Kumovis to show new end-to-end workflow for medical 3D printing

• This November, Munich-based start-up Kumovis will be presenting new developments at AM Medical Days, COMPAMED and Formnext in Germany.
• The highlight is a new end-to-end workflow that enables medtech companies and hospitals to manufacture products from high-performance polymers such as PEEK
  and bring them to market more quickly in accordance with FDA and MDR criteria.
• In addition to the Kumovis R1 3D printer, which will manufacture implants live at the company’s Formnext booth, panels and presentations are also part of the program.

Munich – Kumovis, the Munich-based medical 3D printing start-up, will show its new end-to- end workflow for the additive manufacturing of medical products this fall. With the industry- specific development, Kumovis enables medical devices made of high-performance polymers such as PEEK to be manufactured more efficiently than with conventional processes. What is more, manufacturers can bring these products to market in accordance with FDA and MDR criteria using the Kumovis workflow. Besides exhibiting the Kumovis R1 3D printer and medical applications at its booths, Kumovis will also be represented in panels and presentations at this year’s editions of COMPAMED, Formnext and AM Medical Days.

AM Medical Days: Experience medtech future today

The latter is the new decision-makers and experts conference on all things medical 3D printing at the Estrel Congress Center in Berlin. “As a founding partner of AM Medical Days, Kumovis is proud to be able to make another contribution to the future of 3D printing in medicine today,” says Stefan Leonhardt, co-CEO and co-founder of Kumovis. “Anyone who is professionally involved with 3D-printed medical devices or the future in the operating room shouldn’t miss this event.” Topics like these will be the focus of the panel discussion with Kumovis on the first day of the two-day conference. “Beyond AM Medical Days, we are looking forward to finally getting in touch with people in person again at the two must-attend events COMPAMED and Formnext,” Stefan Leonhardt adds.

Furthermore, he will speak about the current state of 3D-printed polymer implants in his lecture at AM Medical Days: Which applications are possible today, which are still in the development phase? And how can innovations be implemented using 3D printing under more difficult market conditions – MDR is the catchword? Kumovis will answer these and other questions during AM Medical Days. From November 22 to 23, visitors will also find representative 3D-printed build parts made of medical-grade polymers at the Kumovis booth.

Formnext: Additive manufacturing of implants live

The Kumovis team will exhibit its new developments in Frankfurt too. At the start-up’s Formnext booth, Kumovis R1, the FLM 3D printer built for medical manufacturing, can be assessed live at an event for the first time since 2019. This year, Kumovis plans to 3D print implants on site so that every visitor will be able to convince themselves of the part quality.

As at the other two events in November, visitors to the Kumovis booth at Formnext will learn everything about the new end-to-end workflow – from DICOM processing, 3D printing and post-processing to the approval of a medical device. On the one hand, the solution includes the provision of the 3D printer and slicing software; on the other hand, Kumovis provides application-specific processes and regulatory data such as machine qualification and biological and mechanical validation. With this complete package, medical device manufacturers can save costs and serve MDR and FDA markets compliantly and faster than with conventional processes such as milling or injection molding. Kumovis will be at
Formnext from November 16 to 19 in hall 12.1, booth E29.

COMPAMED: Approval is focus

Medtech companies and hospitals achieve the familiar mechanical properties from conventional manufacturing when 3D printing medical products with Kumovis R1 and materials such as PEEK, PEKK or PPSU. Like visitors to Formnext, those at COMPAMED in Duesseldorf will be able to get their hands on 3D-printed parts at the Kumovis booth and see the parts’ quality for themselves from November 15 to 18. Application-specific products will be available at the Kumovis booth. And another medical technology concern is on the agenda: the new regulatory requirements of the MDR. Kumovis will address this topic in the “COMPAMED Suppliers Forum by DeviceMed” and give a presentation under the title “Implants and instruments individualized or mass-produced from high-performance polymers – design, 3D printing and approval”. The Kumovis medical and polymer technology experts will be available for further questions and discussions in hall 13, booth D32.

Brief overview of where to meet Kumovis
– COMPAMED starting November 15; hall 13, booth D32, Messe Duesseldorf
– Formnext starting November 16; hall 12.1, booth E29, Messe Frankfurt
– AM Medical Days starting November 22; booth 04, Estrel Congress Center Berlin

Media contact
Stefan Killer

ALPLA is awarded Platinum rating for sustainability Top ranking among 75,000 companies at EcoVadis

Hard, 21 October 2021 – After the ALPLA Group achieved Silver in 2019 and Gold in 2020, EcoVadis has awarded the company its Platinum status for sustainability for the first time in 2021. ALPLA – a global manufacturer of plastic packaging and recycling specialist – is therefore among the top 1 per cent of all 75,000 companies evaluated.

Each year, 75,000 companies in 200 fields of business and 160 different countries carry out the self-assessment from EcoVadis, the world’s largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings. Major global companies, including many of ALPLA’s customers, use EcoVadis ratings to gauge the sustainability and responsibility of their suppliers and ensure that they apply high ethical and environmental standards.

The ratings define how socially ethical a company is in four fields called environment, sustainable procurement, ethics and labour and human rights. Health and safety also play an important role in them. A total of 21 different criteria are assessed within these four main themes.

Strong improvement
ALPLA has been using EcoVadis for a number of years and has continuously improved its ratings over time. This year, the ALPLA Group has achieved 73 out of a possible 100 points, making it one of the best (the top 1 per cent) of all participating companies that use EcoVadis to rate their corporate social responsibility. EcoVadis awarded ALPLA Platinum status for this. ALPLA achieved Gold status last year and Silver status two years ago, documenting the enormous improvement made in recent years. The rating is another milestone in ALPLA’s activities in sustainability management. The company will be expanding them even further in the future. Rogelio De la Rosa, Head of Corporate Health, Safety & Environment, adds: ‘We are delighted that EcoVadis has rewarded us with its Platinum status for our extensive commitment at all levels of sustainability management.’

About the ALPLA Group
ALPLA is one of the leading companies involved in plastic packaging. Around 21,600 employees worldwide produce custom-made packaging systems, bottles, caps and moulded parts at 178 sites across 45 countries. The high-quality packaging is used in a wide range of areas, including for food and drinks, cosmetics and care products, household detergents, washing and cleaning agents, pharmaceutical products, engine oils and lubricants.

ALPLA operates its own recycling plants for PET and HDPE in Austria, Poland, Mexico, Italy and Spain, and in the form of joint ventures in Mexico and Germany. Other projects are being realised elsewhere around the world.

WITTMANN BATTENFELD with complete WITTMANN 4.0 production cell at the Interplastica trade show

From January 25 to 28, 2022, WITTMANN BATTENFELD will present its Industry 4.0 solution in the form of a production cell networked via WITTMANN 4.0 to interested trade visitors at Interplastica in Moscow in Hall 02, Booth 2.1/A23.

WITTMANN BATTENFELD will demonstrate its digitization expertise in Moscow with the production of a medical part. The machine to be used is an all-electric EcoPower 55/350, equipped with the software packages HiQ Flow® for compensating viscosity fluctuations, HiQ Melt for material quality monitoring and HiQ Metering for active
closing of the check valve.

Equipment integrated in the machine’s UNILOG B8 control system via WITTMANN 4.0 will include a WITTMANN W918 robot, a gravimetric dosing unit GRAVIMAX G14, an ATON plus H70 segmented wheel dryer and three temperature controllers from the TEMPRO plus D series, as well as the TEMI+ MES system.

The electronic mold data sheet will also be used by UNILOG B8. It enables the production cell, integrated via a WITTMANN 4.0 router, to check whether the connected auxiliaries are sufficient for the selected product data set, or whether additional equipment is needed.

The automation system is implemented via an Easy Cell developed and manufactured by WITTMANN BATTENFELD Deutschland in Nuremberg. The Easy Cell requires no safety gate and thus takes up only a minimal amount of space beside the injection molding machine. In spite of its compact design, customers
receive the complete range of CE-compliant safety features.

Furthermore, WITTMANN auxiliaries will also be on display as stand-alone solutions at Interplastica in Moscow.

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THE PERFORMANCE REVIEW INSTITUTE APPOINTS JAY SOLOMOND AS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

The Performance Review Institute (PRI) has announced the appointment of Jay Solomond to the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Solomond will lead and manage all aspects of PRI’s strategy, continuing to add value for the global stakeholder base and supporting PRI’s continued global growth, operations and programs.

David L. Schutt PhD, CEO and President of the SAE Group said:

“Jay is a highly successful global executive with over 25 years of leadership across various industries. He is a transformative and forward-thinking leader, which is exactly what’s needed at this pivotal time. We are excited to have Jay’s involvement, and his passion for quality and safety, to lead PRI into the future.”

Throughout his diverse professional career, Mr. Solomond has led teams and projects in multiple countries, with responsibility for strategic decisions and delivering ever richer value and confidence to all stakeholders, including the general public. Customer- and quality-focused, Mr. Solomond has an innovative mindset, holding four patents, and a strong commitment to continuous improvement.

Jay Solomond said:

“PRI is known and trusted worldwide as the steward of quality in critical industries such as aerospace and medical devices through its unique collaborative supply chain oversight programs, world-leading quality management systems approval program and expert professional development programs. I look forward to working with the PRI stakeholders, and leading the transformation, towards the provision of ‘next generation’ services.”

Tony Maguire, Head of Quality, BAE Systems – Air, and Chairman of the PRI Board said:

“Quality and safety go hand-in-hand and ultimately, it is the customer and the public that benefits. PRI’s unique value proposition as a provider of critical, actionable intelligence is a key enabler in ensuring our work continues effectively. Jay’s considerable experience will add an extra dimension to the organizational leadership that enables PRI to move to the next level while assuring a continued focus on customer satisfaction. I look forward to working with him.”

Mr. Solomond holds a BSc degree in Science, Ceramic Sciences and Engineering from Penn State University; and a MSc degree in Administration, Business and Management, from Central Michigan University.

CORE Industrial Partners Forms a New 3D Printing Platform with the Acquisition of RE3DTECH

Sidel contributes to Lesieur sustainability and flexibility vision with three Combi solutions for light-weighted rPET edible oil bottles

Between 2019 and 2021, three Sidel and Serac Combis for edible oil have been installed in the bottling facility of Lesieur in Coudekerque (North of France). The oil, sauce and condiment company can now produce light-weighted bottles and use recycled PET (rPET).

Operationally, the combination of the two technological experts for edible oil, Sidel for Blowing and Serac for Filling/Capping, has also helped Lesieur rationalise its number of bottle formats and reduce its overall changeover times as well as its energy consumption.

Founded in 1908, Lesieur produces and sells a full range of vegetable oils, sauces and condiments, with innovative products focused on several specific areas: taste, quality, nutritionand sustainability. Being part of the Avril Group, the company launched a modernisation plan forits production sites in 2015. The plant in Coudekerque, one of the largest plants in Europe in term of bottling volumes for edible oil, has benefited from a dedicated investment of 20 million euros over three years for its bottling centre.

Bottling 170 million litres per year, the historic Lesieur site was looking to improve bottle quality and reduce scheduling constraints due to separate blowing and bottling centres. In addition, the production capacity was organised around seven bottling lines, including several small, low-speed lines.

A transformation with quality, ergonomics and flexibility in mind

The transformation has been structured around the installation of three Sidel Serac Combiswith blowing, filling and capping functions, which can produce 0.5 or 1 L formats up to 2 and 3 L at speeds ranging from 15,000 bottles per hour (bph) all the way up to 30,000 bph.

“We decided to invest in an on-line blowing solution. Now, we have only five production lines, but we are able to increase our general production capacity thanks to Sidel’s high-speed solutions. There has been a very positive impact on production costs as well,” says Francis Arulraj, Project Manager at Lesieur.

With the new Combis, the heating and blowing technologies ensure consistency in bottle integrity. This technological change has improved not only quality, but also ergonomics. Sidel’s equipment takes up very little floor space; thus, it has helped the company remove conveyors and walkways and make the operators’ daily work easier. When it comes to format changeovers, not only are they easy enough to be done by the entire production team, but they also meet production and adaptability needs.

The mould changeover time, for instance, is shorter and easier, which lowers production downtime. “We have also optimised our line’s availability thanks to the support of the Sidel packaging team. By rationalising the number of bottle formats from 22 to 14, thanks to a common outer diameter, we now have a much leaner way to approach our production schedule, while still being able to propose different shapes to our customers,” states Denis Trelhu, Production Manager.

Ensuring a sustainable future with light-weighted rPET bottles

Whether transparent or opaque, PET is a material of choice when it comes to bottling edible oil,since the bottles can be formed into specific shapes. As a leading PET solution provider, Sidel has really contributed to Lesieur’s sustainability vision. “We have actually reduced the weight of our preforms. We are now able to produce bottles between 16-18 grams with up to 100% rPET,” comments Denis. Not only the packaging, but also the production line helped Lesieur pursuing the goals from its sustainable development chart. By virtue of an optimised oven and lamps, the overall electrical consumption of the blower has been lowered. Moreover, blowing pressures
have been greatly reduced, which leads to a decrease in energy consumption for the compressor fleet.

“We have developed an excellent partnership with two historic suppliers, Sidel and Serac, who have proven their expertise in the oil bottling field, while also leveraging the experience of the technicians who have been on site throughout the project. With this three-sided partnership, we are sure to take a big step forward,” concludes Christophe Lance, Plant Manager.

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Don’t forget the cleaning and paper products as you stock up with food and drinks for the festive season

Keeping friends and family safe is still a top priority

2021 is drawing to a close – and what a year it has been! As we look ahead to 2022 and what the future holds, it’s worth reminding ourselves of the journey we have been on over the past twelve months and the lessons we have learned for the future.

Cast your minds back to January. The new year began with none of the usual parties and celebrations as much of Europe was in strict lockdown due to the ongoing circulation of Covid-19. And as we progressed through the early months of the year the picture was very similar: restrictions on movement and socialising in the home; wearing masks and keeping our distance; and many schools and shops closed.

For the HORECA trade the situation was even more gloomy. Bars and restaurants in many countries were closed until the middle of the year. And while the vaccination programmes have brought greater liberty, some countries are experiencing HORECA restrictions once again as we fight a fourth wave and the new, emerging Covid variant, Omicron.

While we are all hoping that science will continue to keep one step ahead of the virus developments, many people believe that the whole business of entertainment and socialising has nevertheless changed forever. With health and hygiene top of the agenda, we are all much more aware of what we can do to minimise the spread of infection: Keep our distance from others, ensure good ventilation, and wash hands and surfaces frequently and dry them with single use towels.

People working in the catering trade and managing public venues have had to learn a whole new set of rules in order to keep staff and customers safe. It’s now standard practice to ask customers to disinfect their hands when they arrive and often to show proof of their vaccination or Covid-status. Catering staff have seen their workload increase too as they are obliged to fully disinfect seating areas between each customer and respect stricter hygiene and cleaning protocols throughout the premises.

Have you noticed that extra disinfection posts and paper towels have sprung up in public places to help people to stay safe? Public washrooms are prioritising single use towels for hand drying too as scientists have proven that they offer the most hygienic way to dry hands after a visit to the washroom. Some HORECA establishments have even disabled their electric driers because of concerns that they may circulate contaminated air in the room.

As Europe now battles with the Omicron Covid strain it’s fair to assume that these new hygiene practices are likely to be with us well into the future. Whether you are running a business and wanting to give staff and customers confidence, or just running a home and looking to keep your family and friends safe, remember the new hygiene rules and stick to them during the year ahead.

So don’t forget to add cleaning products, tissue paper and paper towels to your shopping list as you stock up with food and drinks this festive season. By taking precautions and acting responsibly we can all contribute to a happy and healthier 2022.

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PLASTICS Releases Statement on Misguided Environmental Activist Report

WASHINGTON– The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) today responded to a new report from Beyond Plastics, The New Coal: Plastics and Climate Change. Common misconceptions perpetuated by biased studies such as this are addressed at ThisIsPlastics.com.

“It’s no surprise that an organization named Beyond Plastics would cherry-pick data to fit their narrative in order to raise more money for themselves and attack the work being done by nearly one million Americans in the process.

Plastic is lighter and more durable than alternatives and reduces the overall weight of products. Lighter products require less fuel to transport. That’s a fact. Reduced weight translates to a smaller environmental footprint by lowering energy use and carbon emissions. A 2020 Imperial College of London study reviewed 73 lifecycle assessments, and most showed plastic performs better than alternatives from a carbon perspective. Several of those studies found materials used as alternatives to plastic packaging – such as cotton, glass, or metal– have significantly higher CO2 impact or water usage. The same study concluded that if all plastic bottles used globally were replaced with glass, the additional resulting CO2 emissions would be equivalent to adding about 22 large coal-fired power plants.

Additionally, if plastic packaging were replaced with other materials, waste and energy consumption would double, and weight and costs would quadruple. For example, plastic baby food packaging provides small but significant environmental benefit over glass jars with impacts reduced by 14% to 27% for primary energy and 28% to 31% for global warming. When comparing plastic and glass baby food jars, plastic containers also release fewer carcinogens into the air and send fewer pollutants into waterways when compared to glass jars.

According to a study from University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability published in 2020, numerous life-cycle analyses show plastic has fewer environmental impacts than single-use glass in the majority of environmental impact categories measured. The same study argues that the increasing trend to substitute single-use plastic packaging with single-use glass-based packaging is “particularly troublesome” from a lifecycle energy and greenhouse gas perspective.”

Other Resources:

• NYT on cotton bags
• Lifecycle assessments
• Advanced recycling

Graphic from Imperial College of London study:

Solvay Launches Digital Hub for Mining Industry

Reimagined Mining Chemicals Handbook offers insights, tools and recommendations in real time

Today Solvay launched an exclusive digital knowledge hub, the Mining Chemicals Handbook, which provides 24/7 access to relevant mining chemical application information for those active in this demanding sector. This is the first such resource in the industry, underscoring Solvay’s commitment to the industry and ongoing efforts to lead and innovate.

Originally known as The Blue Book from Cytec (which Solvay acquired in 2015), this valuable resource has a long legacy. Building on that heritage, it has now been updated, digitized and expanded upon to better reflect the current challenges facing the industry, as well as the changing content consumption patterns of mine personnel in the digital era.

Solvay’s new Mining Chemicals Handbook, or MCH, delivers the company’s extensive expertise and application know-how, along with current reagent data, to each user’s desktop or handheld device. The hub also includes a range of new tools designed to help improve clients’ performance and profitability.

“Interactive features,” notes Nicolas Renaud, Solvay’s digital business transformation director, “include value calculators to explore the impact of reagent selection and operational changes on plant performance. Through the knowledge hub, Solvay will also provide current information about its field work and research, which can serve as guidance for mines facing similar challenges.”

“The launch of the new Mining Chemicals Handbook is one milestone in delivering on our broader digital ambition,” explains Martin de Saignes, executive vice president, Mining Solutions at Solvay. “We believe mining chemistry has the power to be ‘smart.’ With access to the right plant data, reagent formulation and selection have the potential to be dynamic. This means that reagents can be tailored to the ore type and processing conditions at any point in time. Tailoring reagents starts with solid foundational insights. In this sense, Solvay’s new digital hub links our know-how and ambition with our customers’ needs.”

Request access to the new digital handbook.