• Durability – films need to be able to withstand heavy rains and typhoon winds over multiple crop cycles
• Solar radiation levels – Light transmission needs to be maintained at levels of between PAR 400 to 700 nm which is important for photosynthesis to take place, while limiting infrared radiation within the greenhouse.
• Light conditions – sunlight should be filtered and diffused to ensure uniform light distribution inside the greenhouse.

Greenhouse films developed for tropical climates can help to meet these challenges to improve productivity and extend greenhouse life.

Solution:

ExxonMobil, Ampacet, and Vis and Son Company Limited (VSC) worked together to study durable cooling diffused films designed to meet the challenges of tropical greenhouses.

Based in Thailand, VSC is one of the leading companies in the manufacture of polyethylene films and sheets. They produce an extensive range of agricultural films products from greenhouse films to mulch to grow bags.

Ampacet, a global masterbatch producer, specializes in color and additive masterbatches for plastics with a history of agriculture and plasticulture expertise.

The study combined ExxonMobil’s Exceed XP performance polyethylene with Ampacet’s HEATSCREEN 34 cooling additive and VSC’s advanced extrusion technology to produce a 150 µm cooling diffused film that delivers improved durability as well as optimal light and heat transmission properties.

This cooling diffused film was put to the test in an organic watermelon greenhouse in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai.

These were the observations:

• Durability – The film structures have shown high retention of the tensile properties under sun exposure for more than 2 years and they continue to be in use. They are also proven to last > 5 years in accelerated aging exposure under WOMS Chamber vs market reference which drops below threshold within 2 years.
• Toughness – Exceed XP performance polyethylene enables converters to easily fabricate exceptionally tough films with very high dart impact and puncture resistance, and tensile strength at break for high-integrity greenhouse and walk-in tunnel covers.
• Temperature – with the cooling additive, temperatures inside the greenhouse especially during hot season is seen to be lowered by 2 to 5º C.

In addition, using Exceed XP and Enable performance polyethylene to replace LLDPE/LDPE blends helps converters to reduce the number of resins that need to be sourced hence reducing inventory costs. Additionally, better bubble stability and ease of extrusion further optimizes the solutions and delivers opportunities for potential high output.

Results:

Reduced temperatures – the cooling diffused film helps to reflect infrared radiation (IR) which effectively reduces temperatures inside greenhouse when compared to conventional film by an average of 2-5º C in tropical climates. The new film also helps to provide consistent light transmission which allows better light diffusion (comfortably above 50% levels throughout the 24-month testing period) inside the greenhouse, giving excellent uniformity to crops in terms of shape, size, color, taste, as well as reducing leaf scorching.

Excellent aging performance – the new film helps reduce the risk of premature breakage, extending the growing season. It is compatible with functional additives and antioxidants to retain mechanical properties and high diffusivity (through haze), which are even more critical as the film ages. It also exhibits excellent aging performance for long lasting, durable solutions, proving it can withstand the rigors of installation and extreme weather.

Mr. Montchai and Mrs. Pimwalan, owners of the organic watermelon farm, are very satisfied with the results after replacing the conventional film with the new cooling diffused film for two crop cycles. They said, “Our crop yield has increased after using this film. The average weight of our watermelons increased from 1-2 kg to 3-4 kg with one melon going up to 6 kg. The average harvest time has been reduced and we can now harvest watermelons in 45-50 days compared to 60-70 days previously. With all this, we are especially pleased that our average income per 13m x 30m greenhouse has increased by 35%.”

“Ampacet and VSC have been valuable partners in this project,” said Tan Wee Long, Head of Market Development, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. “VSC’s insights of the Thai agricultural industry and their state-of-the-art processes and Ampacet’s advanced portfolio of additives and extensive community outreach were critical to the success of the trial of this film formulation. Through each party’s insight, we hope to improve farmers’ livelihoods.”

Benefits for other crops – The new cooling diffused greenhouse film provides the same benefits for capsicum, cannabis*, sweet pepper, tomato, chrysanthemum flower, and hemp.

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