Modern Plastics Singapore

INEOS STYROLUTION HOSTS GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR ITS NEW 600KT ABS PLANT IN NINGBO, CHINA

Petra Löwer (Germany)

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December 23, 2020

INEOS STYROLUTION HOSTS GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR ITS NEW 600KT ABS PLANT IN NINGBO, CHINA

·         Additional resources for the world’s biggest ABS market
·         Improved service offering for customers
·         Investment reflects commitment to the company’s Triple Shift growth strategy
INEOS Styrolution, the global leader in styrenics, today announced its ground-breaking ceremony for its new 600kt ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plant located in Ningbo, China. The development of the new site is part of INEOS Styrolution’s larger expansion plans into China, following an earlier acquisition of two polystyrene production sites in Ningbo and Foshan.

The location of the new site was selected because of its extensive access to feedstock supply options and excellent supply chain connection to customers. The new site is expected to be operational by 2023.

The ground-breaking ceremony was hosted by Meizhu Fang, INEOS Styrolution APAC Project Director. Attendees included local government and business leaders, engineering and construction representatives, and several project service providers/partners.

“First, we want to thank the Ningbo Municipal Government, Zhenhai District Government, Sinopec Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Co., Ltd.,Ningbo Zhoushan Port Group, State Grid Ningbo Power Supply Company and Ningbo Petrochemical Economic and Technological Development Zone administrative committee for providing their very strong support as we embark on this exciting project for our company,” said Steve Harrington, CEO INEOS Styrolution. “The successful completion of this project will be a significant step forward for our ambitious growth plans in China and will allow us to further serve our customers in their domestic market.”

Rob Buntinx, President Asia Pacific at INEOS Styrolution, added: “I am excited to see us building a world-class ABS manufacturing plant here in Ningbo. ABS is a versatile high performance styrenic resin. Its properties make it the material of choice for many everyday products across industries, including automotive, electronics, household, healthcare and toys/sports/leisure. This investment affirms our commitment to support the growth of our customers in Asia.”

About INEOS Styrolution

INEOS Styrolution is the leading global styrenics supplier, with a focus on styrene monomer, polystyrene, ABS Standard and styrenic specialties. With world-class production facilities and more than 90 years of experience, INEOS Styrolution helps its customers succeed by offering innovative and sustainable best-in-class solutions, designed to give them a competitive edge in their markets, and at the same time, help make the circular economy for styrenics a reality. The company provides styrenic applications for many everyday products across a broad range of industries, including automotive, electronics, household, construction, healthcare, packaging and toys/sports/leisure. In 2019, sales were at 5 billion euros. INEOS Styrolution employs approximately 3,600 people and operates 20 production sites in ten countries.

www.ineos-styrolution.com

SABIC’S GLOBAL FOOTPRINT MEETS LOCAL DEMAND FOR PROTECTIVE PRODUCTS TO HELP COMBAT COVID-19

Petra Löwer (Germany)

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December 23, 2020

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SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, is making a significant contribution to the battle against
COVID-19 through increased production within its LEXAN polycarbonate portfolio. The focus of the
production increase has been on innovative polycarbonate sheets and films for a wide variety of high-
performance products to help improving sanitation control and preventing infections.
SABIC’s efforts in combatting COVID-19 are boosted by the company having production facilities across
Europe, Asia and North and South America. This provides the company’s Functional Forms business with the
ability to manufacture and swiftly distribute its sheet and film products across every region around the world.
SABIC and its predecessors have a long history as an innovator in polycarbonate technology, having invented
polycarbonate resin in 1953, and initiated production of high-performance sheets and films in 1968. Since
then, SABIC excels in polycarbonate development with a portfolio of over 350 material grades. SABIC’s
Functional Forms business spearheads materials innovation, enabling applications in industries where there is
a need for safety, high optical quality, durability, anti-bacterial properties and flame, chemical and impact
resistance products.
LEXAN protective sheets and films have applications across an extensive range of sectors that are
experiencing particular hygiene and social distancing challenges during the pandemic. These include
hospitals and medical clinics, care homes, dental practices, schools and kindergartens, retail and hospitality
outlets, sports centers, reception areas and mass transportation, among many others.
“There is an urgent and ongoing need around the world for protective equipment, not only to fight against this
current pandemic, but also to improve safety and hygiene standards in the future ”, said Sandeep Dhawan,
Global Business Director Functional Forms, SABIC. “As a company that excels in ground-breaking materials,
we are driven by the ambition to innovate and are committed to providing the latest technology and expertise
to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and help mitigate further infection.”
Market takes action against pandemic with LEXAN film and sheet solutions
As testament to its global reach, SABIC has supplied innovative polycarbonate sheet and film solutions to
some of the world’s leading organizations, for some of the most demanding applications aimed at providing
increased protection against COVID-19. Examples include:
Brillant BusGlas, Germany
Helping bus operators cope with distancing regulations in the combat of COVID-19, Brillant BusGlas is
offering transparent partition panels for separating bus drivers from passengers in public transportation. The
2
ECE-R43 certified and TÜV approved panels are made from virtually unbreakable, coated 8 mm MARGARD ™
MR5E sheet and available in kits for installation on-site and/or by Brillant’s retrofit service.
“Thanks to the freedom of design and ease of conversion of SABIC’s polycarbonate sheet products, we can
customize and supply these partition panels for virtually any public bus brand. The rigidity, outstanding impact
strength, double-sided abrasion-resistant coating, and long-term transparency of the material make them an
ideal solution providing permanent professional driver protection as well as compliance with current anti-
pandemic contact restrictions.”
Image Labels PVT. LTD., India
Image Labels supplies face shields to government bodies, police departments, hospital groups and leading
OEMs such as Schneider, as well as partitions for taxis and other modes of transportation.
“Through our association with SABIC we are now into our 25th year of successfully supplying leading
polycarbonate solutions for a wide range of applications,” said Sujan Nailady, Managing Director, Image
Labels. “We are particularly appreciative of the support SABIC has provided in helping to overcome some of
the challenges posed by the COVD-19 pandemic.”
Krüger Aviation GmbH, Germany
For the aviation industry to recover from the economic impact of the pandemic, airlines must instill confidence
in passengers using their aircraft, without the costly need to implement an empty seat policy. Krüger Aviation
has taken up the challenge by developing seat dividers, made from SABIC’s LEXAN F2000A polycarbonate
sheet, which provide passengers with a high level of protection from any aerosols produced by neighbors. The
seat divider, which is attached to the middle seat in rows with three seats, is constructed for easy mounting
without need of any modification of the seat itself, with a full aircraft being equipped within a few hours.
“While facemasks may be still required, seat dividers will establish an additional layer of protection and
significantly reduce risk of infection” said Florian Ehinger, Head of Customer Service. “We believe this will be
a highly cost-effective way to help restore passenger trust in airline travel.”
Focaccia Group, Italy
Using SABIC’s LEXAN MARGARD MR5E polycarbonate sheet, Focaccia has designed and manufactured the
first “L”-shaped anti-COVID partition, which can be installed in vehicles to separate the driver from
passengers. Called the “Elle Corona Stopper”, the partition does not obstruct the driver and does not interfere
with airbags, mirror view, seat belts or safety systems. It can be installed in minutes, removed without
damaging the car interior and can be completely disinfected.
“SABIC’s LEXAN sheet has enabled us to deliver the desired characteristics of resilience and creativity in
manufacturing for which we are known”, said Mr. Riccardo Focaccia, General Manager, Focaccia Group.
“Even in challenging times, our ideas never stop, and a flexible polycarbonate solution enables some of our
other creative ideas come to life.”
SABIC products to enable better protection against viruses
SABIC’s next generation LEXAN sheet and film solutions have all been developed to bring Chemistry that
Matters™ to the marketplace. Our clear understanding of product needs and performance attributes supports
application success for our customers. The journey of innovation will be highlighted with technology which
supports anti-bacterial performance to assist in the fight against COVID-19 across its portfolio. SABIC LEXAN
polycarbonate solutions are available through a large network of localized distribution centers globally.
To learn more about SABIC’s efforts to help combat COVID-19, please visit www.sabic.com/sfs.

The Streamrunner from HASCO hot runner opens the door to completely new design possibilities in hot runner technology.

Petra Löwer (Germany)

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December 23, 2020

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For over 50 years, elm-plastic GmbH in Dudeldorf/Germany has stood for
high-quality, technically sophisticated articles in plastic. With some 100
employees, this mouldmaking and injection moulding company in the Eifel
region produces primarily injection moulded parts for the pharmaceutical
industry. An existing 500 kN injection moulding machine was to be used for a
small DIY-store article. The perfect solution with an optimum opening stroke
was provided by the new Streamrunner, with an additive-manufactured
manifold block, from HASCO, the Lüdenscheid/Germany-based standard
component and hot runner specialist.
Bild 1
Even though elm-plastic’s product range mainly comprises pharmaceutical primary
packaging materials and dosage aids for human and veterinary preparations, the
company repeatedly works on projects from different areas. These include a product
with a highly demanding geometry that is to be sold in DIY stores in future. The
HDPE injection moulding is produced on an 8-cavity mould. “The customer calls off
batch sizes of 400,000 articles several times a year,” explains Roman Möhs,
development manager at elm-plastic. The geometry of the article posed a particular
challenge, however. “Our 500 kN injection moulding machine is actually ideally
suited to this article with its 8-cavity production,” explains Möhs, “but the permitted
installation height is somewhat tight for the application. We had to find a different
solution, because switching to the next largest 750 kN machine was not a real
alternative.
Streamrunner – Compact 3D-printed HASCO hot runner system
The in-house mouldmaking department at elm-plastic, which produces some five to
ten moulds itself each year, relies on standard components and hot runner
technology from HASCO. Roman Möhs looks back to the last K – the world’s
leading trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry in Düsseldorf – where the
HASCO specialists presented a new development. “The new Streamrunner has
indeed made it possible to save 10 mm on the mould thickness for this project,
despite the complex installation situation and the demanding gating,” explains
Stephan Hatarik, a technical sales engineer at HASCO hot runner. Since the
manifold block, which is available on the market exclusively from HASCO, is
manufactured in an additive laser sintering process, the complete “hot half” can be
produced much more compactly. “This gives us the necessary space for the
opening stroke to ensure reliable demoulding,” says Möhs, “and we also have a
certain reserve when it comes to the installation height and ejector stroke, etc.” This
would have been almost impossible with a conventional standard hot runner, the
development manager stresses. “And 10 mm is really a lot for a cylindrical article
with a length of 25 mm,” he adds.
A further key advantage of the 3D-printed manifold is that the flow channels can be
freely designed to suit the precise requirements, thus ensuring an optimally
balanced design with radii everywhere and hence no dead corners. The additive
manufacture of the hot runner employing the 3D laser sintering process enables the
complete manifold block, including all the threads, to be manufactured in one piece
in a single operation. “No deflection elements have to be shrunk in, which could then
leak,” Stephan Hatarik explains. In addition, 3D printing permits very close hole
spacing and highly variable nozzle configurations.
Bild 3
Small but very complex DIY-store article
It became clear during the 3D design process for the mould already that the space
problem could be solved with the aid of the 3D-printed manifold. The demanding
gate for the relatively small, complex article prompted HASCO to additionally
conduct a Moldex filling simulation, or flow analysis – a service that HASCO
generally offers its customers free of charge. This simulation resulted in the gating
point being moved by a number of millimetres prior to the manufacture of the mould
so as to avoid air inclusions.
Roman Möhs was pleased that the delivery time for the individually designed and
manufactured 8-cavity Streamrunner with its modified screw-in 20 mm Techni Shot
nozzles was only slightly longer. “We can easily recover the slightly higher costs by
using the smaller machine.” He was delighted about the HASCO innovations, which
enabled the entire project to be carried out and handled without any problems. The
fact that the nozzle tips and the heating can be installed from the parting plane also
proved to be a great help, since this facilitates maintenance.
Fig. 4
The mould has moving parts on the ejector side. The DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon)
coating on the slideways reduces the coefficients of friction and permits a
considerably longer mould life without separate lubrication.
Bild 5
Even though the current project is an article for DIY stores, the absence of
lubrication is important for elm-plastic because the machines are operated primarily
in a clean-room environment for the production of medical devices. All the injection
moulding machines at elm-plastics have all-electric drives.
Faring well in the crisis with medical devices
Since elm-plastic produces mainly products for eminent international pharmacists
and contract fillers working for the pharmaceutical industry, the Eifel-based
company has not suffered any significant loss of sales during the corona crisis.
“Our product range primarily comprises pharmaceutical packaging materials and
dosage aids for human and veterinary preparations. Apart from disposable syringes,
this also includes products such as pipettes, applicators and injectors in a wide
range of designs, dosage aids, perforated screw caps, pipette wipers and a great
deal more,” explains Roman Möhs.
During the corona crisis, additional orders have been received, even from the USA,
for items including measuring beakers and a wide variety of pipettes.
The positive experience obtained with these projects is the reason for elm-plastic “to
continue working together closely with HASCO” says Roman Möhs.
For elm-plastic, is it a huge advantage that all HASCO’s standard components can
be supplied from stock and that replacements are available without any problems in
the event of a failure. “If we order a replacement part in the online shop, it’s there
within 24 hours”. We can’t even produce a replacement part ourselves that quickly,”
adds Roman Möhs. And the restructured hot runner zone in the HASCO online
portal has also had a large amount of information added to it. One feature is the
new, intuitive enquiry form which can be used to request hot runner systems in a
straightforward and time-saving manner.
Bild 6
With more than 100,000 products, HASCO is a full-range supplier for tool and
mouldmaking and supplies its customers with everything from a single source. A
modular standard-component range, perfectly tailored to customer requirements,
and individual hot runner solutions provide a reliable basis for high-quality moulds
and hence sustainable competitiveness.
www.hasco.com

EPL’s Platina Is World’s First Fully Recyclable Packaging Tube

Petra Löwer (Germany)

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December 23, 2020

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EPL’s Platina Is World’s First Fully Recyclable Packaging Tube

EPL Limited (formerly known as Essel Propack Limited), the world’s largest specialty packaging company, has received global recognition from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), USA for its Platina Tube with an HDPE closure.

EPL’s Platina is the first fully sustainable and completely recyclable tube in the world, including shoulder and cap, to get this recognition. It is the only tube to have an integrated shoulder INNER BARRIER LINER (IBL) that is also recyclable in HDPE recycle stream. This is a big step forward as it allows the total tube to be recycled in a single recycle stream

APR maintains exacting standards for certification. Platina went through a rigorous test and qualification process for more than 3 months before the results were announced. Platina is an eco-friendly laminated tube produced with less than 5% barrier resin, and has earlier received recognition from the APR, USA, for consistently meeting or exceeding the most stringent APR HDPE Critical Guidance criteria.

After use, the Platina tubes and caps can be recycled in the dominant #2 plastic stream used across the globe for recycling Milk Cans, Juice bottles etc. Use of HDPE in Platina and GML tubes increases the stiffness of the tubes, enabling EPL to reduce polymer content and in turn help users to deliver on their sustainability commitments.

The Platina range of HDPE tubes are designed to deliver source reduction and recyclability without the loss of any barrier properties. This allows for sustained product stability and durable shelf life of the packed content. Platina tube is especially suited for oral, toiletries, and food brands. Platina tubes and caps were also certified as 100% recyclable by RecyClass European certification for ‘Code 2’ (recycling) earlier, making them the only speciality packaging tubes and caps to be recognised as 100% recyclable, globally.

Mr. Sudhanshu Vats, MD & CEO EPL said, “Sustainability is a key area of focus for us and we constantly endeavour towards achieving it. We are extremely delighted to receive this recognition from APR, and this will motivate us to develop more innovative and sustainable solutions and consciously reduce our carbon footprint. This showcases our strong R&D capabilities, underlining EPL’s global position as one of the world’s leading innovative packaging manufacturers with the highest standards of sustainability, resource efficiency and recycling/reuse (PCR)”.

“We will encourage and enable our customers to convert to this packaging format; helping them to meet their sustainability commitments faster.” he added.

Mr. Hariharan K. Nair, Vice President, Creativity and Innovation, said “This is a big achievement for us at EPL. Sustainable solutions is a key focus area for us and we are striving towards achieving this objective across product lines. A first-in-the-world tag makes us proud and is a testament to our disciplined and creative work ethic. Recycling helps the environment and even as it creates new economic opportunities, as recycled products can be made into new goods. Recycling helps still-useful materials prevent clogging up landfills and helps reduce fossil fuel consumption.”

About APR

The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) is The Voice of Plastics Recycling®. As the international trade association representing the plastics recycling industry, membership includes independent recycling companies of all sizes, processing numerous resins, as well as consumer product companies, equipment manufacturers, testing laboratories, organizations, and others committed to the success of plastics recycling. APR works to enhance quality and increase supply through technical resources, testing programs, design solutions, corporate training, regulatory leadership, and education programs.

About EPL

EPL Limited (formerly known as Essel Propack Ltd.) is the world’s largest specialty packaging company, manufacturing laminated plastic tubes catering to the FMCG and pharma spaces. Employing 3158 people from 25 nationalities, EPL operates through twenty state-of-the-art facilities in eleven countries, selling about 8 billion tubes per annum.

With a market leading Oral Care volume share of 36% globally, EPL has units operating across the USA, Mexico, Colombia, Poland, Germany, Egypt, Russia, China, Philippines and India. These facilities cater to 5 core categories of Oral Care, Beauty & Cosmetics, Pharma & Health, Food & Nutrition and Home Care; offering customized solutions through constant innovations in materials, technology, design and processes.

The plastic industry in your hand

Petra Löwer (Germany)

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December 23, 2020

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m-hub is the first mobile app that helps you to promote your business and find all
players in the plastic industry with the tap of a finger.

Launched during last year K-show in Düsseldorf, M-HUB was born as an easy-to-use business tool to brake
barriers within the plastic industry and help plastic professionals to take a step towards a digital future.
EXPLORE THE WORLD OF PLASTICS By creating a free personal account, you will join the first business network
including all players in the industry, ranging from the early stage of the supply chain to the very end customers. You will be able to search for any company that fits your specific needs with just a few taps.
There are two main ways to explore M-HUB’s network: the free text search on the top where you can
simply type what you need, and the dedicated advanced search for companies, products and machines.
Within the advanced search for companies and products you will be able to use a wide range of filters, from country and geolocation to core business, field of application and expertise. The advanced machine search also adds a few technical filters as well such as the availability and price of the machinery you are looking for.
From the list of results, you will be able to review in detail the companies, products or machines which may fit your needs.

Once you find suitable matches, you can easily get in touch with them using the call to actions available in M-HUB. A map view is also available to help you understand where your new potential partners or customers are located and focus on the ones more valuable for you. You can also explore our “Featured Companies”, “Featured Products” and “Featured Machines” which are showcased on the home page of M-HUB.

MAKE YOUR COMPANY STAND OUT
The plastic supply chain is a highly complex, diversified sector which comprises hundreds of thousands
of companies and employs millions of people worldwide. Thanks to the possibility of creating a company profile
for free, M-HUB helps businesses stand out across the entire plastics world. The app allows even smaller
companies and entrepreneurs to gain visibility worldwide and maximize their business opportunities.
Creating a company profile in M-HUB is as easy as it gets: after specifying a few basic contact details, such as the address and contact email of your company, you will be able to specify your business information:
• Core Business: pick up to 3 core businesses for your company. Embracing
all sectors in the plastic industry we made sure you can find yours.
• Field of Application: all plastic applications are covered in M-HUB.
You will be able to select the most important markets for your company,
ranging from automotive to domestic appliances, electronics, etc…
• Expertise: this is the last step of the company creation which will

allow you to specify in detail your strengths and technologies. You will be able to choose from a list of 500+
expertises and even add your own! The list is constantly growing thanks to the contribution of our users.
Once you set up your company profile your business will be available for all the matching searches!
The company page can be further enriched by adding your logo, a background picture, your products, and other documents and certificates: the more data you add, the higher the company will be displayed in search results.
Should you need help to fill these data, you can even invite your colleagues from the “Members” tab of the company by simply adding their email. If they do not have an account yet, they will have to
register before accepting the invitation. If they already have an account, they can simply accept the invitation via
email or in the notification center. M-HUB leverages mobile technologies to keep you up to date with the latest
companies and products joining the network. Within the notification center, you will receive weekly notifications on the latest additions to our global network. If you want to push the visibility of your business and maximize your brand awareness, you can pay a small fee to be featured in the “Featured Companies” list in the home page of M-HUB.
PROMOTE YOUR PRODUCTS ON THE GLOBAL STAGE
Each company can add unlimited products and services to showcase heir capabilities to their potential
customers on a global stage. With a few taps, it is possible to add up to 3 pictures for each product, specify the
related expertise and field of application and add a dedicated description. Your product will be searchable by
all users in the community! You canuse this feature also to showcase your most important case studies.
Each product you add will be shown in the weekly product notification, so everyone will be aware of the updates to your portfolio. Keep adding them regularly! For a small fee you can add one of your products to the “Featured
Products” in the home page and boost its visibility across the plastic world.
MAKE THE MOST OUT OF YOUR MACHINERY M-HUB is also a marketplace for
any kind of machinery in the plastic sector, allowing companies to add their machines for sale, for rental
or to fill their production capacity. On the other hand, buyers can find new or
used machines with the specific technical requirements they need from the palm
of their hand – without any middlemen. Companies can add their machines
specifying basic details such as:• Machine category: select the
category among all the types
of machinery in the industry.
• Machine name
• Availability: machines can either be available for sale (new, in stock or used), for rental, for production or for trials.
• Price: the price can be explicit or “on request” if you would like to disclose it at a later stage.
You can add the machine price in your local currency: M-HUB will take care in converting the price with the latest
exchange rates so that everyone will see the price in its preferred currency. Once the machine is created, you can
specify further details such as the manufacturer of the machine, the manufacturing year, the model and
a description. You can even attach pictures and other relevant documents to allow potential customers
to find more information. The more data you add, the higher your machine will be displayed in search results.
If you have an urgent need to sell your machine or fill your production capacity, you can promote it in the
home page of M-HUB in the “Featured Machines” section always for a small fee.
A MOBILE APP TO CONNECT THE PLASTIC SUPPLY CHAIN M-HUB
is now available in 13 different languages and can be downloaded for free on Google Play, Apple App Store
and the main Chinese Android Stores. ‘’The story of m-hub starts from four professionals working in the plastic
industry, like you. Seeing customers and suppliers bothered by the lack of visibility, market knowledge and integration, we decided to take on the challenge of connecting all the plastic supply chain through an all-round platform tailor-made on the needs of the industry. One year after the launch, the App has reached more than 8000 professionals and 1500+ companies from more than 80 countries: a global App to serve a global industry!’.
2021 will bring new features – chat and web version on the horizon – providing more and more value to our users. Stay tuned, the best has yet to come!’’ Andrea Tellan, Co-founder of M-HUB
https://app.m-hub.com

Insight Pack Renews Its Confidence in Comexi with Two New Acquisitions

Petra Löwer (Germany)

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December 23, 2020

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The Dominican company, which presently has three machines, has purchased a Comexi SL2 laminator and a Comexi S2 DT slitter
Comexi, a global supplier of solutions for the flexible packaging
printing and converting sector, and Insight Pack International Corporation, a company based in
the Dominican Republic that specializes in the production of flexible packaging, have
strengthened their strategic alliance with the acquisition by the Dominican company of a Comexi
SL2 laminator and a Comexi S2 DT slitter. The purchase of these two machines expands Insight
Pack’s fleet of Comexi machines. The company already owns a flexographic press, a Comexi
laminator, and a Comexi slitter, which were acquired after its founding in 2016.
“When Insight Pack International Corporation began, it did not have sufficient equipment or
manpower. With the initial purchase of three Comexi machines, Insight Pack International
Corporation trusted us, and from our side, we developed a global project for them,” explains José
Santiago, Comexi Area Manager for this region. Since its founding, Insight Pack International
Corporation has received the advice of Comexi. “We guide Insight Pack International Corporation
in fulfilling its daily after-sales service needs, improving its equipment, and training its personnel,”
says Santiago, who values “the confidence Insight Pack International Corporation has in our
equipment and the training services of the Manel Technological Center Xifra Boada, Comexi
CTec.” For José Santiago, the satisfactory results achieved by the Dominican company
demonstrate Comexi’s ability to “support clients with little experience until they are able to
succeed.”
Insight Pack International Corporation, based in Santiago de los Caballeros (Dominican
Republic), has specialized flexographic printing equipment for the packaging of various food and
beverage products, such as single wrap and pouches for coffee, cookies, and pasta. The
company also produces packaging for products in the tobacco sector, which includes pouches for
cigar leaves, as well as shrink-wrap coil, among others.
“Despite acknowledging that our staff embraces each challenge and is committed to satisfactorily
producing the required results, having Comexi’s service during our initial stage of development
and its support heretofore, has been undoubtedly a great consolation for us,” explains Augusto
Reyes, president of Insight Pack International Corporation “During our three years in the market,
we have become a company on which our clients can depend, and have gradually solely assumed
all the challenges and training to provide a high quality service,” Reyes comments, adding “for
this reason, we have incorporated a Comexi S2 DT slitter, a machine of high quality, precision
and productivity”.
The Comexi S2 DT: a cutting-edge slitter
Federico Gálvez, Technical Director of Insight Pack International Corporation, values that the
Comexi S2 DT is “a cutting-edge slitter which has a rotating turret on the winder, allowing for reel
removal and replacement without the need cease the process. Furthermore, it allows speeds of
500 m/min to be reached, thus feeding our increasingly productive line of pouches, and
accelerating the completion of products, which require reel delivery from our customers.”
The Comexi S2 DT is a machine created to simultaneously provide high productivity and high
flexibility. Presently, there are more than 100 Comexi S2 DT slitters in the market, offering high
versatility in reference to the range of materials. Regarding this slitter, quality and quantity are not
incompatible. As a result of acceleration ratios, high productivity is achieved through obtaining
high speeds at a rapid rate. Operating the Comexi S2 DT is extremely easy and intuitive, due to
the enormous work that has been done to offer a pleasant, comfortable, and agile interface.
The Comexi SL2: the perfect solution for solvent-free lamination
Federico Gálvez highlights that the bilaminate and trilaminate structures “are increasingly in
demand by the market, which forces us to maximize our lamination capacity, hence allowing us
to meet the high number of purchase orders we receive.” To meet this objective, Insight Pack
International Corporation has incorporated a Comexi SL2 laminator “with excellent performance,
as well as easy operation and maintenance for solvent-free laminations, for both short and
medium runs”. This machine has been designed to comply with productivity concepts and
operates with simplicity. The Comexi SL2 has an extremely intuitive environmental nuance and
an exclusive applicator head design, which consists of complete motorization, the use of metering
sleeves, and the option of incorporating automatic change turrets.
www.comexi.com

The World’s first audible news portal for the Plastics Industry by Modern Plastics India

Petra Löwer (Germany)

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December 23, 2020

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Your Modern Plastics India is now not only readable but also audible. The re-launch of our current portal comes with daily updates and you can read the articles and also listen. Our new audible feature will enable you to simply listen to the posted articles being read aloud even during transit or travelling on www.modernplalsticsindia.com
In the 21^st century, each day we are introduced to new technologies or witness an upgrade to the older one. We adapt to these technologies as they make our living easier. Similarly, to make your experience on our website hassle-free, we have re-launched our portal with the trending audible feature. The current and ongoing Covid-19 crisis has had an effect on our reading habits and reading lifestyle that may impact our future. And so, in order to make your reading experience easier, our revised website will be allowing its users to listen to the articles instead of reading them. After the unlocking phase, we too are unlocking this very special feature on Modern Plastics India website. Listening has proved beneficial to people’s lives and therefore listening to the articles will help you to make your business better by adding a vast amount of information on products and services, plastics industries, plastics news or plastics in general, the market trend, global affairs as well as technologies in the current scenario. All the information of the global and Indian Plastics Industries will be available on our site.
You can access the digital version of Modern Plastics India from 2011 at no cost at digital.emeraldgroupe.com. Our customers are our top priority and we strive to enhance and better your plastics knowledge. Our goal to guide your path by providing you access to our wide informative platform now comes with an audibility that allows you to hear the articles posted while also keeping you updated daily on present affairs in the plastics world. The access to our portal will be the same as before with availability to the most recent information along with the new feature that will read or describe out loud the articles that you wish to read while you just listen to them. Hope this will help all of you to achieve your goals.

Majority of Consumers Receptive to Products and Packaging Made from Plants

Petra Löwer (Germany)

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December 18, 2020

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New research out today from the Plant Based Products Council (PBPC) shows the majority of U.S. consumers are receptive to plant based products and packaging, with 54% viewing them favorably and 59% expressing interest. According to the report, the potential market size for plant-based products is estimated to be over 136 million U.S. consumers.

“There is clear consumer desire to support and promote innovation in the plant-based products and packaging arena,” said Jessica Bowman, Executive Director of the Plant Based Products Council. “PBPC and our members stand ready to embrace the opportunity to educate consumers on the many benefits of plant-based products as we work to guide the global economy toward more sustainable and responsible consumer products and packaging.”
In addition to being receptive, more than half (54 percent) of U.S. consumers are likely to purchase plant-based products in the next three months, with just less than half (49 percent) also self-reporting as likely to recommend these products to others.
The data showed significant untapped market potential with only 1 in 5 (22 percent) reporting strong familiarity with plant-based products and packaging. Additionally, when consumers see plant-based products and packaging, the first things that come to mind for them are paper and food, followed less commonly by clothing, bags, boxes, and containers. This awareness gap signifies an opportunity for consumer education not only to grow familiarity, but to increase awareness of the positive impact plant-based products and materials have on the environment.
“PBPC works every day to educate key stakeholders and advocate for policies that encourage growth and innovation in the plant-based industry,” added Jessica Bowman.
Methodology:
The 2020 PBPC Consumer Research study was conducted by Heart+Mind Strategies and included both a quantitative and qualitative component. A nationally representative sample of 1,000 U.S. consumers responded to an online survey fielded from June 12-17, 2020. Additionally, a nationally representative sample of 20 U.S. consumers participated in 90-minute online focus groups in August 2020.

The Plant Based Products Council

THE OCEAN CLEANUP PREPARES FOR SERIES PRODUCTION OF INTERCEPTOR

Petra Löwer (Germany)

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December 18, 2020

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Enabling The Ocean Cleanup to scale up and tackle the world’s 1000 most polluting rivers

The Ocean Cleanup, the Dutch non-profit developing advanced technologies to rid the oceans of plastic, and Konecranes, a world-leading group of Lifting Businesses™, announced today a partnership to design, manufacture, and service The Ocean Cleanup’s Interceptor™, which is designed to extract plastic from rivers before entering the ocean. This is an important step as the non-profit organization prepares to tackle the world’s 1000 most polluting rivers.

Deploying Interceptors on a large scale is necessary to rapidly address the urgent problem of ocean plastic pollution. The Ocean Cleanup is partnering with Konecranes because of their expertise and worldwide footprint. Laying the groundwork for global scaleup, Interceptors 005 and 006 are currently being manufactured simultaneously at Konecranes’ MHE-Demag facility in Klang, Malaysia and are expected to be completed in May 2021. Moving forward, Konecranes will handle Interceptor manufacturing, installation, and maintenance; local partners will oversee operations, and The Ocean Cleanup will continue to act as the technology and best practices provider as well as lead business development for upcoming Interceptor projects.
Founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup, Boyan Slat remarked on this new partnership by saying, “At the end of a very challenging year, I am happy to see series production begin for the Interceptor. It is a necessary step for us to tackle the global flow of plastic pollution to our oceans at scale. I believe Konecranes is well-suited for the job and we look forward to seeing them build many more Interceptors in the coming years. I am thankful for their commitment to clean oceans.”
“We’re proud to partner with The Ocean Cleanup and harness our global engineering, manufacturing and service capabilities to clean our world’s rivers and oceans,” said Konecranes President and CEO, Rob Smith. “This exciting partnership underscores our commitment to sustainability and a sustainable future.”
Konecranes is renowned for its market-leading technology and service in material handling and lifting products. Its engineering and design expertise, along with its global service network, will enable the company to assemble and install Interceptors around the world. Through this global footprint, helped especially by the design and manufacturing strengths of MHE-Demag, Konecranes can service and maintain Interceptors throughout their lifetime.
The Ocean Cleanup’s Interceptor was unveiled in late 2019 and there are currently three deployed in Klang, Malaysia; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. A fourth Interceptor, in Vietnam, has been delayed for deployment and is expected to be launched early in 2021. Over the last year and a half, The Ocean Cleanup has used the insights from these pilot systems to understand and further develop the technology for more efficient mass production. These upgrades include changes to the conveyor, shuttle, dumpsters, and barge. Working together with MHE-Demag, these changes have been incorporated into the 3rd generation design, which is the blueprint for the Interceptors being manufactured in 2020 and 2021.
https://theoceancleanup.com/

Amazon announces ban on toxic chemicals and plastics in food packaging

Petra Löwer (Germany)

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December 17, 2020

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Amazon announced that it will ban certain toxic chemicals and plastics in the food packaging materials used for its Amazon Kitchen brand. Toxic chemicals PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), phthalates, BPA (bisphenol A) and other bisphenols, and the plastics polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), and expanded polystyrene (EPS) are now restricted in certain private-label food contact materials. Amazon’s new commitment is the latest update to the chemicals policy it first launched in 2018, which also restricts toxic chemicals in private-label baby, household cleaning, personal care, and beauty products as well as brand-name paint-removal products.
“Amazon’s new policy commitment signals a growing retail sustainability trend,” explains Mind the Store Campaign Director Mike Schade in response to today’s announcement. “In the past year alone, we’ve witnessed more than a half-dozen food retailers from across the country committing to safer alternatives when it comes to food packaging materials. It is clearly possible to do, and yet some major chains like McDonald’s, Kroger, and Costco have not stood up for the health of their customers or the environment.”
“No company should be using chemicals that can impair a person’s immune system, especially as we are battling a worldwide pandemic,” says Executive Director of Toxic-Free Future Laurie Valeriano in response to Amazon’s new RSL released today. “Amazon is wise to be getting in front of regulatory bans that are soon coming their way, like in their home state of Washington. As we continue to fight for critical government policies to protect us against toxic chemicals in food packaging, it’s welcome news to see how companies, like Amazon, are stepping up to do what’s right.”
“Market leaders like Amazon know that children thrive on healthy food that’s free from toxic chemicals that escape from packaging,” says Mike Belliveau, Executive Director of Defend Our Health. “Further reducing the use of chemicals like phthalates and PFAS that may harm brain development could help halt the epidemic of learning and developmental disabilities our children already suffer.”
Amazon’s new restricted substance list (RSL) applies to its Amazon Kitchen brand products sold in Amazon Go, Amazon Go Grocery, Amazon Fresh, and Fresh grocery delivery. It does not apply to other private-label or Amazon brand-name food contact materials. Today’s announcement comes five months after a class-action lawsuit was filed, alleging PFAS was present in Amazon private-label disposable plates, which are not included in this new restriction.
Amazon’s newly released list of restricted chemicals also includes perchlorate, benzophenone, lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, and the solvents NMP (N-Methylpyrrolidone), 2-Ethoxyethanol, 2-Methoxyethanol, and toluene. In addition to PVC, PS, and EPS, the company also announced it is prohibiting the following non-recyclable plastics in its food contact packaging: polycarbonates (PC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), rigid polylactic acid (PLA), and polyhyrdoxyalkanoates (PHAs).
Some state and local governments are moving to phase out classes of toxic chemicals in food packaging, such as PFAS and phthalates, in favor of safer alternatives. Over the past two years, Washington and Maine have enacted phase-outs of PFAS in food packaging that go into effect January 1, 2022 or as soon as safer alternatives are available. Maine’s new law also prohibits the use of phthalates in food packaging and food handling gloves effective January 1, 2022. And, most recently, New York’s Governor signed a bill banning the use of PFAS in food packaging which takes effect at the end of 2022. Federal legislation to ban PFAS in food packaging, the Keep Food Containers Safe from PFAS Act, has been introduced by U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell.
As part of Mind the Store’s research for its annual retailer report, it was found that top food retailers are increasingly adopting safer chemicals policies to reduce and eliminate harmful chemicals. Over the past two years, Ahold Delhaize, Albertsons, Cava, Chipotle, Freshii, Kroger, Panera Bread, Sweetgreen, Trader Joe’s, and Whole Foods Market announced steps to reduce or eliminate certain toxic chemicals in food packaging at over 17,000 stores. A recent report published by the Mind the Store campaign and Toxic-Free Future found major fast-food chains such as McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s still likely serve up toxic PFAS with some of their most popular takeout foods.
Amazon previously received a grade of C+ in the 2019 “Who’s Minding the Store?” Retailer Report Card.
https://saferchemicals.org/

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