APK AG receives EuCertPlast certification

Merseburg site certified to treat waste from plastic films

In April 2021, the renowned recyclability certifier ARGE cyclos / HTP audited APK’s recycling facility in Merseburg for conformance with the EuCertPlast certification scheme. The audit focussed on the suitability of APK’s plants for the recycling of post-consumer waste from plastic films as well as of waste from PE/PA multilayer film production. All test requirements were successfully fulfilled and in July 2021 ARGE cyclos / HTP awarded APK the official EuCertPlast certificate. “This certificate is extremely important to us, as we see a growing number of brand owners and plastic converters across Europe requesting EuCertPlast as certification standard”, noted Florian Riedl, Director of Business Development at APK AG. “The certificate provides third-party-verified proof to our customers that we are able to valorise post-consumer plastics in our plant and that we do so with respect for the environment”.

Newcycling® technology by APK

Newcycling®, APK’s dissolution recycling process, can easily separate the different polymers found in multilayer plastic packaging – deemed non-recyclable until now – and transform the target polymer into re-granulates with close to virgin properties. Dissolution recycling is an advanced physical recycling technology. Building on a mechanical pre-treatment, it adds a solvent-based process step, during which the target polymer is dissolved, separated, and purified. Contaminants, such as pigments, printing inks, organic residues, or additives, are removed. The Newcycling® technology can treat waste from PE/PA multilayer film production as well as post-consumer plastic film waste from household collection.

 https://www.apk-ag.de/

GLOBAL PLASTIC PACKAGING MANUFACTURER SELECTS KANSAS CITY FOR NEW FACILITY

The ALPLA Group, a global packaging solutions manufacturer and recycling specialist headquartered in Hard, Austria, announced that it has selected the Kansas City region for its new 23,000-square-metre manufacturing plant.

XSYS joins SOMA webinar to demonstrate sustainability and cost benefits of Expanded Gamut Printing

The webinar will explore how Expanded Gamut Printing (EGP™) can help reduce the environmental impact of packaging production and improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)

Stuttgart, Germany – 26 October 2021. XSYS has announced its participation in a webinar hosted by press manufacturer SOMA on November 2, 2021. Entitled “Print efficiently and eco-friendly”, the webinar will show converters how they can boost productivity and sustainability by implementing EGP™ methodology in their workflow. Along with technical presentations, attendees will also watch a live print job and learn about the press modifications needed for successful EGP™ printing.

XSYS Product Manager Simon Top will give a key presentation of the complete EGP™ solution and discuss the value proposition of XSYS, which focuses on print quality, sustainability and costs. A print sample produced by XSYS in cooperation with SOMA, with prepress specialist Marvaco and with Flint Group Packaging Inks will demonstrate the high-quality printing and improved eco-efficiency that can be achieved with EGP™.

“The exceptional print results and obvious cost savings clearly validate the sustainability of EGP™ technology and proves the power and versatility of our nyloflex^® plates, ThermoFlexX imaging with Woodpecker micro-surface screening, Catena-E exposure and nyloflex^® Xpress Thermal Processing technology. At XSYS we provide everything in a single solution. In addition to our products, we are staffed with a great technical service that has expertise in prepress and in the pressroom, and that offers quick remote service support and on-site support. The upcoming webinar will show how to take full advantage of this comprehensive solution,” says Stephan Reis, Global Marketing Director at XSYS.

Developed by Marvaco, EGP™ is an innovative solution for flexographic printing that relies on a fixed set of inks – usually CMYK with orange, green and/or violet plus optional white – to produce spot colors and print high-quality flexo in a more efficient, climate-friendly and cost-effective way. By eliminating pre-mixed spot colours from the process and allowing the ink to stay in the print stations between jobs, significant savings can be achieved. This method requires only the printing plates to be replaced during job changeovers, which results in less ink and substrate waste, and with increased press uptime.

Originally designed with 25 spot colors, the print sample to be shown has been converted to six-color EGP™, CMYKO plus white. SOMA will print on an OPTIMA² CI flexo press using nyloflex^® XAH Digital plates with Woodpecker Sharp and Woodpecker Nevis screens that have been processed in a nyloflex^® Xpress Thermal Processing System by XSYS. Because it delivers consistency in quality and stability during printing, the nyloflex^® Xpress system reduces harmful VOCs and processes plates in less than one hour. This thermal plate processing system has proven to reduce energy bills by up to 94% compared to solvent platemaking.

EGP™ certified inks will be supplied by Flint Group Packaging Inks. Designed with the environment in mind and developed to promote circular economies in flexible packaging, ZenCode delivers high-quality products that enables converters to meet stringent packaging regulations.

“At XSYS, we continue to work closely with other leading industry partners to develop solutions that enable printers to balance environmental commitments with their desire to grow their businesses and increase productivity,” says Reis. “EGP™ is also a fantastic solution for brand owners who want to improve sustainability and meet the rise in consumer demand for greener products.”

To register for the webinar, please follow this link: soma-eng.com/egpwebinar

Alfater XL® 4FC series meets toy safety standard DIN EN 71-3

Materials that are used in sensitive areas such as the food and toy sectors usually have to fulfill numerous standards and special regulations. With the Alfater XL^® 4FC series, MOCOM has a natural colored TPV solution for such regulated applications. The Alfater XL^® 4FC series is compliant with the toy standard DIN EN 71-3: 2019-08, category III and  also fulfills the relevant food contact requirements according to FDA, EU as well as the German BfR. The series is also free from PVC, phthalates and bisphenol A. Easy coloring, a low emission level and excellent recyclability complete the property profile of the Alfater XL^® 4FC series. In addition, the very good adhesion to polyolefins (e.g. PP) allows 2K applications and products with a “soft touch”-feel in sensitive and regulated areas.

https://www.mocom.eu/

Perstorp recruits Patrice Pinsard as EVP Strategic Markets & Innovation

Malmö October 18, 2021 – Perstorp is excited to announce that Patrice Pinsard has been appointed EVP Strategic Markets & Innovation as of October 18, where he will drive value creation and growth focusing on Perstorp’s portfolio of specialty chemicals.

Patrice Pinsard is an experienced executive with a long track record in the chemicals industry, a PhD in Fine Chemicals from the Université de Rennes, and an MSc in Chemical Engineering from Ecole Nationale de Chimie de Rennes. He has held senior positions in companies such as Rhodia and Cognis and, most recently as Global EVP Coatings, Industrial Solutions & Amines at Solvay.

“I am very proud to be joining the team as I believe Perstorp has all the means to grow as a true specialty company that will create sustainable solutions for a great future”, Patrice Pinsard comments.

Jan Secher, Perstorp President & CEO, says:

“We are excited to have such an experienced professional as Patrice joining us at this stage in our transformation. His appointment fits perfectly with our strategy of focusing more on selective segments and the specialty part of our portfolio. Patrice has proven more than once that he knows what it takes and with his strong result orientation and track record I am convinced this will be a win-win, for us and him.”

In the first quarter of 2021, Perstorp redefined its business strategy to become a leading sustainable solutions provider, focusing on the global Resins & Coatings, Engineered Fluids and Animal Nutrition markets. This strategic direction will see Perstorp focus its specialty chemicals growth initiatives primarily on selected customer segments where innovation and services are prioritized, and with a focus on Asia as the main driver for future growth. Perstorp’s strategy also reconfirms the company’s aspiration to be among the front-runners in sustainability.

In his role as EVP for Strategic Markets & Innovation, Patrice Pinsard will drive value creation and growth of Perstorp’s portfolio of specialty chemicals, with emphasis on the focus segments Resins & Coatings and Engineered Fluids.

Innovative products are setting new standards for post-processing and surface refinement

At this year’s formnext in Frankfurt AM Solutions – 3D post processing technology is presenting not one but three trend setting machines. The new S1 Wet was specifically developed for the removal of residual powder and the surface homogenization and smoothing of metallic 3D components. With the S2 the experts for automated post processing solutions are presenting the first shot blast machine for treating 3D printed components made from polymers in indexing, continuous flow mode. Of particular interest will be the C2 system that allows the chemical surface smoothing and application of a color dye in one single machine.

The increasing utilization of additive manufacturing for volume production of standard components goes hand-in-hand with increasing demands for quality, consistency and cost efficiency of the post processing and surface refinement operations for 3D printed components. For this purpose AM Solutions – 3D post processing technology, the division of Rösler Oberflächentechnik GmbH that specializes in automated post processing and surface finishing solutions, presents various innovative developments at this year’s formnext (hall 12, booth C 119). The new systems were specifically developed for volume production of 3D printed components made from metal and plastic.

Consistent de-powdering, surface homogenization and smoothing of metal components

One of these developments is the wet blast machine S1 Wet that was specifically developed for post processing 3D printed components made from metal. Besides the removal of residual powder, the compact plug and play system also allows the surface homogenization and smoothing. Depending on the surface roughness of the raw components, the S1 Wet can produce low Ra values. To a certain extent, this is even possible on the surface areas of internal passages and / or cavities. The wet process prevents small metal particles removed from the work pieces, dust and shavings from creating a combustible or explosive mixture. Therefore, it does not require the installation of protective ATEX accessories. The water layer created on the part’s surface prevents from abrasive media inclusions. As an option, an integrated waste water recycling system consistently removes any contaminants from the slurry consisting of blast media and water limiting the water consumption. The S1 Wet system can be used for a variety of post processing tasks ranging from the manual processing of single components to fully automatic batch operation.

Efficient post processing in indexing continuous flow mode

Placing entire batches of plastic components, produced with powder-bed printing systems, into a machine, selecting the respective processing program, and everything else running fully automatically. With its new ATEX compliant S2 shot blast machine, AM Solutions – 3D post processing technology is fulfilling this demand for effective, time- and personnel-saving post processing with repeatable results. After being placed in the machine, the work pieces are gently passing through a special troughed belt in single-piece flow. This allows the complete removal of any residual powder. Depending on the utilized blast media, the work piece surface can also be homogenized or peened. The blast media cleaning and recycling system, integrated into the plug and play system, is a major reason for achieving absolutely clean and repeatable results. It ensures that the blast media remains at a consistently high quality. A patent application covering the machine and the process is pending.

Eco-friendly chemical surface smoothing and application of a dye in one single machine

The design of the C2, presented at formnext as a concept solution, is based on Rösler’s comprehensive knowhow in the fields of equipment building and consumables. The innovative C2 system (pending patent application) allows the fully automatic chemical surface smoothing of 3D printed components made of common polymers and elastomers (including TPU) in series. Thus, the costly single piece handling of the work pieces is completely eliminated for this post processing operation. In addition, a future, retrofittable update will also allow the application of a color dye on the work pieces. Of particular interest is that the non-hazardous processing media, developed by AM Solutions – 3D post processing technology, permits the eco-friendly chemical surface smoothing so that the spent media can be easily disposed of without any environmental restrictions. The new C2 will be available commercially in the first quarter of 2022.

AM Solutions – 3D post processing technology at the formnext, hall 12, booth C119.
www.solutions-for-am.com

Agr International introduces the Gawis 4D ® measurement system with robotic handling

Gawis 4D configured with the AF robotic handling system provides a means to maximize laboratory throughput while achieving the highest measurement precision for preforms and bottles.

As speeds increase, weights are reduced and recycled material is becoming a significant factor in bottle
production, regular testing and measurement of production samples is essential to properly manage
quality. However, with limited personnel and equipment, laboratory throughput can be a challenge for
many production facilities, potentially compromising quality efforts. Agr International’s Gawis AF
robotic handling system, in conjunction with the Gawis 4D measurement system, provides a solution for
meeting both the need for comprehensive testing/measurement of bottles as well as a means to address
throughput demands.

The Agr Gawis 4D is designed to automate quality checks by consolidating numerous dimensional and
thickness measurement operations, typically performed by hand, on individual bottles or preforms into a
single hands-free operation, completed in a matter of seconds. The addition of the robotic handling
system takes this to the next step. With the handling system, the Gawis 4D can not only measure
individual bottles, but also perform measurement on complete sets of bottles or preforms. It can be
operated on a continuous basis, without operator intervention, maximizing testing throughput while
freeing laboratory personnel for other more critical tasks.

The Gawis AF robotic handling system interfaces seamlessly with the measurement system. It can be
purchased with a new system or retrofitted to existing systems operating in the field. Central to the system
is a precision pick and place industrial robot that manages sample selection and placement of samples into
the Gawis 4D for measurement. Operation is fully integrated. All controls and operations including
overall job setup, robot, sample coordination, as well as activation and control of individual test
sequences are handled through the Gawis4D user interface.

For sample management, samples are hosted in a multi-level carousel that is outfitted with rotating tiers
designed to positively position samples for robot access. The tiers can be configured to accommodate
bottles from single or multiple mold rounds, or a complete mold set of preforms. Each tier is fitted with
spring activated sample grips that provide positive bottle control and positioning for the robot yet allow

Energy-efficient production with DIEFFENBACHER Energy savings in the production of high-quality composite components with adaptive accumulator management and short- stroke presses

Rising energy costs have composite manufacturers worldwide focused on energy-efficient production. With its press series featuring a short-stroke closing system and adaptive accumulator management, DIEFFENBACHER, a supplier of complete composite systems, offers
customers proven solutions for saving energy.

DIEFFENBACHER short-stroke presses are designed for minimum energy consumption, high press forces and short cycle times. Presses close with small cylinders until just before the position where forming takes place. Thereafter, large cylinders act with the corresponding press force. This makes it possible to reduce the oil volume by 88% compared with conventional concepts. Additionally, the DIEFFENBACHER closing system allows individual programming of the starting position of the forming. The result is high flexibility as well as large opening heights and good accessibility for parts handling.

Adaptive accumulator management optimizes energy consumption by automatically determining during the first press strokes the exact energy required for forming. For subsequent production cycles, the hydraulic drive accumulator is charged only to the corresponding required pressure level. All settings are determined automatically by the machine control system, reducing the load on the machine to a minimum.

Through the short-stroke closing system and adaptive accumulator management, DIEFFENBACHER customers increase the energy efficiency of their production and avoid unnecessary system losses during pressure relief after forming, significantly reducing cooling water requirements.

“Sustainability is important to our customers, and energy reduction is a key component of sustainability,” explains Marco Hahn, Sales Manager of the Forming Business Unit at DIEFFENBACHER. “In addition to short-stroke presses and adaptive accumulator management, we have many other ideas for saving energy and resources. Every day we work with customers
to develop customized concepts that increase the energy efficiency of their composite plants.”