{"pages":{"page":[{"@ID":9
"7 NEWS PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 IFC partners with Mohinani Group to drive PET recycling and manufacturing in West Africa IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, announced a partnership with Ghana-based manufacturer Mohinani Group Limited to undertake the recycling of PET from plastic waste in Ghana and Nigeria, helping to protect the environment and creating thousands of jobs in both countries. Under the partnership, IFC will provide a loan of US$37 million to help Mohinani Group subsidiaries Polytank Ghana Limi ted and Sonnex Packaging Nigeria Limited to establish PET recycling plants in Ghana and Nigeria. Each plant will have the capacity to produce 15,000 t/a of recycled PET (rPET) resins that wi l l substitute virgin PET resins used to make food grade and beverage packaging containers. 90 per cent of the raw ma t er i a l s wi l l be sour ced from local smal l businesses involved in plastic collection. Combined, the new plants are expected to create more than 4,000 direct and indirect jobs across the value chain and approximately US$21 million in annual savings from imports for each country. “The rPET project by the Mohinani Group was born out of a vision to close the bottleto-bottle recycling loop in Africa and the Group’s dedication to advancing environmental sustainability,” said Roshan Mohinani, Strategy and Transformation Manager for Mohinani. “It is also inspired by our Group’s purpose of improving the quality of lives in Africa, as this initiative is expected to create over 4,000 jobs along the value chain in Nigeria and Ghana, thereby providing economic empowerment to a significant number of young people, particularly women.” “IFC’s partnership with Mohinani underscores our dedication to promote environmental sustainability and economic development in Ghana and Nigeria,” said Dahlia Khalifa, IFC Regional Director for Central Africa and Anglophone West Africa. “By recycling up to 30,000 t/a of PET waste, these new plants will protect the environment and substitute imports with locally recycled materials.” IFC will also provide advisory services to strengthen Mohinani’s environmental and social practices and its capacity for efficient and sustainable PET recycling operations. The project aligns with IFC’s strategies for Ghana and Nigeria which are focused on mitigating climate change, creating jobs and transforming the economy. It is also consistent with the World Bank Group’s Climate Change Action Plan 2021-2025, which aims to reduce the use of virgin plastic resins and greenhouse gas emissions in the packaging materials value chain. www.ifc.org CREATING FUTURE STANDARDS Japan’s leading Aseptic PET Filling System Provider. Our website Our solution high quality reliable technology safe & secure"},{"@ID":29
"MARKET SURVEY 27 PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net 03/2025 MARKETsurvey Suppliers of caps & cap inspection systems We are pleased to present the latest insights from suppliers and manufacturers in the cap industry. In response to our call, a wide array of companies have contributed their data, providing you with a comprehensive overview of their recent solutions. Please find here the new data of the companies: Alpla Werke Alwin Lehner GmbH, Bericap Holding GmbH, Corvaglia Group, Gulf Packaging System Co, Has Plastik San Tic. A.S., IMD Ltd, Intravis GmbH, Retal Industries, Sacmi Imola SC, Uner Plastic AS Although the publishers have made every effort to ensure that the information in this survey is up to date, no claims are made regarding completeness or accuracy. Resins & additives Cap manufacturer & cap inspection Cap systems & cap moulds Preform production & inspection Preform systems & moulds Two stage SBM machinery Filling equipment Compressors Shrinkfilm & palletising machinery Recycling machinery Cap producer Company name Gulf Packaging System Co (3P GG) Retal Industries Ltd Alpla Werke Alwin Lehner GmbH & Co KG Corvaglia group Postal address Telephone number Web site address Contact name Function Direct telephone number E-Mail Post Box 20266, Jeddah 21455, KSA +966 12 6360099 www.3p-gulf.com Mr Mohammed Najmuddin VP-Operations [email protected] Epimitheos St. 6, Industrial Area A, Limassol, 3056, Cyprus +357 25 270 500 www.retalgroup.com Mr Fuat Karaev Global Sales Director +370 620 899 77 [email protected] Mockenstraße 34 6971 Hard, Austria +43 5574 602 0 www.alpla.com Mr Michael Feltes Managing Director - IM Devision +43 5574 602 0 [email protected] Hörnlistrasse 14, CH-8360 Eschlikon, Switzerland +41 71 973 77 77 www.corvaglia.com Mr Vaidotas Bucevicius Director Sales & Service +41 71 973 77 10 [email protected] Product Range One-piece closures for beverages (Yes /No - If Yes, please specify material) Yes, HDPE Yes, HDPE Yes, HDPE and PP Yes, HDPE Two-piece closures for beverages (with liner) (Yes / No - If Yes, please specify material Yes, PP with EVA liner No No No Applications relevant to PET containers (e.g. CSD, water, juice, beer, etc.) CSD, water, juice, milk, oil CSD, water, CSD, water, juice, tea, syrup, dairy CSD & carbonated bottled water, still bottled water (pressurised & non-pressurised), sensitive drinks (juices, teas, flavoured waters, ...), sports & energy drinks, others (dairy, edible oil, …) Neck finishes available as standard 29/25, 1881, 30/25, 1816, 38mm, 48mm 1881, 1810, 29/25, 26/22 GME30.40 26/22 (GME30.28, GME30.37, GME30.40); PCO1881; PCO1810; 38mm 2-start (GME30.29); 38mm 3-start (GME30.25); glass (MCA 7,5R); SPI-necks Several standard finishes from 25 to 48mm, e.g. Cetie standard necks GME 30.21 to GME 30.26, GME 30.28 to GME 30.33, GME 30.36 to GME 30.43, GME 32.03, GME 32.04 Printed caps available (Yes / No) Yes Yes Yes Yes Colour matching service (Yes / No) Yes Yes Yes Yes Child-proof closures (Yes /No) No No Yes No Push-Pull / sports caps (Yes / No) No No Yes Only in Mexico Special comments/special closures (e.g. tethered cap solution, flipt-tops, drinking spouts, lightest cap for 28mm PCO, 26mm for water etc including non-beverage closures...) Colour printing up to 3 colours, UV & IR laser engraving available; caps embossment upon request; tethered closures available for various neck finishes Non aerosol pumps in various neck finishes, buckets and canisters for various app., tethered cap solutions for 26/22, 1810, 1881, 38mm neck finishes; CRC caps; standard packaging for pharma app.; 2-chamber caps; bi-and multicomponent IM; custom-made closures Closure manufacturing sites in Switzerland, Mexico, USA. Corvaglia designed caps are available around the world via partner network. Tethered caps for carbonated and noncarbonated drinks according to EU Directive 2019/904 Special patented closures or marketing features Yes Digital printing capabilities installed in our production sites. Custome closure designs (for PET and non-PET containers) available upon request"},{"@ID":15
"EDITOUR PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net 13 EDITOUR 13 convert all of their shampoo bottles to PET packaging and orientated themselves on their European production facilities, where they produced their PET bottles using two-stage technology, which doesn’t make sense for the Egyptian market due to the much lower demand for huge quantities. We advised a one-step process, but this was not an option and unfortunately the deal didn’t go through,” said Mr Zayed. Instead, the cosmetics manufacturer commissioned a different converter, where the business relationship would continue to this day. Finally, in 2022, Mr Zayed’s father wanted to enter this sector due to the noticeable increase in demand for PET in the market. “He told me that we absolutely had to get involved, otherwise we would be excluding potentially important customers, so we bought a PET single-stage machine, an Aoki AL-500LL 50S.” When L’Oréal approached again, this time for 200ml and 600ml PET bottle formats for their Ultra Doux haircare brand, and agreed to single-stage production, the company invested in a Nissei ASB70DPH with R&D Leverage mould, which has now been operating at the plant since May 2023, producing various bottle formats for L’Oréal, including rPET processing, still a fairly new topic in the country. Five different recyclate variants are sourced from the recycler Bariq, two from Far Eastern producers. A second ASB-70DHP has been ordered and is on its way, as the first one is currently working to capacity, we were told. Looking at the figures, Mr Zayed said: “PET packaging currently accounts for about 20% of the total of about 9 million bottles a year and apart from a small portion on the Aoki, we produce everything on our ASB machine. Overall, we have a turnover of more than US$5 million for the packaging sector in general and this part is growing by around 20% a year.” L’Oréal is the largest customer with 20% of the total turnover and the converter is the main supplier for closures with around 5 million units. www.prima-pens.com Tarek Zayed in the EBM part of the company www.sacmi.com Product design Product development Product validation Industrial production plant Process & quality control On-site and start-up assistance After-sales and Customer service SACMI 4.0 THE COMPLETE CLOSURE, PREFORM AND CONTAINER SOLUTION FOR YOUR SMART FACTORY E N D L E S S I N N O V A T I O N S I N C E 1 9 1 9"},{"@ID":8
"PETnews 6 NEWS PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net Veolia invests in PET recycling in Europe Veolia, an environmental services provider, is expanding its PET recycling capacities across Europe. The company is investing in the modernisation and expansion of its facilities in Frauenfeld, Switzerland, and Norrköping, Sweden. The goal is to increase the output of food-grade rPET to meet the growing demand in the food industry. In Frauenfeld, Veolia is leveraging artificial intelligence to improve input quality and adding an extra extruder for the production of food-grade rPET. In Norrköping, a facility expansion and a new extruder will boost the output of high-quality granules. With these investments, Veolia expects to increase its production of food-grade rPET by approximately 30%. According to Guido Adomßent, CEO of Veolia Umweltservice Group, the collection systems in Scandinavia and Switzerland create essential conditions for a closed-loop PET recycling process. He explains that Sweden, for instance, has mandatory design regulations for PET bottles allowed for sale, which ensures very high recycling quality and, in turn, leads to high-quality recyclates. www.veolia.de Packaging specialist Alpla opens new plant in Thailand Alpla is expanding in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific region and opening a second location in Thailand. The modern plant in Chachoengsao, near Bangkok, combines all production technologies, technical centre and STUDIOa, a ‘one-stopshop’ for design, on a 24,000m2 site. Alpla is thus increasing capacities, expanding its portfolio and offering safe, affordable and sustainable full-system solutions made of plastic to numerous industries and markets. With this second location in Thailand, Alpla is multiplying its production capacity in the country. Chachoengsao is replacing Prachinburi as the headquarters and expanding the portfolio to include injection moulding (IM) and one-step injection stretch-blow moulding (ISBM) technologies.Alpla will be manufacturing high-quality plastic bottles, preforms, matching closures and injection-moulded parts in Chachoengsao using all core technologies. All production lines have been producing in volume since the beginning of 2025. More than 190 skilled workers are employed in Chachoengsao. The new location in the Bangkok metropolitan region stands out for its customer proximity and optimal connections. At its first plant in Prachinburi, Alpla will concentrate fully on extrusion blow moulding (EBM) in the future. www.alpla.com Origin Materials announces commencement of PET cap commercial production Or igin Mater ials announced the commencement of commercial production of PET caps at its manufacturing centre in Reed City, Michigan, USA, on its first Origin CapFormer System. The company confirmed that three additional CapFormer lines are currently being built and tested and are expected to complete their Factory Acceptance Tests in Q2. They also reaffirmed previous guidance, stating that they remain on target to have a total of eight CapFormer lines online by the end of 2025. The CapFormer line is performing as expected and is expected to produce hundreds of millions of PET caps annually, according to Origin CEO and Co-Founder John Bissell. Origin Materials continues to refine its technologies and manufacturing processes to enhance production rates and improve unit economics for future lines. The company views this development as a key step in addressing the $65 billion closures market. The newly produced PCO 1881-compliant caps are expected to be transformative for the packaging industry, delivering the performance benefits and recycling circularity associated with PET caps. Beyond the 1881 format, Origin’s technology platform is designed to enhance the sustainability and performance of a broad range of packaging solutions, both existing and new. “Market interest and the strength of the overall demand for our caps continues to suggest we will be able to sell every cap we can make,” said Bissell. “We have multiple MOUs (Memorandum of Understanding) signed, with a growing list of prospects in the qualification phase, and a growing pipeline of new potential customers. We’re looking forward to announcing additional MOUs along with customer names in the coming months.” Looking ahead, the company plans to scale production on the first CapFormer line gradually. Additional CapFormer Systems are being manufactured and tested alongside the startup of the initial line, with further systems scheduled to come online throughout 2025. www.originmaterials.com"},{"@ID":55
"EVENT REVIEW PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net 37 renewable resources: in the case of PET packaging, this is by the collection of post-consumer bottles and trays for recycling. The challenge is that in the EU these collection costs are, in some cases, more than ten times higher than the costs faced in developing countries, and the technical advantages that our EU industry has made are not sufficient to plug the gap. So, in order to maintain a future for all our members we need to push the Commission to take action to prevent an unlevel playing field by the proper standardisation and verification of material that is entering the EU. PETplanet: The presentations by EU speakers on the latest regulatory updates and new implementations are particularly important for the participants at the conference. Would you please be so kind and briefly summarise the status of the implementation of the PPWR and what new technologies and trade rules are being considered by the EU? Antonello Ciotti: Before talking about PPWR, whose implementation deadline is 2030, let’s look at the SUPD which already came into force on January 1st this year. As the SUP is a Directive, it has to be implemented by the EU Member States and we run the risk of seeing a different implementation in each of them. Moreover, it is not yet clear how the mandatory recycling content is defined: for example, it seems that flakes to polymer are not considered in the definition, and there are no penalties for brands that do not apply the 25% recycled content stipulation simply because the target is for the ‘average member state’. This situation will be amended by the implementation of the PPWR, where the target is for each brand, for each of the brand’s production sites and for each bottle size produced. Petcore Europe is working with the Commission to address and clarify all these dichotomies. PETplanet: No circulation without standardisation. What’s new from EPBP and TCEP? Antonello Ciotti: Our leading Working Groups in circularity (EPBP and TCEP) have been asked to attend and support the work led by CEN on standardisation. Our technical managers are now fully engaged in the bottle (where the EPBP guidelines are the reference) and tray CEN working groups, where the definition of recyclability and circularity will be turned into standardisation rules. In parallel, the EPBP technical team is working to finalise the circularity test protocol and design guidelines. These activities are ahead of the CEN ones. PETplanet: An important topic on the second day of the conference was depolymerisation in packaging and textiles. Can you please give an assessment of developments in these areas? Antonello Ciotti: We can summarise the state of play by saying that the industry is ready to invest substantially – BUT, without a clear legislative perspective, it is currently refraining from investing. Eastman represents a clear case. They have postponed a multibillion-Euro investment in France due to the lack of clarity on the classification of the final product. We are all still waiting to understand the Commission position regarding the Mass Balance methodology that allows a clear identification of the recycled content in a product. PETplanet: Of course, many other important topics were also discussed and current reports from other working groups were presented. If you compare this year’s event with previous ones, what was special? And how optimistic are you for the future? Antonello Ciotti: I am very optimistic for the future of our event as I see that year after year the presenters, the number of attendees, the sponsors and the number of media partners is growing. This year we also had the best ever representation by European Commission Directorate’s General. We were even forced to limit the number of innovation papers and presenters this year as the agenda was already fully packed! Arrivederci to the next Conference, most probably in Italy! PETplanet: Thank you very much Mr Ciotti. www.petcore-europe.org | www.agrintl.com | +1.724.482.2163 Featuring AutoJob® 6LPSOLȴHG DQG DXWRPDWHG MRE VHWXS LQ VHFRQGV 3DUWQHU ZLWK $JU WR DFKLHYH VLPSOLȴHG GLPHQVLRQDO PHDVXUHPHQW IRU \\RXU SODVWLF FRQWDLQHUV DQG SUHIRUPV Prepare for tomorrow... HQKDQFH HɝFLHQF\\ WRGD\\"},{"@ID":10
"8 NEWS PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net ABSOLUTE MEASURMENT PERFECTION Want to find out? Scan to access our FREE guidebook Industrial Physics is lifting the lid on PET bottle testing. How can you ensure the absolute quality of your beverage packaging? Featuring real world data SK chemicals to establish waste plastic recycling innovation center in Korea SK Chemicals has successfully massproduced chemically recycled materials and started to build a comprehensive centre for plastic recycling solutions in Korea. This centre will include the production of circular recyclable raw materials, demonstration research and material production. The company announced on February 18 that it will establish a Recycle Innovation Center (RIC) at its Ulsan plant where eco-friendly chemical materials are produced. The company will invest in new pilot facilities for the chemical decomposition of waste plastics to produce recycled BHET (r-BHET), linking them with existing commercial copolyester production facilities. The newly constructed depolymerisation pilot facility will produce recyclable plastic raw materials (r-BHET) from waste plastics. This facility will validate commercialisation technology for various types of low-quality waste plastics that were previously difficult to recycle using conventional methods, expanding beyond typical transparent bottles to include fibres, films, and automotive parts. In particular, the recycling of textiles is known to be highly challenging field due to the diverse forms and types of materials mixed in a single garment. This includes not only polyester yarn but also other fibres such as cotton, as well as various accessories like buttons. The depolymerisation pilot facility is scheduled to begin operations in 2026 with an annual production capacity of 50 t. BHET(r-BHET), an intermediate raw material for polyester-based materials such as PET and copolyester, is integral to SK Chemicals’ chemical recycling technology. With the construction of the RIC, SK Chemicals will establish an integrated research and production system at its Ulsan plant, covering everything from circular recycled raw materials (r-BHET) to circular recycled materials. All processes from depolymerisation to demonstration research, polymerisation, and mass production will be organically integrated at one location. This is supported by a polymerisation pilot that produces a circular recycled PET and a commercial production facility capable of mass-producing circular recycled copolyester. www.skchemicals.com Axens and Sorema sign partnership for providing advanced plastic recycling integrated solutions Axens, a leading technology licensor in the field of plastics circular economy, and Sorema, an international technology and equipment provider for sorting, cleaning and mechanical treatment of plastic waste, announced their cooperation for providing integrated solutions for advanced (chemical, physical) recycling of plastic wastes. Through this collaboration, Axens and Sorema aim to provide their clients with integrated and optimised solutions, maximising the yield and revenues from the waste feedstock to the recycled plastic. Axens is transforming the recycling of hard-to-recycle plastics by offering a suite of de-risked commercial technologies (TAC Process developed by Plastic Energy, followed by Axens’ Rewind Max and Rewind Mix processes) to produce a recycled naphtha equivalent to petrochemical naphtha through the proven pyrolysis pathway, thus enabling the production of food-grade recycled polyolefins (polyethylene, polypropylene). Additionally, Axens markets the Rewind PET process, which can reliably recycle all types of PET waste into a high-quality, virgin-like, recycled PET, suitable for all PET applications including food contact packaging or textiles. Sorema’s expertise in all the mechanical treatment operations of plastic waste allows to optimise feedstock preparation for advanced recycling units designed by Axens. Axens and Sorema are globally active, offering their integrated solutions from basic engineering design to the delivery of prefabricated modular units, empowering customers to efficiently execute their plastic recycling projects. www.sorema.it www.axens.net"},{"@ID":7
"CAPS & CLOSURES 31 PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net Setting a new PAC-E in packaging productivity High speed, low energy costs Indicative of the importance of processing efficiency in the caps, closures and thin wall packaging market, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag has developed an all-electric solution for every packaging application. The rapidly expanding PAC-E series completes the machine portfolio. PAC-E applies the company’s extensive all-electric experience to help injection moulders conserve energy and win the productivity race. “Fluctuating energy costs creates uncertainty. Particularly for packaging manufacturers where energy is one of the highest and most unpredictable expense. To counteract this, fast processing repeatability and reduced waste, combined with reducing energy costs is now even more imperative,” confirms Arnaud Nomblot, Director Business Development Packaging. For the past decade, the El-Exis SP set the processing and energy efficiency benchmark for machines operating fast cycle times, says Sumitomo Demag. PAC-E not only matches this speed and dynamics, the series is also claimed to almost halve energy consumption in comparison to the ElExis SP. Available in four clamp force variants, including the newest 420 t model, PAC-E is intended to pave the way for even greater production efficiencies. Nomblot explains: “As well as reducing wear parts, minimising waste, and addressing machine maintenance and downtime, PAC-E directly solves the greatest cost in the packaging production cycle – energy use.” In addition to being economical, PAC-E is also cleaner. The lubrication of the toggle lever resolves cleanliness issues. The completely enclosed circuit design is leak free. Oil is instead extracted, filtered and recycled. This eliminates the need to clean the toggle lever. Measuring the performance improvements against a high-speed hybrid packaging machine, Nomblot gives an example of a production case study for carbonated soft drinks caps with a weight of 1.8g and a 72 cavities tool. “With a 3.9s cycle time and 8.000h production per year, the energy savings represented 300MWh per year. This corresponds to 90.000€ per year, with energy costs of 30ct/kWh.” However, for mass manufacturers, it is the machine’s reliability and fast cycle times that increases production capacity and drives growth at scale, adds Nomblot. “This is where PAC-E really excels. Delivering a stable production pace and adapting to changes in dynamics to sustain an optimal performance.” All PAC-E machines are compatible with Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s cross-platform, open-communication software. These real-time digital tools can also lead to more productive scheduling and a significant reduction in unplanned machine downtime. www.sumitomo-shi-demag.eu The new PAC-E machine from Sumitomo (SHI) Demag features an all-electric drive, saving packaging processors 50% in energy when measured against a high-speed hybrid packaging machine."},{"@ID":20
"MATERIALS / RECYCLING PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net 18 A circular economy through digitalisation, inclusion and fair wages App-based recycling model from India by Kay Barton In many parts of the world the waste sector is currently badly organised yet it plays a vital role in feeding valuable raw materials into the recycling stream. This is particularly the case where the political will is insufficient and there is a lack of official infrastructure, or where the volume of waste is increasing thanks to economic growth and its associated consumption. The waste sector is thus essential, contributing not only to recycling, but also to the livelihoods of millions of people worldwide. A full 58% of global plastics recycling depends on this informal sector, an estimated 15 million people. Surely there should be ways of connecting these people and their indispensable and admirable work more effectively with the waste management industry to establish a culture of transparency, fairness and safety. This is exactly what Plastics For Change (PFC) has done in India, creating the world’s first certified fair-trade recycled plastic as early as 2019. We took a look behind the scenes in an interview with CEO Andrew Almack. “Plastics For Change was founded in 2015 with the mission of using plastic waste as a resource to create better living conditions for the poorest. The original concept was to create a fair, ethical supply chain for plastic waste, enabling transparency and fair wages for workers in the informal recycling sector who are at the bottom of the recycling chain. By bridging the gap between manufacturers, brands and waste collectors, we wanted to create a sustainable and traceable system for recycled plastics,” Andrew Almack told us in our interview. The CEO has extensive experience in sustainability, marketing and environmental policy. He has worked with underserved communities, promoted fair trade and advocates for recycling infrastructure, local quality of life and political support for circular economies. “We want to improve working conditions in the sector, contribute to an improved quality of recycled plastic and support interested brands in sourcing ethically recycled materials. We also want to promote consumer interest and raise awareness of sustainability in the recycling industry.” Both brand owners and material buyers can participate in the scheme to source high quality recycled plastics and achieve their sustainability goals, “often at competitive prices”, we were told. Recycling companies can then purchase the waste and process it into recycled flakes or pellets - using the PFC app as a central component. It not only connects waste collectors with collection centres, but also enables transparent pricing and ensures that waste collectors receive fair compensation for their work and collected plastic waste. Furthermore the app features the possibility of monitoring transactions and payments are possible and simplified, according to Mr Almack. The collected waste and quantities would also be recorded for traceability. A real-time impact tracker helps brands measure the social impact and carbon offsets achieved through their partnership with PFC. Due to demand and recyclability, the company mainly focuses on high-quality plastics such as PET and HDPE. However, the system can also include LDPE, PP and multilayer packaging. The proportion of PET bottle waste is two-thirds overall. Currently around 80 large collection centres and over 20 recycling companies in India take part and PFC is expanding and developing its system in the Philippines. “We are also working on the recovery and processing of plastic resources from landfill and oceans to be recycled into new products,” said Andrew Almack (middle) at a participating collection centre with staff"},{"@ID":41
"39 EVENT PREVIEW PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net Vacuum drying technology PET Solutions, part of Pegaso Industries, will be showcasing its latest innovations in PET and rPET processing technologies. PET Solutions will present its DRV vacuum dryer technology which has been selected as a finalist in the Plastic Recycling Awards Europe 2025 in the category Recycling Machinery Innovation of the Year. The DRV (dryer with continuous vacuum flow) is a patented technology that is claimed to set itself apart from traditional drying systems through continuous processing, eliminating the batch-to-batch interruptions found in competitor systems. Unlike batch systems that cause fluctuations in temperature and moisture, affecting the plastification process in injection moulding, the DRV ensures stable and consistent processing conditions, says PET Solutions. The DRV dryer processes both crystalline and amorphous PET/rPET, which eliminates the need for an external crystalliser. Thanks to its four-hopper system, the DRV allows changeovers in just 1.5 hours, minimising machine stoppages and increasing productivity. The four hoppers can be arranged in different configurations to fit any production layout, making the DRV an adaptable solution in the vacuum drying segment. The DRV integrates seamlessly with leading injection moulding OEMs, adjusting process parameters automatically using a self-learning algorithm. In recycling applications, oil condensers are typically required to remove volatile substances, consuming large amounts of chilled water and energy. The DRV has been designed to eliminate the need for an oil condenser, as all volatile substances are removed via the vacuum system and collected in a dedicated tank. Unlike conventional dryers, the DRV does not require desiccant/molecular sieves, water exchangers, or regeneration filters, drastically reducing maintenance time and costs. The DRV Dryer is designed with four dedicated hoppers, each serving a specific role in the drying process: 1) Pre-heating phase (Hopper 1): Removes surface moisture from the resin at 100 °C using a controlled hot air flow. 2) Heating phase (Hopper 2): Gradually increases the resin temperature to 140 °C in a closed-loop system. 3) Vacuum phase (Hopper 3): Extracts residual moisture down to levels below 40 ppm using vacuum technology. 4) Booster heating phase (Hopper 4): Raises the resin temperature to 170°C, ensuring optimal conditions before processing. The DRV Dryer maintains precise temperature control through a system of temperature probes positioned at critical points within each hopper. These probes continuously monitor both material and air temperatures, preventing overheating and resin degradation. www.petsolutions.it Pegaso Industries & PET Solutions Booth B95"},{"@ID":38
"EVENT REVIEW PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net 36 Petcore Annual Conference 2025 “Turning back is not an option, but moving forward requires a lot of support and protection” by Heike Fischer The Petcore Annual Conference 2025 took place in Brussels on February 4-5. More than 370 delegates attended and were able to witness first-hand the PET value chain’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.The conference underlined Petcore Europe’s ability to represent the EU PET value chain as reflected in its growing membership numbers: nine associations and more than 150 organisations, with a cumulative turnover in 2022 of 15 billion € and 27k employees. PETplanet Insider spoke with Antonello Ciotti, President of Petcore Europe. PETplanet: Firstly, I would like to congratulate you on the successful Petcore Annual Conference 2025. Let’s talk about the European industry, which is currently facing many challenges. The PET and plastics industry is also affected by this. In your opinion, what were the most important key statements on market dynamics and European competitiveness - PET value chain views that were made? Antonello Ciotti: The main statement is the need to regain competitiveness by requiring the creation of a level playing field. Today, this is not yet the case as a fair implementation of the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) is not yet fully clarified. The same is true for the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) which, with 53 Delegated Acts to be defined in the next two years, is requiring a lot of monitoring from the whole value chain. A quote from one of our members sums it up nicely: “We want to invest our resources in operations and not in reporting!”. PETplanet: Where do you see the strengths of the European PET industry? Antonello Ciotti: The main strength of the EU industry is its ability to continuously innovate by introducing new technologies for the lightweighting of both PET trays and bottles - including increasing their recycled content - without reducing the importance of consumer safety. PETplanet: Three highly interesting innovation papers were presented by Alpla & Avantium, Husky and Sipa, well-known `big players´ in the PET industry. What did you find particularly forward-looking about the respective presentations? Antonello Ciotti: The Alpla & Avantium project provides an interesting view on the opportunities to enhance PET package properties (e.g. higher barrier to CO2 and O2) and visual characteristics, while taking into account the guidelines provided by Petcore Europe’s European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP). Husky and Sipa presented technological innovations which improve the quality control and quality consistency of the final product while at the same time allowing for the smoother inclusion of recycled PET. All these improvements are going to help in driving the concept of circularity within our industry. PETplanet: Of course, there was also detailed information about sustainability and plastics recycling. Do you think Europe is doing enough? And can it continue to fulfil its pioneering role? What do you hear from the industry, what are the biggest challenges that companies have to overcome if they want to produce sustainably? Antonello Ciotti: This is a key dilemma facing EU industry in general. It is clear that the new US administration is reducing its focus on the Green Deal, and as a result, EU industry finds itself at a crossroads: turning back is not an option, but moving forward requires a lot of support and protection. Here, the level playing field that I mentioned earlier is a must if the EU is to retain its manufacturing power. To be more specific, the Green Deal is based on the reduction of fossil energy and its replacement with"},{"@ID":57
"We would like to thank our sponsors and partners for their continued support. Thank you! The Middle East Roadshow The worldwide round trip with Editour Circular Economy Editour Europe 2025 Be part of our next adventure » New Roadshow 2025 Sponsors to date Closing the Loop Energy Efficiency Material Savings Be part of the story. Interested in being interviewed on site? Reach out to us! The worldwide round trip with"},{"@ID":58
"BOTTLING / FILLING PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net 24 Improved production process at Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited Production capacities increase of 300% KHS has installed an ultramodern non-returnable PET line for Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited (SZL). Now, the bottler’s production setup is not only more efficient but also saves on resources – at an increase in capacity of 300% compared to the original production line. Until very recently, the production shop at Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited in the Willowvale industrial area in the capital of Harare called for low volume outputs. The recent installation and commissioning of a completely new KHS non-returnable PET line had the beverage producer convinced; it is equipped, among other things, with a compact InnoPET BloFill stretch blow moulder/ filler block for the manufacture and filling of up to 36,000 containers per hour, the efficient Innoket Neo labeller for roll-fed labelling of the bottles, the Innopack PSP Advanced shrink packer and the flexible Innopal PB N palletiser. Continuous monitoring by KHS inspection technology ensures that only containers of perfect quality leave the plant. There were many reasons behind the decision to award the Dortmund turnkey supplier the contract, as Ms Ropafadzo Gwanetsa, corporate affairs executive at Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited explains: “KHS is considered to be a reliable systems provider by our parent company, The Coca-Cola Company, and is valued for its expertise in highly-efficient filling and packaging systems. Its range of holistic services that includes extensive technical support is also convincing.” SZL continues to be enthusiastic about the speed of the line in particular; compared to the previous competitor setup, Gwanetsa reckons that production capacity has increased by 300% – so much so, in fact, that the company’s current warehouse will probably have to be enlarged. This was a necessary step to take, for the demand for filled juice from flagship brands Mazoe Orange Crush or Minute Maid and for Bonaqua and Schweppes still water continues to grow on the domestic and regional markets. Production is also proving more professional than before in its flexible processing of various packaging formats holding between 400ml and 2 l. “The ability to easily process a whole range of different container sizes on a single line, with format changeovers now much quicker, gives us a great competitive edge over other bottlers,” says Gwanetsa, who also appreciates the automated processes on the new acquisition. “Operator intervention on the line has been reduced to a minimum, thus improving the efficiency of our production line.” Gwanetsa illustrates the positive development brought about by modernisation with further figures. “We’ve managed to cut our overall costs by about 80% compared to the former setup, with a 10% reduction in personnel requirements making a positive contribution to this.” Regarding resource savings, the new KHS plant engineering also scores with an up to 30% decrease in energy consumption, savings in water and CO2 and similarly reduced labelling costs. “Together with the entire group, we’re adopting an ambitious sustainability strategy with a directly noticeable cut in greenhouse gas emissions and also aiming for climate neutrality. Our stateThe new system boosts Schweppes Zimbabwe’s production capacity by 300% over the previous line. Increased demand means that the company is now planning to expand its warehousing facilities. (Photos: Victor Moyo) The Innoket Neo labeller with a roll-fed station ensures precise and efficient hot-melt, wrap-around labelling of PET bottles. F.l.t.r.: Bradley Naicker (KHS Sales Manager for South Africa), Ropafadzo Gwanetsa (Corporate Affairs Executive for Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited), Bhekimpilo Ndhlovu (Plant Manager for Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited) and Jane Bwerinofa (Technical Executive for Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited)"},{"@ID":25
"BOTTLE MAKING 23 PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 Welding Alloys company building time and improving overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), improved bottle quality control, minimising energy consumption, material waste and labour costs through data-driven optimisation, increased flexibility in market requirements and production schedules, and predictive machine and mould maintenance. Augmented reality for PET bottle production Augmented reality (AR) is another modern technology driving innovation in manufacturing. AR, is already utilised in gaming and education, and is now being adopted into manufacturing. By overlaying digital information onto the real world, AR can enhance productivity, quality control, and training. AR can optimise training and development in PET bottle manufacturing, offering immersive, hands-on learning experiences. Of particular note are packaging trends that use AR technology to offer new, interactive ways of communicating about the product and the brand, bringing the product to life digitally and increasing brand awareness. AR also offers a safe, immersive platform for training and reduces the risk of costly errors. www.welding-alloys.com"},{"@ID":1
"No.03 2025 www.petpla.net D 51178; ISSN: 1438-9452 PETplanet is read in 159 countries Suppliers of caps & cap inspection systems MARKETsurvey M A G A Z I N E F O R B O T T L E R S A N D B O T T L E - M A K E R S I N T H E A M E R I C A S , A S I A , E U R O P E A N D A L L A R O U N D T H E P L A N E T 17 . 03 . 25 Page 38 EDITOUR Page 10 Page 27 Page 41"},{"@ID":17
"MATERIALS / RECYCLING PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net 15 Detailed studies The study considered a range of PET bottles of different sizes and for different purposes and compared them with packages made of aluminium, steel and glass. The PET bottles were from 250ml to 2l; water bottles of 500ml and 1,500ml were studied; soft drink bottles of 250, 600 and 2,000ml; and 900ml edible oil containers. Aluminium cans of 350ml, for water and soft drinks; 900ml steel edible oil cans; and glass bottles of 300ml (for water) and 250 ml (for soft drinks) were the specific items analysed. The PET value chain Whether produced in Brazil itself or imported from overseas, PET’s ultimate raw material is oil and petroleum products. It can be noted that the proportion of recycled PET being used in food and beverage is growing: 56.4% of postconsumer PET packaging is recycled in Brazil. The industry is driving efforts to use recycled materials. Bottle-to-bottle processing is prevalent in the Brazilian beverage industry. PET and HDPE resins are manufactured in chemical plants, from where they pass to processors who turn the material into bottle preforms, labels and caps. After being formed into bottles and filled, they are sent to market and then, after use, disposed of or collected and recycled. Every stage is taken into account, including transportation. Aluminium can value chain Aluminium cans are overwhelmingly produced from recycled aluminium cans – an established example of a circular economy. Energy costs for processing, casting and lamination are not much different between recycled and mined materials but the cost, energy and pollution involved in mining bauxite is significant. Like PET, aluminium undergoes filling, transportation, retail, final use and then disposal or, in the majority of cases, collection and recycling. Glass bottle value chain Glass is made out of recovered post-consumer and other glass, along with silica (sand); sodium hydroxide/ caustic soda, or lye; limestone and felspar. Production is the most energyintensive of all, requiring high levels of heat. There is no difference in energy consumption between glass made of recycled material and that made from virgin material. After bottling and retail, glass bottles are recycled or disposed of. Steel packaging value chain Steel is less widely used in food packaging than PET, glass or aluminium. Its chief use today is for larger containers of edible oils. Some raw material is recovered scrap but mining, of iron and tin, continues to play a big role in steel production. Primary and recycled steel, and metallic tin, are produced in separate facilities and brought together in the casting and laminating stage. Bottlers and fillers may have steel and PET containers under the same factory roof, going down parallel lines. Steel cans go through the same distribution, usage and disposal/collection process. Comparisons and findings Water bottles: 500ml and 1,500ml PET containers were compared with 350ml aluminium cans and 300ml disposable glass bottles. The 1,500ml PET bottle was the leading performer across almost all headings. The report says that this is because of the correlation between the mass of the package itself and volume of the transported product. Its total CO2 equivalent emissions were found to be 45% lower than the 350ml aluminium can and 94% lower than the 350ml glass bottle. Its total contribution to acidification was reported as 69% less than aluminium and 98% less than glass."},{"@ID":11
"9 NEWS PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net Uruguay launches first nationwide Deposit Return System (DRS) Uruguay’s national packaging recovery initiative, Plan Vale, agreed on Friday, February 21, 2025, to the terms with the consortium of CIEMSA, CSI, and Reverse Logistics Group (RLG) to implement the country’s first Deposit Return and Refund System (DRS) for single-use beverage containers. This project positions Uruguay as the first Latin American nation to adopt such a system, setting a precedent for efficient recycling and waste management in the region. The consortium has been entrusted with the system’s design, implementation, and operation under Plan Vale’s stewardship. The program, which is designed to incentivise the return of recyclable materials, will cover a wide array of packaging types, including PET plastics, aluminium cans, glass bottles, and carton beverages. Including these materials is expected to amplify the program’s environmental impact significantly. To facilitate this ambitious effort, RLG has partnered with CIEMSA and CSI, two long-established and experienced local firms, to support operations in Uruguay, which include material collection and transportation, as well as the construction and operation of counting and sorting centres. This collaboration will allow the transfer of RLG’s extensive global experience to DRS, which will ensure the system’s efficiency and reliability. The establishment of a local entity by RLG to manage the project is claimed to underscore the company’s commitment to the success of the DRS in Uruguay. The local team, already in place, is expected to grow as the project progresses, further embedding RLG’s expertise within the country. www.rev-log.com More than just VISION INSPECTION"},{"@ID":45
"43 EVENT PREVIEW PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net Productivity, sustainability, digital technology Sacmi will introduce its latest technological solutions for cap and preform production, process control, moulds and digital integration. The company will showcase its latest compression press, the CCM 64MD, along with advancements in preform production, vision systems, and digital process control. CCM 64MD cap press The newly developed CCM 64MD compression press is designed to enhance productivity and efficiency in cap manufacturing. With a production rate of up to 2,850 caps per minute using 64 moulds, the press represents a 50% increase in productivity compared to the current range. This development is claimed to align with the demands of highcapacity bottling lines, enabling a single machine to support two lines operating at 80,000bph with 171,000 caps per minute. Energy efficiency is another focus of the CCM 64MD, with a reported 15% reduction in energy consumption compared to previous models, bringing it down to 0.43 kWh/kg. This translates to an estimated reduction of 8 t/a of CO2 equivalent emissions for the same level of production. Preform production and integrated vision systems Alongside cap manufacturing solutions, Sacmi continues to advance its preform production technology. The company’s IPS 400 preform press integrates an in-machine vision system to enhance process control. This system provides real-time monitoring, ensuring consistent quality while reducing defects. The company’s vision technology extends beyond preform presses, covering the entire production process. Locally manufactured vision systems in Sacmi’s Chinese facilities support both in-line and stand-alone applications for caps, preforms, and metal packaging. Moulds for consistent performance A section of the booth at the Chinaplas fair will be dedicated to showing customers the benefits of original Sacmi moulds, which are claimed to offer improved production performance and consistent quality and reliability over time, guaranteeing the conformity of the finished cap. This, together with consulting on machine tooling management, results in high quality and low costs, says the company. Digital enhancements Sacmi is incorporating digital technologies into its cap and preform systems to improve performance monitoring and process optimisation. Features such as Smart Pack 2 self-diagnostics and Smart Care cloud services provide operators with data-driven insights, supporting efficient machine operation and predictive maintenance. www.sacmi.com Sacmi Hall 10 Booth D41"},{"@ID":4
"Booth: 7F31 Hall: 7 'VXOR 9NKT`NKT =UXRJ +^NOHOZOUT )UT\\KTZOUT )KTZKX The 37th International Exhibition on Plastics and Rubber Industries"},{"@ID":52
"imprint EDITORIAL PUBLISHER Alexander Büchler, Managing Director HEAD OFFICE heidelberg business media GmbH Hubweg 15 74939 Zuzenhausen, Germany phone: +49 6221-65108-0 [email protected] EDITORIAL Kay Barton Heike Fischer Gabriele Kosmehl Michael Maruschke Ruari McCallion Anthony Withers Editorial & WikiPETia. info [email protected] MEDIA CONSULTANTS Martina Hirschmann [email protected] Johann Lange-Brock [email protected] phone: +49 6221-65108-0 LAYOUT AND PREPRESS EXPRIM Werbeagentur Matthias Gaumann www.exprim.de READER SERVICES [email protected] PRINT Chroma Druck Eine Unternehmung der Limberg-Druck GmbH Danziger Platz 6 67059 Ludwigshafen, Germany WWW www.hbmedia.net | www.petpla.net PETplanet Insider ISSN 1438-9459 is published 10 times a year. This publication is sent to qualified subscribers (1-year subscription 149 EUR, 2-year subscription 289 EUR, Young professionals’ subscription 99 EUR. Magazines will be dispatched to you by airmail). Not to be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher. Note: The fact that product names may not be identified as trademarks is not an indication that such names are not registered trademarks. 3 PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net A recent study by the Brazilian Association for the PET Industry (ABIPET) shows that PET has a superior environmental footprint compared to aluminium, glass and steel (see article on page 14). The areas that were analysed are also interesting. For example, particulate emissions and water consumption are also taken into account. The study looks at the entire life cycle of PET packaging for liquid foodstuffs - from raw material extraction, production, transport and use through to disposal and recycling. PET scores better than the alternatives in six key categories. Particularly striking is the up to 98% lower fine dust pollution compared to glass and a 97% reduction compared to aluminium. PET is also the more environmentally friendly choice in terms of climate change, acidification, land use, ecotoxicity and water consumption. Various PET containers from 250ml to 2 l were tested and compared with aluminium, steel and glass packaging. A 1.5 l PET water bottle produces 45% less CO2 emissions than a 350ml aluminium can and 94% less than a 350ml glass bottle. Water consumption in the production of a 2 l PET bottle is 64% lower than for aluminium and 88% lower than for glass. In Brazil, 56.4% of used PET bottles are recycled, which promotes the use of rPET (recycled PET) and reduces the need for new raw materials. This further improves the environmental balance of PET and significantly reduces energy consumption compared to glass and aluminium. The multi-year study shows that PET performs significantly better than aluminium, glass and steel in terms of environmental, health and energy aspects. Its lightness reduces transport costs, and as PET containers are usually recycled rather than washed and reused, water consumption is also lower. Despite its petroleum-based origin, PET offers a more sustainable solution for the packaging of food and beverages. Yours, Alexander Büchler Dear readers,"},{"@ID":47
"45 ON SITE PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net Boretech ships its first complete PET bottle-to-bottle system to India In February 2025, the provider of end-to-end PET recycling solutions Boretech successfully shipped the main equipment for a complete PET bottle-to-bottle recycling system to India. This marks Boretech’s first full-scale PET bottle-to-bottle system sold to the Indian market. The project comes at a pivotal moment as India has introduced the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2024, which set clear regulations on the recycled content and recycling rates for rigid plastic packaging. The project officially commenced in February 2024 and is scheduled for commissioning in June 2025. Once fully operational, the production line will feature a processing capacity of 30,000 t/a of rPET flakes and 16,000 t/a of foodgrade rPET pellets, enabling the customer to meet the 30% recycled content requirement mandated for 2025-2026. The customer has opted for Boretech’s latest ES process washing technology, which features a highly integrated design that reduces land footprint by 25% and on-site labour requirements by 33%, lower initial investment and operational costs. The intensive washing technology is claimed to ensure near-zero chemical residue, while the enhanced hot-wash technology improves downstream filtration by 25% and reduces per-ton energy consumption by 13.3%. Boretech has delivered a comprehensive system encompassing pre-treatment, twin-screw extrusion, pelletising, and Solid-State Polymerisation (SSP). The SSP stage incorporates continuous pre-crystallisation, crystallisation preheating, solid-state polymerisation, and final product cooling, ensuring that the rPET meets food-grade standards and is FDA-certified. www.bo-re-tech.com From bales to high-quality PET flakes Mineral water producer Alma, one of Europe’s leading producers of mineral water, and recycling specialist Veolia have partnered to establish Filao, Belgium’s first PET bottle recycling plant. The newly founded joint venture aims to enhance sustainable packaging solutions and has chosen Krones as its technology provider for recycling processes. With Filao, Sources Alma has already opened its third recycling site. The company has been operating a plant in Lesquin in northern France for 15 years and another recycling plant in Saint-Yorre in the centre of the country for three years. Both factories are equipped with technology from Krones. In addition to recycling, Alma also relies on Krones technology for its mineral water bottling lines. The factory had to be ready for operation within a year - from the construction of the buildings to the recruitment of staff and the installation of the production line. Krones supplied the majority of the machines for the Filao line and also played a key role in the design and implementation of the line and harmonised the components. The company naturally benefits from its own recycling expertise, which has been pooled in the independent Krones Recycling GmbH since July 2024 and also has factory planning and project management in-house, which enables overall responsibility with only a few interfaces. At the heart of the recycling system is the MetaPure W-PET washing module, which handles pre-treatment, hot caustic washing and post-washing. For components that Krones does not have in its own portfolio, the company relies on years of co-operation with experienced manufacturers. Such a combination of expertise and cooperation is essential to ensure that the complex recycling process runs smoothly and efficiently. “We process 40,000 t/a of bottles, which is around 70 per cent of the PET bottles collected in Belgium,” says Plant Manager Mélanie Gregoire, adding: “We produce 4.5 t/h of flakes, but we can increase our output to 6 t/h. Filao is therefore ideally equipped for the future.” Krones Recycling will be present with its solutions at PRS Europe in Amsterdam and Chinaplas in Shenzhen. www.krones-recycling.com ONsite Boretech Hall 6 Booth G41 Krones Hall 10 Booth W21 Krones Booth G41 A PET bottle-to-bottle recycling plant in Taiwan, utilising similar pelletising and SSP technology as the upcoming facility in India. Boretech Booth A92"},{"@ID":16
"MATERIALS / RECYCLING PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net 14 PET packaging shows superior environmental performance, Brazilian report claims Life cycle assessment of PET bottles and liquid foods A comprehensive study and analysis of PET and other packaging materials claims that PET is the most environmentally friendly material available and is often very much more sustainable than aluminium, glass or steel. The report – “Lifecycle Assessment of PET Packaging for Liquid Foods” – looked at the entire value chain, from extraction of raw materials to recycling and including manufacturing, transportation, processing, end of life treatment and incidental pollution. The report was commissioned and produced by ABIPET, the Brazilian Association for the PET industry, which is obviously interested in promoting PET. However, the analysis was detailed, scrupulously researched and dispassionate, and subjected to independent review to internationallyrecognised standards. The methodology is clearly explained, open and transparent. While the study was exclusively focused on Brazil and primarily intended for use by its food and beverage sector, it has information and data that can be of use in other countries across the world. Higher performance in key areas The headline findings were that PET performs better than the alternative materials in six key areas: Climate change; Acidification; Land Occupation; Particulate Material; Ecotoxicity; and Water Consumption. The advantage in some areas is quite significant; PET’s potential for production of particulate materials, for example, is up to 98% less than that of glass and very nearly as much (97%) less than aluminium. Specific details are reproduced below. A further six areas were studied, which were: Ozone Depletion; Eutrophication (the excessive enrichment and stimulation of water, leading to algal blooms and overproduction of plant life); Human Toxicity; Photochemical Ozone Formation; Mineral Resources Depletion; and Fossil Fuels Depletion. Methodology The study used the new PET Packaging Life Cycle inventory, which was developed by teams at Brazil’s Food Technology Institute’s Packaging Technology Centre, which is linked to a government body, the State of São Paolo’s Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply. The inventory enabled an accurate comparison between types of packaging; the study was conducted by ACV Brasil, a firm that specialises in consulting and critical review services for life cycle assessments and circular economy study, as well as support for environmental labelling, software licensing and training. The study took several years to prepare and conduct. It required – and gained – the participation of leading players across the industry, including PET resin and packaging manufacturers, bottlers and distributers, plus distribution and marketing companies as well as producers like Amcor, CocaCola, Danone, Heineken, Indorama, PepsiCo and Cargill. A full list is given in the box-out. The life cycle assessment, when completed, was presented for critical review by experts in their field from major universities in Brazil, which helped to ensure that the results and conclusions were in accordance with the quality requirements of ABNT NBR ISO 14040: 2009 and 14040:2006 standards. The project broke new ground in the Brazilian food and beverage industry and broader environment, in terms of its breadth and technical content. It deliberately set out to bring scientific insight and rigour to bear on the entire environmental debate, as it relates to packaging. It now provides the whole market, from producers and supply chain all the way through to consumers, with the information necessary to genuinely informed debate. It means that decisions on environmental issues can be taken on technical and scientifically acceptable bases and helps the industry and market to move avoid mere guesswork and eliminate reliance on publications paid for by commercial interests and skewed towards promoting those interests."},{"@ID":56
"OUTER PLANET 54 PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net OUTER PLANET Schoeller Allibert and Coca-Cola Europacifi c Partners have developed a circular crate solution made from 97% recycled plastic From old tulip nets to a circular crate solution Schoeller Allibert, a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions, has teamed up with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) and recycler Healix to take a further step towards a circular economy and sustainable reusable packaging. Schoeller Allibert’s Material Innovation department has developed a material mixture that allows the production of beverage crates made from 97% recycled plastic. This development is estimated to save 64% CO2 emissions in crate production compared to crates made from virgin plastic. CCEP Netherlands, committed to reducing its reliance on virgin plastic, already sourced the majority of its plastic from recycled materials. Now, the company has taken an additional step by ensuring its iconic red beverage crates, designed for returnable glass bottles, are manufactured following circular economy principles. The glass bottles are cleaned and refilled in the Coca-Cola factory in Dongen, Brabant, before returning to the Dutch wholesale and hospitality. This goes for all the company’s brands in returnable glass, amongst which Fanta, Sprite and Fuze Tea. Schoeller Allibert’s Material Innovation department developed an advanced material mixture that enables the production of these crates with 97% recycled plastic. This breakthrough is estimated to reduce CO2 emissions by 64% compared to using virgin plastic. With beverage crates having an lifespan of up to 30 years— this initiative represents a significant long-term sustainability effort. “These crates have an average lifespan of 15 years, and it’s not uncommon to find them still in use after 20 to 30 years,” says Eva Amsterdam, Sustainability Manager at Coca-Cola European Partners. “However, if they do break down, they can now serve as input for new crates.” The recycled crates incorporate 85% old red beverage crates, including those from CCEP, and 15% plastic that is typically difficult to recycle. In this case, discarded tulip nets, collected and processed by Healix, have been transformed into valuable material for crate production. Schoeller Allibert has developed a recycling technology to integrate these challenging plastics into a durable and high-quality end product. “Although the majority of the recycled plastic utilised for the crates originates from general red recycling crates and not specifically from our crates, we have taken measures to ensure that the typical red remains discernible. This is achieved through a subtle ‘swirl’ effect in the colour. This reduces plastic waste during production.” states Julie De Bruyckere, Key Account Manager, Schoeller Allibert. The new recycled crates have been extensively tested at the Schoeller Allibert test centre in Hardenberg and found to be just as sturdy as the current ones. Marcel Alberts, founder of Healix, shares his enthusiasm about the collaboration: “It’s great to see how a large, international company like Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Netherlands is committed to sustainability and innovation and is looking for local support. By making new raw materials from discarded nets, we contribute to reducing plastic waste and creating valuable materials for new products that can last for years to come.” In 2024, the Dutch market gradually witnessed the introduction of 150,000 crates made from recycled plastic. Existing crates will continue to be in circulation until they are ready to be replaced by the new, recycled crates, as the transition progresses with each new crate purchase. The developed crate solution is currently being shortlisted in the Plastic Packaging Product of the Year category of the PRSE Plastics Recycling Awards Europe 2025. www.schoellerallibert.com www.cocacolaep.com www.healix.eco The recycled crates incorporate 85% old red beverage crates and 15% plastic that is typically difficult to recycle; in this case, discarded tulip nets (photo: CCEP)"},{"@ID":54
"MATERIALS / RECYCLING PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net 19 Mr Almack. A holistic touch is added by efforts to collaborate with local organisations to provide support at a municipal level that goes beyond waste collection, for example in the areas of health, education and entrepreneurship. “Since launching our fair-trade recycled plastic, we have become the world’s largest source of fairly traded, verified recycled plastic. And we have seen an average annual growth triple over the past six years. Last year we were at US$5 million, for 2024 we expect a turnover of US$15 million. As 58% of global plastics recycling is driven by the informal waste economy, the company is strengthening both its market position and the living conditions of informal waste workers.” More than 14,300 waste pickers in India are currently using the system, which also gives them access to fair wages, protective equipment and training on safety and waste separation, and the trend is rising - also on the customer side. The 15 brands currently participating include Garnier, The Body Shop, Yves Rocher, Corman and MAC, which are also working together to fulfil the demands of consumers and authorities for more sustainable packaging and at the same time drive forward their marketing campaigns. “The rapidly growing demand for packaging in India presents both major challenges and opportunities for plastics recycling,” Mr Almack continued. “As consumption increases, so does plastic waste, putting immense pressure on waste management systems. The recently passed Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2022, with its Extended Producer Responsibility mandate, requires the integration of recycled content percentages in the packaging industry. This policy change forces companies to track their plastic consumption and set up systems for waste collection and recycling. Meeting these requirements is a challenge for brands, especially those that rely on virgin plastics, but it also pushes the industry towards sustainable practices. We can support brands with ethical sourcing solutions that not only help companies comply, but also have a social impact by providing them with a way to achieve sustainability goals while supporting the informal recycling sector in India.” Where PFC’s journey is heading is shown by expansion to the Philippines, where plastic waste volumes and the informal waste sector are also high. Further countries are to follow, and the company is actively looking for investors in order to continuously expand its collection network and infrastructure. But how does the company deal with demand versus availability, and the virgin vs recyclate pricing policy? And what more needs to be done on the consumer side to increase recycling awareness? “We meet the challenges of fluctuating prices for recycling materials, which make it difficult to offer competitive prices without affecting the wages of waste collectors, by diversifying our customer portfolio, concluding long-term contracts and closely monitoring the market. Increased recycling awareness requires both educating the population about the value of recycled materials and recognising the role of waste collectors in the recycling chain. To this end, we cooperate with local organisations and run information campaigns via social media to establish plastic as a valuable resource. PFC also works with brands on campaigns to promote sustainable practices and fair trade in recycled plastic and to raise consumer awareness of responsible consumption. In our view, the mix of technology-based transparency, social justice endeavours and fair-trade principles is what sets the plastics recycling industry apart.” www.plasticsforchange.org Lots of valuable material: collection point for PET bottles Collection and sorting of PET bottles The centrepiece of Plastics For Change’s system is the intelligent app"},{"@ID":48
"PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net 46 PETbottles Beverage + Liquid Food Müller’s milk in Dubai chocolate style Many manufacturers want to participate in the hype surrounding Dubai chocolate and are launching their own products based on i t . The dai ry Alois Müller GmbH & Co. KG launched a special edition drink with the characteristic chocolatepistachio-sesame flavour under the Müllermilch brand. It was filled in 400ml or 421 g in a disposable bottle with a recycled content of 50%. The transparent bottle is fully labelled with a sleeve to match the theme. A white screw cap with tamperevident closure and retaining band completes the trendy drink. www.allesmuelleroderwas.de Eat Me! as a drinkable meal Euco GmbH from Hamburg, Germany, sel ls a balanced vanilla-flavoured drinkable meal under the brand name ‘Max Balance’ and the addition ‘Eat Me!’. The bott le is a non-waisted, smooth and white-coloured PET bottle of 500ml. The product is enriched with 13 vitamins and 13 minerals and contains a total of 35 g of protein. The bottle is decorated with a sleeve label in a colour that matches the variety. A colour-matching screw cap with a guarantee band closes the sufficiently large drinking opening. www.edeka.de Ahead Meal Drink in PET Many sma l l and young companies are looking for their niche in the market for drinkable meals. The German company ahead GmbH from Hamburg is trying to manufacture or develop products that contain less sugar while offering the same enjoyment potential. While such products were only available online a year or two ago, they are now l isted in some supermarkets. The 500 ml product is filled in a waisted, white bottle with a sleeve label and a screw cap with an adhesive sticker on the top. www.ahead-nutrition.com Coconut blossom syrup in a dispenser bottle Many consumers are trying to reduce their sugar consumption and at least partially replace sugar with other products. An alternative to this can be coconut blossom syrup, which also contains some additional substances such as potassium, zinc and magnesium. Rapunzel Naturkost GmbH from Legau in Germany sells 250g of the slightly caramel-flavoured syrup in a practical dispenser bottle under the ‘Rapunzel’ brand. The transparent bottle makes the product visible and two labels explain the product. The dispenser cap is fitted with a silicone valve and is protected against tampering with an adhesive sticker before it is opened for the first time. www.rapunzel.de"},{"@ID":28
"CAPS & CLOSURES 26 PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net Overcoming market challenges with quality and innovation San Benedetto started producing bottled water in 1956. Since then, it has grown to become Italy’s n°1 in the ‘total beverage’ sector and stands out as the only company in the industry with fully Italian capital. Mauro Pelosin, Technical Manager Closures Acqua Minerale San Benedetto, SpA, talked about his experience with Sacmi’s Continuous Compression Moulding (CCM) technology. “Our mission is all about quality, safety and innovation, which we pursue by constantly investing in better internal quality standards and optimising processes,” explains Mauro Pelosin. Over the years, San Benedetto has invested in technology, for example, installing Sacmi CCM compression presses for cap production. The recent tethered challenge comes to mind: “We were the first Italian company to launch the tethered cap, long before the standard came into force. However, technological upgrades are only a part of a wider approach, which involves detailed analysis of every stage of the process to boost efficiency and performance.” The Continuous Compression Moulding Machine (CCM) hydraulic rotary presses by Sacmi are specifically designed for beverage cap production. A continuous work cycle is carried out, during which the plastic material is fed by a plasticisation unit, cut into suitably sized pellets and then inserted inside the cavities. Compression moulding is a well-known technology worldwide. More than 45% of plastic beverage caps are produced through compression. Smart services: enabling data-driven decisions After years of investment in innovation, San Benedetto now takes up the challenge of process control by introducing new digital services codeveloped with Sacmi. These include the installation of sensors on the production lines via the Smart Pack system. “Doing so has allowed us to optimise recipes and settings. It has also enhanced process control by letting us monitor performance and plan proactive maintenance,” highlights Mr Pelosin. Another key component is Sacmi Smart Care, which involves sharing and analysing data from machines and processes. “We meet regularly with Sacmi technicians to analyse the ‘health status’ of the machines, identify any potential drift and plan maintenance. This approach lets us make data-driven decisions and optimise maintenance plans according to actual machine condition” explains Pelosin. “With the adoption of Sacmi HERE software, we constantly monitor plant performance indicators. HERE is an open system that connects not only Sacmi lines but other equipment such as presses, vision systems and assembly machines, interlinking them with specific modules, such as the one for barcode-based tracking,” continues Pelosin. “This system has allowed us to completely digitalise processes and reap huge advantages in terms of efficiency”. Towards ‘zero waste’: digitally powered sustainability Likewise, sustainability is digitally driven: “Getting the most from the data allows us to identify areas of improvement, monitor performance and plan activities, reducing both cost and waste. Further advantages include significantly lower environmental impact,” observes Pelosin. “For example, optimising the use of raw materials. The partnership with Sacmi - and the integrated technological and digital solutions it provides - is vital to a ‘zero waste’ approach”. San Benedetto’s investments in a technological-digital approach have enormous strategic value, as they deliver greater productivity, sustainability and the ability to respond to market needs proactively. www.sanbenedetto.it www.sacmi.com Mauro Pelosin, Technical Manager Closures Acqua Minerale San Benedetto, SpA"},{"@ID":19
"MATERIALS / RECYCLING PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net 17 Wedon’t focus on clients’ problems EXW RQ ƓQGLQJ VPDUW VROXWLRQV IRU WKHP yellow.agency Swiss-engineered Preform Systems At Otto Systems we focus on solutions for special applications in PET preform production. We provide you with the most economical answers to your needs. Our unique system concept is based on smart modularity, proven performance, IXOO LQWHJUDWLRQ DQG PD[LPXP ŴH[LELOLW\\ )URP LGHD WR RSHUDWLRQ 2WWR 6\\VWHPV JLYHV \\RX D GHFLVLYH FRPSHWLWLYH HGJH with your satisfaction as our guiding principle. Jump-start your PET preform production with us. RWWR V\\VWHPV FRP CHINAPLAS 2025 APRIL 15–18 0HHW XV LQ +DOO %RRWK . "},{"@ID":18
"MATERIALS / RECYCLING PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net 16 The PET 500ml also performed well: CO2 equivalent emissions were 28% less than 350ml aluminium and 92% less than 350ml glass; acidification was 60% lower than aluminium and 97% below glass. Soft drinks comparisons returned similar results. In this case, typical 2,000ml and 600ml PET bottles were compared with 350ml aluminium can and 250ml glass bottles. The 2l PET bottle was found to require 64% less water than aluminium cans during production and 88% less than glass. To put it the other way round, aluminium required three times as much water to produce than PET; glass requires over seven times as much. It was also found to contribute as much as 44% less to climate change than aluminium and 93% less than glass. In the case of disease-causing particulate material and ecotoxicity, PET was found to be much less harmful than aluminium or glass. The 600ml PET container almost matched the 2,000ml PET bottle’s performance against aluminium and glass. Finally, 900ml PET edible oil containers were compared with 900ml steel packages. The findings were much the same as for soft drinks and water: PET packaging is much less damaging to the environment, to health, to the land and to acidification. Production of steel uses 100 times as much water as PET. As noted previously, Brazil’s rate of post-consumer PET recycling is quite high by international standards, at 56.4%, according to the country’s latest PET Recycling Census. This leads to greater use of rPET in Brazil, leading to reduced demand for raw materials – all of which helps environmental performance. Compared to glass and aluminium, especially, recycled PET uses much less energy in manufacture. The leading users of rPET are preform and bottle manufacturers, who take nearly one-third of the total available. Non-food and beverage applications, ranging from textiles to industrial strapping, account for the rest. Conclusion The multi-year study found that PET is the best currently available material for food and beverage packaging, tion is greatly reduced. Although it is derived from petroleum products, its contributions to greenhouse gas emissions, acidification, water pollution and particulate emissions are much lower than other products. The report can be found at https://abipet.org.br/wp-content/ uploads/2024/10/Sumario-Executivoversao-fi nal-ingles.pdf Full list of corporate participants in the lifecycle study ADM, Alpek, Ambev, Amcor, Bunge, Cargill, Coca-Cola, Convenção Rj, Danone, Engepack, Femsa, Global Pet, Heineken, Imcopa, Indorama, Ldc, Mate Couro, Minalba, Pepsi, Petrópolis, Plastipak, Recofarma, Solar and Valgroup. compared to the leading competing materials of aluminium, glass and steel. It scores highly in terms of environmental, health, ecotoxicity, particulate and energy factors. Its hygiene, safety and mechanical resistance offer very high levels of product protection during handling and storage. Its lightness contributes to lower transportation costs and the fact that PET bottles are, generally, remanufactured rather than washed and reused means that water consumpWater packaging comparison Soft drink packaging comparison Edible oil packaging comparison"},{"@ID":40
"38 EVENT PREVIEW PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net EVENTpreview PRS Europe 2025 The Plastics Recycling Show Europe (PRS Europe) returns to the RAI Amsterdam on April 1-2, 2025. The latest trends in the plastics recycling sector will be explored in depth, providing a holistic view of the whole plastic recycling value chain and drawing together political leaders, major brands, recyclers and the plastics recycling and manufacturing industry. Speakers from major brands & politics have announced their participation. In addition to the exhibition floor a packed two-day programme of informative and thought-provoking sessions will take place again in two theatres. The programme includes core sessions on overcoming the challenges in EU plastic recycling, unlocking key legislative files for the sector such as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), and building synergies between mechanical and chemical recycling. Also covered in depth will be the market outlook as well as future challenges and trends in achieving recycled content goals. Interactive panel discussions moderated by European plastics recycling subject matter experts will examine the global roadmap for plastics recycling, strategies to scale up collection and sorting, traceability in recycled content, and the latest innovations in recycling technologies. Dedicated materials focus sessions will tackle the state-of-play in the recycling of PET, polyolefin films, PVC, HDPE, PP, PS and ELV & WEEE. PETplanet has selected some technological highlights which will be presented at the show. www.prseventeurope.com Clear and white opaque PET bottle-to-bottle recycling Sukano will introduce the plastic recycling industry to its new masterbatches and compounds, which support recycling and enable a higher recycled content. At their booth, visitors can discover how their products excel in real-world applications. With over 35 years of experience in packaging, Sukano is developing recyclable and circular material solutions that significantly reduce CO2 emissions in packaging applications. One pivotal step to advance the plastics recycling revolution and achieve circularity in plastics is to realise bottle-to-bottle recyclability for rPET. Sukano offers masterbatches for PET and recycled PET white opaque milk bottles. Sukano white opaque masterbatches enhance surface whiteness while maintaining opacity and light barrier properties for fresh and flavoured milk, extended shelf life (ESL), and UHT dairy PET bottles. They are suitable for monolayer or multilayer ISBM technology, says Sukano. The masterbatches were submitted for recycling trial simulations at PTI’s certified packaging performance testing labs, following the conditions specified by the European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP) protocol. The results proved that the masterbatches designed by Sukano maintain material properties, functionality, and production rates. The melt showed a stable white colour, and the light barrier integrity was confirmed even under extreme conditions. Sukano also enables the incorporation of rPET into bottles. When virgin PET is partially replaced with white opaque rPET (rPETo), the bottle surface whiteness drops. Sukano addresses this with tailored light protection and whiteness solutions for bottles using up to 50% rPETo. With expertise in clear rPET, rPETo, and customised solutions, Sukano helps converters and brand owners produce closed-loop recyclable white dairy bottles. www.sukano.com Sukano Booth G118"},{"@ID":6
"PETcontents 4 PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net 03/2025 EDITOUR 10 “Four out of six PET bottles on the market come from our factories” - Family business for preforms and bottles of all kinds 12 New directions for an established stationery manufacturer - Plastic packaging for personal care and cosmetics MATERIALS / RECYCLING 14 Life cycle assessment of PET bottles and liquid foods - PET packaging shows superior environ- mental performance, Brazilian report claims 18 App-based recycling model from India - A circular economy through digitalisation, inclusion and fair wages PREFORM PRODUCTION 20 Beyond the surface - Mastering preform heating for rPET success BOTTLE MAKING 22 Emerging tech revolutionising European PET bottle manufacturing - Observing new technology trends in PET packaging BOTTLING / FILLING 24 Production capacities increase of 300% - Improved production process at Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited CAPS / CLOSURES 26 Overcoming market challenges with quality and innovation 31 High speed, low energy costs - Setting a new PAC-E in packaging productivity 32 The used-machinery market for cap production: Trends and challenges MARKET SURVEY 27 Suppliers of caps & cap inspection PACKAGING / PALLETISING 34 Addressing the challenges of large container handling - Sipa’s Robby Rack advanced 6-axis robot configuration EVENT REVIEW 36 “Turning back is not an option, but moving forward requires a lot of support and protection” - Petcore Annual Conference 2025 EVENT PREVIEW 38 PRS Europe 2025 preview 41 Chinaplas 2025 preview, part 2 OUTER PLANET 54 From old tulip nets to a circular crate solution - Schoeller Allibert and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners have developed a circular crate solution made from 97% recycled plastic BUYER’S GUIDE 48 Get listed! INSIDE TRACK 3 Editorial 4 Contents 6 News 45 On site 46 PET bottles for beverage + liquid food 47 Patents Page 24 Page 22 Page 12 EDITOUR"},{"@ID":34
"CAPS & CLOSURES 32 PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net The used-machinery market for cap production: Trends and challenges by Isidro Gutiérrez, MachinePoint Consultant The cap manufacturing sector has undergone significant changes in recent years, driven by technological advancements and environmental regulations. Increasing European regulations and the need to optimise costs have reshaped the industry’s dynamics, particularly in the used machinery market. Based on MachinePoint’s experience, having actively participated in the buying and selling of these machines, there is a clear preference for rotary compression and injection moulding technologies, with Sacmi and Husky being the most dominant brands in the market. Dominant machinery brands in the used cap production Sacmi leads the demand with approximately 50% of sales, making it the preferred choice for second-hand cap equipment buyers due to its rotary compression technology, which enables efficient large-scale cap production. Sacmi’s machinery has proven to be highly reliable, making it the top choice in this market. Husky, on the other hand, accounts for about 25% of the used cap machinery market, dominating the injection moulding segment for beverage caps. Its injection moulding technology remains one of the most sought-after in the second-hand market due to its fast and precise production capabilities. Other brands such as Netstal, Engel, and Plastic Metal have a smaller but still significant market share, ranging between 5% and 10% of the used cap machinery market. The used-machinery market has been affected by changes in cap formats. Machines producing cap formats older than 10 years are increasingly difficult to sell, as companies aim to optimise plastic usage and reduce production costs. As formats evolve, compatibility with current standards becomes crucial. In the industry, a standard cap must be compatible with different types of bottles. Impact of European regulations One of the key factors affecting the market in Europe is the European Directive 2019/204, which, since 2024, mandates that all plastic bottles up to 3 l in the EU must have tethered caps. The goal of this regulation is to reduce plastic pollution and facilitate packaging recycling. To comply with this regulation, many companies have opted to modify their existing machines rather than replace them, provided the investment is cost-effective. However, in some cases, adapting older machines is not viable, leading to an increase in the supply of used machinery in the market. Technological evolution has also played a key role in format changes. To reduce costs and minimise environmental impact, the industry has focused on manufacturing lighter caps, using less plastic, and consequently reducing energy consumption during production. This trend not only represents significant material savings for companies but also contributes to sustainability by lowering the amount of plastic waste generated."},{"@ID":32
"MARKET SURVEY 30 PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net Cap inspection systems Company name Intravis GmbH Postal address: Rotter Bruch 26a, 52068 Aachen, Germany Web site address | E-Mail | Telephone: www.intravis.com | [email protected] | +49 241 9126 0 Contact name | Function: Mr Marius Pötting | Product Manager Caps and Closures Inspection system CapWatcher Compact CapWatcher Q-Line CapWatcher SC (Specialty Closures) CapWatcher B-Line CapWatcher FC Inspection speed 40 cps / 2,400 cpm / 144,000 cph 80 cps / 4,800 cpm / 288,000 cph 80 cps / 4,800 cpm / 288,000 cph 40 cps / 2,400 cpm / 144,000 cph 20 caps on filled bottles/s / 1,200bpm / 72,000 bph Inspection method An inline inspection system that combines sorting and inspection in one system and with the smallest possible footprint. 4 cameras for outer inspection, 1 camera for inner inspection, 1 optional camera for topwall/ print inspection, 1 camera for cavity number reading, contactless microhole inspection All measurements with calibrated absolute values and highest accuracy 3 cameras for inner insp. (sealing elements, thread, TE band), 4 cameras for outer insp., 1 camera for topwall/print insp., contactless microhole insp., temp. meas., 1 camera for cavity no. reading, sensor to detect concavity/convexity of closures Fully customised insp. systems that are tailored to the needs and wishes of the customers Modular insp. system; 1 camera for inner inspection, 4 cameras for outer inspection, 1 camera for liner inspection/cavity no. reading Splash-proofed quality control of the filled end product; 5 cameras for outer inspection, the application angle and the TE band; 2 cameras for outer verification of fill level and closure position Inspected objects Standard one-piece beverage closures, standard two-piece beverage closures, tethered caps Tethered caps, standard one-piece bev. closures, standard two-piece bev. closures (*CapWatcher Q-Line Slitter available for slitted closures, behind slitting machine) Tethered caps, standard one-and twopiece bev. closures, carton fitment, flip-top, sports cap, push-pull, 3-piece closures, screw top cap, spout & dosing, beauty & home-care, food & bev., pharma, automotive, inserts, cutters, lids, dustcover Standard one-piece bev. closures, standard two-piece bev. closures, tethered caps (without tethered features) Standard one-piece bev. closures, standard two-piece bev. closures, metal closures (without meas. of application angle) Inspected parameters: -Inner inspection Measurement of inner & outer seal cone diameter, thread inspection, tamper-evident band inspection, black specks, contamination, colour deviation, inner seal cone, outer seal cone, constant distance between inner and outer seal cone, short shots, flashes, liner, laser engraving, QR-codes, promotion codes, cavity number reading Meas. of inner seal cone diameter, thread insp., TE band insp., black specks, contamination, colour deviation, inner & outer seal cone, plug seal, constant distance and homogeneity between inner/outer seal cone, short shots, flashes, liner, protruding features, laser engraving, QR-/promotion codes, cavity no. reading Meas. of inner & outer seal cone diameter, thread insp., TE band insp., black specks, contamination, colour deviation, inner/outer seal cone, plug seal, constant distance between inner & outer seal cone, homogeneity between inner/outer seal cone, short shots, flashes, liner, protruding features, laser engraving, QR-/promotion codes, cavity no. reading Meas. of inner seal cone diameter, inner closure diameter, ovality, thread insp., TE band insp., black specks, contamination, colour deviation, inner/ outer seal cone, short shots, flashes, liner, cavity no. reading -Outer inspection Measurement of outer closure diameter, measurement of outer closure height, absence and damage of the tamper-evident band, colour deviation, black specks, contamination, ovality, vertical/ horizontal/ radial flashes, open and closed short shots, colour streaks, flow lines at the injection gate, colour of the injection gate, cracks at the injection gate, prints on the head plate, tethered features Meas. of outer closure diameter and height, long gate insp., slit quality for slitted closures, absence/damage of the TE band, colour deviation, black specks, contamination, ovality, short shots, flashes, angel hairs, colour streaks, flow lines/ cracks at injection gate, colour of injection gate, prints on head plate, tethered features, temp. meas. Meas. of outer closure diameter & height, long gate insp., slit quality for slitted closures, absence/damage of TE band, colour deviation, black specks, contamination, ovality, short shots, flashes, angel hairs, colour streaks, flow lines/colour/cracks at inj. gate, prints on head plate, tethered features, temp. meas. Meas. of outer closure diameter & height, colour deviation, black specks, contamination, absence and damage of TE band, short shots, flashes Meas. of application angle, TE band inspec., verification of fill level, insp. for presence of closure, elevated closure, crooked/ bent closure, domed closure (Bullnose) -Geometry High precision measurement of closure diameter and ovality, high precision measurement of the inner & outer seal cone diameter and ovality, high precision measurement of the outer closure height, missing or damaged tamper-evident band, height of the tamper-evident band High precision meas. of closure diameter and ovality, high precision meas. of inner & outer seal cone diameter and ovality, high precision meas. of outer closure height, missing or damaged TE band, height of the TE band, flap insp., vertical/horizontal/radial long shots, open and closed short shots, temp. meas. of every single closure High precision meas. of diameter and ovality (closure&seal cone), high precision meas. of closure height, assembly faults, missing components, damaged components, damaged seal cone, vertical/horizontal/radial long shots, open & closed short shots, height of TE band, missing/damaged TE band, damaged/ turned up flaps, damaged pull tabs, missing/damaged quality seal, temp. meas. of every single closure Diameter and ovality (closure, seal cone), closure height, damaged seal cone, missing or damaged TE band Missing closure, missing or damaged TE band, domed closure (Bullnose) -Cavity number reading Unique, robust cavity reading with machinelearning algorithms for outstanding cavity recognition. This enables: assignment of microholes to individual cavities, wear or defect detection in the tool at an early stage, every defective closure will be assigned to its real cavity in the mould Robust cavity reading with special illumination techn., cap-oriented imaging and machine-learning algorithms for cavity recognition. This enables the creation of real-time heat maps of moulds; problems in the temp. control of individual cavities or entire heating and cooling circuits can be detected and eliminated; microholes can be assigned to individual cavities; wear or defects in the tool can be detected at early stage; every defective closure will be assigned to its real cavity in the mould Robust cavity reading with machinelearning algorithms for outstanding cavity recognition. This enables wear/ defects in the tool can be detected at an early stage; every defective closure will be assigned to its real cavity in the mould -Microhole inspection Contactless microhole inspection - no need to dip into the closure. Precise assignment of microholes to individual cavities providing the best possible production analysis. Contactless microhole insp. - no need to dip into the closure musthave for tethered caps with inserts Contactless microhole inspec. - no need to dip into the closure -Additional inspection criteria for inserts Missing components, weight, label, l*a*b values, barrier/label insp., tactile meas. Further inspection options AI-based inspection of tethered features Tethered & TE band features Filler and capper tracking (objects can be traced back to specific tool of filler and capper) Colour Camera: Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Installation: Stand-alone (offline) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Inline Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Softwarefeatures: Yes, additional, configurable second ejector e.g. for specific cavities, individual inspection criteria (e.g. for objects with high reject rates); IntraVisualizer & IntraRecommender. Data base connection; reject rate monitoring; product monitoring (upgradeable with IntraVisualizer); integrated control of up- and downstream equipment (one HMI for complete line); integrated trend statistics with pre-warning; industry 4.0 ready (IntraVisualizer & IntraRecommender) Data base connection; reject rate monitoring; product monitoring (upgradeable with IntraVisualizer); integrated control of up- and downstream equip. (one HMI for the Intravis sorter, insp. and packaging system / integration into line of customer possible); integrated trend statistics with pre-warning; industry 4.0 ready (IntraVisualizer & IntraRecommender) Data base connection; reject rate monitoring (via filler capper tracking, ejector available); product monitoring (upgradeable with IntraVisualizer); integrated control of up- and downstream equip. (ejector for filled bottles); integrated trend statistics with pre-warning; industry 4.0 ready (IntraVisualizer & IntraRecommender)"},{"@ID":50
"42 EVENT PREVIEW PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net Efficient drying solutions for PET recycling As the PET recycling industry continues to grow, efficient drying technologies are essential for ensuring high-quality recycled materials. At Chinaplas and PRSE Amsterdam, Eisbär Trockentechnik provides the opportunity to learn more about its GDS material dryers, designed specifically for PET recycling applications. With processing capacities ranging from 250 to 4,500kg/h, the GDS dryers offer scalable solutions for various production needs. These advanced drying systems utilise intelligent heat exchangers and waste heat recovery that are deigned to optimise energy efficiency, to reduce operational costs and to maintain the desired drying performance. Eisbär’s technology is claimed to ensure that moisture levels in recycled PET are minimised, improving material properties for high-quality end products. By leveraging smart energy management and innovative drying processes, GDS dryers are intended to contribute to a more sustainable and cost-effective PET recycling operation. www.eisbaer.at Eisbär Trockentechnik Hall 10 Booth A53 Post-consumer recycled plastics go food-grade Starlinger & Co GmbH will present its technologies for food-safe recycled PET and polyolefins at Chinaplas and PRS Europe this year. When it comes to turning post-consumer plastic scrap into high-end recycled materials that meet the high food safety criteria, Starlinger recycling technology offers well-proven technical solutions. The company says that its RecoStar PET art PET bottle-to-bottle recycling systems produce rPET with high purity and ultra-low levels of acetaldehyde, ethylene glycol and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) while featuring low energy consumption and a compact footprint. The Starlinger PET recycling process has been approved by national and international authorities such as FDA and EFSA for its food safety. With the versatile RecoStar dynamic product line, Starlinger has also tackled post-consumer HDPE recycling for food-grade applications. High-performance cascade degassing in the C-VAC module, combined with ozone-enhanced air flushing in the PCUplus at the end of the recycling process ensure good decontamination results and food-safety for food packaging made from HDPE such as bottles and caps. www.starlinger.com Starlinger Hall 10 Booth A41 New developments in moulds and packaging solutions GDXL, a well-known provider of professional PET packaging engineering solutions, will be showcasing its latest commercialised developments in moulds and packaging, including conversion solutions for the 26/22 neck for inject ion moulding and blowing m/c, low-pressure blowing, and mould design for bottle without the need for labels. Additionally, the company will showcase its full range of high-precision mould products and specialised packaging applications, such as multilayer co-injection and containers with integrally moulded handles. GDXL was founded in 1993 in Foshan, China. The company has been dedicated to PET packaging for the food and beverage industry for over 30 years. Today, GDXL’s production premises have a construction area of 66,000m2 and it is evolving into a digital factory with application of big data running through its whole production system. Annual production capacities are 30,000 cavities of preform moulds, 30,000 cavities of blow moulds and 3,000 cavities of closure moulds respectively. GDXL says that it has a strong focus on innovation, with continuous investment in research and development leading to over 500 patents, including more than 100 invention patents. In recent years, the company has expanded its presence in overseas markets, particularly in South Asia. It has established partnerships with global brands, bottlers, and packaging suppliers, serving over 600 customers in more than 40 countries and regions. www.gdxl.com A set of cavity parts for preform mould, demonstrating the conversion between 1881 and 2622 neck finish standards GDXL Hall 7 Booth F31 Starlinger Booth G10 Eisbär Booth D14"},{"@ID":49
"PATENTS www.verpackungspatente.de PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net 47 Bottle for carbonated drinks Intern. Patent No. WO 2024 / 160493 A1 Applicant: KHS GmbH, Dortmund (DE) Application date: 9.1.2024 Simply constructed and therefore inexpensive to manufacture plastic container for holding carbonated drinks. The floor area absorbs the pressure differences through deformation. Bottle with deformation section Disclosure no. DE 102022134017 A1 Applicant: Krones AG, Neutraubling (DE) Application date: 20.12.2022 A plastic bottle is provided with an elastically deformable area in the area under the shoulder of the bottle in the longitudinal direction in order to be able to absorb forces that occur due to volume changes. Multilayer bottle Intern. Patent No. WO 2023 / 018963 A1 Applicant: PepsiCo. Inc., Purchase (US) Application date: 12.8.2022 A bottle intended for hot filling consists of a multi-layer material that separates from each other after filling and subsequent cooling. The innermost layer detaches from the others and thus reduces the filling volume. The outer shape of the bottle remains unchanged. Optimised plastic container Disclosure no. DE 102023102122 A1 Applicant: KHS GmbH, Dortmund (DE) Application date: 30.1.2023 Plastic container with optimised base shape. The mould and process have been adapted so that the container can be manufactured more easily and costeffectively. Plastic bottle with natural cork Intern. Patent No. WO 2024 / 182638 A1 Applicant: Verre Vert Inc., South San Francisco (US) Application date: 29.2.2024 Lightweight plastic bottle that is nevertheless sufficiently stable for use with a natural or plastic cork. Double container Europ. Patent No. EP 4414278 A1 Applicant: Kyoraku Co. Ltd, Kyoto (JP) Application date: 29.9.2022 A second preform is inserted into one preform. This is used to produce a container with an inner container. Once the product has been used, the empty inner container can simply be removed from the outer container. PETpatents"},{"@ID":23
"PREFORM PRODUCTION PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net 21 Simultaneous measurement of both internal and external temperature profiles ensures accurate heat absorption by the preform, which is crucial when calibrating IR ovens under varying environmental conditions, at different production sites, or when processing different resin types. This capability is also valuable for troubleshooting oven performance issues. As shown in Figure 1, the temperature differential between the internal and external surfaces was within 5°C, with the corresponding through-thickness temperature gradient calculated and represented in the contour plot. Hence, the oven settings can be validated and the corresponding temperature profile, both internally and externally, was quantified for the oven setup which achieves a good bottle. In conclusion, the preform temperature profile is the cumulative result of three distinct heating mechanisms, governed by complex thermal dynamics. A single-point temperature measurement on the external surface of the preform is insufficient for comprehensive optimisation of the heating process. By simultaneously measuring both internal and external preform temperatures, the complete temperature distribution can be accurately quantified and recorded. This data becomes invaluable for proactively identifying and correcting environmental or material variations, ensuring consistent production quality and operational efficiency. www.bmt-ni.com 2025 Figure 1: Preform temperature profile through thickness using Thermoscan"},{"@ID":37
"PACKAGING / PALLETISING PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net 35"},{"@ID":22
"PREFORM PRODUCTION PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net 20 Mastering preform heating for rPET success Beyond the surface based on an article by David McKelvey, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation, and Jude Cameron, Project Lead at BMT The use of recycled PET (rPET) in injection stretch blow moulding (ISBM) has been steadily increasing. However, batch-to-batch variations in material quality and colour create production challenges, often leading to defects, downtime, and the need for constant adjustments. Temperature plays a critical role in ensuring bottle quality, yet traditional monitoring methods fall short. BMT’s Thermoscan addresses this by precisely measuring both internal and external preform temperatures, enabling better process control and consistency. While most ISBM systems monitor input variables, such as oven temperature, the key determinant of success is the actual temperature profile of the preform - both along its length and through its wall thickness. The infrared (IR) heating process, central to ISBM, presents inherent complexities due to the interplay of multiple heat transfer mechanisms: Radiation: Heat transfer through the preform sidewall via IR lamps. Convection: Cooling effects from airflow within the oven. Conduction: Heat transfer through the preform wall thickness. During the heating process, the goal is to transfer heat energy to the core of the preform efficiently, rather than merely heating its outer surface. IR heating achieves this by enabling attainment of higher temperatures within shorter timescales, thereby expanding the process window. However, this approach results in a more fluctuating temperature profile through the preform sidewall - one that cannot be adequately assessed through external surface measurements alone. For instance, it is well-established that the internal temperature of the preform should exceed that of the outer surface, as the inner layer undergoes greater stretching during the ISBM process. When the temperature difference between the inner and outer surfaces exceeds 5 °C, it can lead to excessive shearing within the preform wall, increasing the risk of defects in the final product. Compounding this difficulty is the influence of ambient temperature within the production environment, which can fluctuate significantly across seasons. For example, during winter, preforms begin heating from a much lower ambient temperature compared to summer, necessitating adjustments to the process. Consequently, many facilities implement season-specific blow moulding recipes to ensure consistent product quality. A standard ISBM oven setup highlights the complexity of precise preform heating, with multiple lamp banks in both penetration and distribution sections, each containing several IR lamps. Operators can individually adjust the power of each lamp, as well as set the overall oven power and target temperature. Despite this extensive control, the majority of ISBM machines only provide a single-point temperature measurement for the preform, leaving the actual temperature profile along its length and through its wall thickness unknown. This scenario places a significant burden on process technicians, who must navigate over one hundred adjustable parameters to achieve consistent bottle quality. The lack of direct measurement of the preform’s internal temperature profile further complicates this task, emphasising the need for more advanced measurements to address the challenges posed by rPET variability. BMT says that its Thermoscan provides precise measurement of both the internal and external temperature profiles of a preform. During the process, the preform is heated within an IR oven, ejected, and subsequently transferred to the Thermoscan for analysis. Figure 1 presents a sample dataset where the preform setpoint was 120 °C; however, the actual measured temperature distribution deviated from this target and exhibited spatial variation along the preform length. Specifically, the peak internal temperature recorded was 116 °C at 15 mm from the neck support ring, whereas the internal temperature at the midpoint of the preform was measured at 110 °C - substantially lower than the intended 120 °C setpoint. This non-uniform temperature distribution is intentionally engineered to achieve the desired material distribution in the final bottle. The actual temperature profile results from the power settings of individual IR lamps, which are typically not directly monitored. By capturing and analysing the preform’s temperature profile, manufacturers can conduct in-depth evaluations and optimise IR heating processes, particularly for critical applications such as aseptic filling or preforms with thick sidewalls."},{"@ID":30
"MARKET SURVEY 28 PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net Cap producer Company name Uner Plastik AS Bericap Holding GmbH Has Plastik San Tic. A.S. Postal address Telephone number Web site address Contact name Function Direct telephone number E-Mail Gebze Plastikciler OSB 1.cad 11.sok No.3 41400 Kocaeli/Turkiye +90 262 751 3400 www.uner.com.tr Cumhur Filik Sales and Marketing Director +90 530 265 0663 [email protected] Kirchstrasse 5, 55257 Budenheim, Germany +49 6139 2929 0 www.bericap.com Mr Thomas Schmidt Group Marketing Director +49 6139 2929 0 [email protected] Firuzkoy Bulvari No 50 34325 Avcilar Istanbul, Turkey +90 212 695 50 00 www.hasplastik.com Mr Murat Aslan Commercial Department +90 212 695 50 00 [email protected] Product Range One-piece closures for beverages (Yes /No - If Yes, please specify material) Yes, HDPE/LDPE/PP with recyclable content available Yes, HDPE Yes, HDPE Two-piece closures for beverages (with liner) (Yes / No - If Yes, please specify material No Yes, PP with EVA liner or HDPE with various liner types Yes, HOD type only Applications relevant to PET containers (e.g. CSD, water, juice, beer, etc.) Beverages, CSD, bottled and 5G water, juice, dairy, edible oil, food, beer, industrial segments, etc. hotfill/aseptic/isotonic app. available Beverage: CSD, water, dairy, juices, energy drinks, teas, syrups, beer / Food: Ketchup, mayonnaise, spreadables, edible oil, soy & vinegar CSD, water, juice, energy drinks, beer, dairy etc. Neck finishes available as standard 28mm PCO-1810/1881, 29/25, 26/22, 30/25, 38mm 2/3 start hotfill/coldfill, 33mm 2 start hotfill, 29/21 1 or 2 pcs + 32/28 1 or 2 pcs snap-on for edible oil, 48/41, 55mm 5G, handles for 38mm+48mm+55mm or lean/lateral handles for edible oil bottles 26mm: PET 26/22 GME 30.28, GME 30.37, GME 30.38, GME 30.40, PET 26/21 GME 30.32; 28mm: PCO 1810, PCO 1881; 29mm: PET 29/25 GME 30.26, PET 29/21 GME 30.33; 30mm: PET 30/25 GME 30.21; 33mm: PET 33/12 GME 30.30, PET 32/27 GME 30.36, PET 32/15; 38mm: PET 37/32 GME 30.29, PET 37/16, PET 37/15, PET 38/33 GME 30.25; 48mm: GME 30.43 Tethered 26mm (GME 30.40), tethered 29-25mm, tethered 1881, 26mm (25-22), 29-25mm, 30-25mm, 38mm, 48mm, 1810, 1881, HOD 55mm ( also non-standard solutions upon request) Printed caps available (Yes / No) Yes, printing available in up to 4 colours Yes (digital and tampon print) Yes Colour matching service (Yes / No) Yes, any colour can be matched with 99% accuracy Yes Yes Child-proof closures (Yes /No) No Yes No Push-Pull / sports caps (Yes / No) Yes Yes Yes Special comments/special closures (e.g. tethered cap solution, flipt-tops, drinking spouts, lightest cap for 28mm PCO, 26mm for water etc including non-beverage closures...) Design, improvement, and production of caps with our own Uner moulds. Tethered, light-weighted, digital printed, spouted caps, and many others - ClipAside tethered cap introduced for all relevant neck finishes across Europe - Mono-material sportscap range with special TE function (Biarritz and Monet) - Bericap Falcon: Light-weight SnapCap for PET 26/21 necks - Extensive mono-material closure range for edible oil Tethered caps (26 GME 30.40, 1881, 29-25), tethered ready caps (GME30.40, 1881, 29-25), flip top caps, lightest 1881 caps for high CSD Special patented closures or marketing features All closures designed and patented worldwide by Uner Plastik AS Silicone-free non-drip valve for sport caps and flip top closures HOD caps for 5 gallon, laser marking inside caps (alphanumeric codes, artwork etc), engraved logo designs product development caps & closures design high cavitation moulds multi-component moulds closure production systems after sales service +43 5572 7272-0 | [email protected] | www.z-moulds.com z NEXT SHOW PLÁSTICO BRASIL São Paulo, Mar 24-28 Booth E083 INSPIRING PARTNER"},{"@ID":46
"EVENT PREVIEW PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net 44 Solutions for post-consumer and post-industrial recycling Gneuss, a global leader in plastics recycling and processing headquartered in Germany, will focus on OMNI Recycling Systems, Rotary Filtration Systems and MRS Extruders - technologies that are claimed to set standards in efficiency, sustainability and cost-effectiveness in plastics processing. OMNI recycling systems The OMNI recycling systems are suitable for post-consumer and post-industrial recycling. They are designed to process a wide range of plastics such as polyester (PET), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) into highquality end products and are used worldwide. Decontamination of postconsumer waste for direct food contact products is a key application for OMNI systems. Typical applications include besides PET bottles also HDPE bottle caps, PS packaging or PP yoghurt pots. The decontamination efficiency of Gneuss technology is confirmed by US Food and Drug Administration approvals, EFSA compliance and numerous local approvals. In addition, OMNI recycling systems are claimed to have good odour reduction and degassing properties for materials such as PA, SAN and other polymers, which improves the quality of the recyclate. The systems are designed in a compact structure and offer fully automatic control of system components and flexibility to handle fluctuating feed materials. They make efficient use of the energy generated during extrusion for downstream processes, thus reducing energy consumption, operating costs and carbon footprint, says Gneuss. MRS multiscrew extruder Based on conventional singlescrew technology, the MRS extruder is equipped with a unique multi-screw section for efficient degassing that meets food contact requirements. A simple, robust vacuum system is claimed to enable direct processing of rPET into high quality end products without pre-drying. The patented multiscrew section with counter-rotating satellite screws increases the surface exchange of the polymer melt and provides a degassing surface that is larger than other extrusion systems. As a result, the company states, impurities are thoroughly removed and the recycled pellets have good optical and mechanical properties, making them suitable for use in food applications. Filtration technologies and retrofit solutions At Chinaplas, Gneuss Filtration Technology will also present its patented Rotary Filtration Systems. These continuous systems are characterised by a filter disc with circular screen cavities. The special feature: the screen is changed on the side of the filter disc that is not in the melt channel. This allows the production process to continue uninterrupted and trouble-free, even at high process pressures and with highly variable post-consumer contamination levels, says Gneuss. The RSFgenius filter model also offers automatic high-pressure segment rinsing, which is claimed to clean the contaminated screens precisely and efficiently. The segments of the screen surface are continuously cleaned with a defined, minimal proportion of filtered melt, reducing backflushing losses to a minimum. Thanks to their compact design, Gneuss filtration systems can usually be retrofitted to existing extrusion lines. www.gneuss.com Gneuss Hall 10 Booth A07 Gneuss OMNImax recycling system with 3C rotary feeder, MRS extruder and RSFgenius filtration system BEYOND THE HORIZON PROCESS SOLUTIONS FOR POLYMER RECYCLING AND SOLID STATE POLYMER UPGRADING Polymetrix, a Sanlian Buhler Company, provides process technology including EPCM services for the polymer recycling and manufacturing industry. Leading supplier of rPET systems and integrated rPET plants for single line capacities up to 70’000 tons per year. www.polymetrix.com www.slhpcn.com"},{"@ID":43
"41 EVENT PREVIEW PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net EVENTpreview Chinaplas 2025 - preview part 2 Chinaplas 2025 will take place at Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center, PR China, on April 15-18, 2025. Concurrent events will reflect a focus on sustainability and innovation. The programme will bring together industry leaders and experts to address the pressing challenges and explore emerging opportunities in the industry. These initiatives underscore the imperative for businesses to enhance cost-effectiveness through high-performance solutions, paving the way for a more sustainable future. Sustainable Plastic Packaging Forum In response to the challenge of sustainability of plastic packaging, Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd., the organiser of Chinaplas, will join forces with the China Packaging Federation to launch the innovative business networking forum during the show period, which will bring together representatives from authoritative packaging organisations at home and abroad as well as experts from leading enterprises to discuss the sustainability of plastic packaging from an international perspective and release the latest solutions. Meanwhile, in the Buyer Talk session, packaging managers of renowned brands will share their concerns about materials and processes, and discuss their difficulties and pain points in innovative packaging research and development, which realises efficient docking between the upstream and downstream of the industry chain in the easy interaction among brands, products, materials and equipment suppliers. “The Plastics Circularity Journey” Production Line Live Demo The plastic recycling industry is another focus of Chinaplas 2025. “The Plastics Circularity Journey” Production Line Live Demo, themed around the circular economy of plastics, will comprehensively showcase the high-value utilisation and advanced technology of plastic recycling through live demonstration. These two lines will highlight the themes of “Closed-loop bottle-to-bottle recycling” and “Turning aaste into treasure”, presenting the entire process of plastic recycling to the audience. The “Circularity: PET food-grade recycling” production line live demonstration will include six processes: material sorting, extrusion granulation, metal detector, underwater pelletising, solid-state polymerisation, and injection-blow moulding. These processes will be provided by Meyer Optoelectronics, Aceretech, Sesotec, Polycut, and BPET. This is the first time the complete PET same-grade recycling production process has been showcased at the exhibition. www.chinaplasonline.com Hall 2 / 2G31 Made in China for China The internationally operating Maag Group, headquartered in Oberglatt, Switzerland, has been stepping up its localisation strategy in China. Maag China has continuously increased its business activities and sales. The company operates in an area of 7,500m2, the assembly shop at the site in Jiading, a district of Shanghai, has recently doubled in size. Maag China offers its customers production, sales and various services with over 100 employees. Products are engineered in Switzerland or Germany, adapted to the local needs in China and – cost savingly – manufactured and assembled in the company’s Shanghai factory. Maag has already been producing GA series extrusion pumps, Baoli strand pelletisers, and Zhuli underwater pelletisers in China. The C-USG, a similarly adapted version of the proven M-USG underwater strand pelletising system is expanding the market-specific portfolio. The original German design forms the basis for this new version. While some key components are supplied from Germany, the majority of parts come from local production. In the local grinding centres in Shanghai (East China) and Guangzhou (South China), the company grind cutting rotors, cutting blades and die plates – even those from other manufacturers. www.maag.cn www.maag.com Maag Group Hall 10 Booth D05"},{"@ID":53
"EDITOUR PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net 12 Plastic packaging for personal care and cosmetics New directions for an established stationery manufacturer by Kay Barton Success stories can sometimes be unplanned or triggered by an external impulse. This is what happened to Prima Pens & Packaging, which was previously just called Prima Pens and was a wellknown brand for all kinds of writing utensils. You may have guessed: it didn’t stay that way, on the contrary. A good 20 years ago, the company with its production site east of Cairo began to develop a new business area, which centred on packaging for non-food items. And all because a wellknown household goods manufacturer had the idea that the company, with its expertise in plastics processing for pens, could also be a good partner in the field of plastic packaging. They were right. Interview with Prima Pens & Packaging // September 9, 2024 We met: Mr Tarek Zayed, General Manager A good 60 kilometres north-east of Cairo city lies the town of Badr, in whose industrial zone we had arranged to meet GM Tarek Zayed, more precisely in the Prima Pens & Packaging factory. The company, which started out in 1993 as a stationery factory and manufacturer of school supplies under the name ‘Yosran Company’, is firmly in family hands. Tarek Zayed, who studied history and then took several courses in business administration, has been part of the management team since 2013, following in his father’s footsteps. Around four years ago, the company changed its name to Prima Pens and the addition of ‘Packaging’ also followed in order to raise awareness of this area of the company, which is often still unknown to many brand connoisseurs. “We started our business with school supplies such as pens,” recalled Mr Zayed, with whom we were sitting in the meeting room. The Prima brand is still a leading manufacturer in this area today. “In 2003, my father received a surprising enquiry from Henkel, who asked him if he could blow mould PE and PP bottles for them and if he would be prepared to invest in the appropriate equipment. Of course, we had experience in injection moulding due to our plastic processing for pens, but the topic was new to us. In the end, we agreed, purchased a Taiwanese Parker EBM machine and got started in 2004. Over the course of the next ten years, the business with the household portfolio ran parallel to the stationery business. However, there was no reason for us to expand further, as the stationery business was booming. But then L’Oréal came knocking on our door.” The cosmetics giant, which had recently opened a plant in Egypt, was looking for a partner to manufacture a special fliptop cap, but was apparently not very impressed with the technical setup and applications when it visited the plant, and so the topic was initially taken off the table again. At the time, Prima Pens & Packaging had around 50 injection moulding machines for stationery products. “At the end of 2014, however, L’Oréal contacted us again about the feasibility of producing two different bottles for filling a hair care product and hair dye in plastic bottles and we agreed,” explained Mr Zayed. Production continued to pick up, and in 2015, bottles were added for Reckitt Benckiser. L’Oréal also needed more bottles as well as caps. In 2017, the converter started producing PE shampoo bottles for L’Oréal’s Elvive brand on a 4-cavity machine. “After a year and a half, they asked us for a chat. They wanted to General Manager Tarek Zayed with L’Oréal PET bottle on the ASB-70DHP EDITOUR Injection moulding area for caps"},{"@ID":31
"MARKET SURVEY 29 PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net Cap inspection systems Company name IMD Ltd. Gulf Packaging System Co (3P GG) Sacmi Imola S.A. P&S Technology Co., Ltd Postal address Telephone number Web site address Contact name Function Direct telephone no. E-Mail Industriestrasse 37A 2555 Bruegg, Switzerland +41 32 366 80 66 www.imdvista.ch Mr Martin Gerber Sales Director - CSO +41 32 366 80 66 [email protected] Post box 20266, Jeddah 21455, KSA +966 12 636 00 99 www.3p-gulf.com Mr Mohammed Najmuddin VP - Operations +966 12 6360099 ext 105 [email protected] Via Selice Prov. Le 17/A 40026 Imola (Bo), Italy +39 0542 607111 www.sacmi.com Mr Stefano Severi Sales Specialist Manager +39 335 659 4236 [email protected] 261 Daeji-ro, Suji-gu, Yongin-si, Gyenggi-do, 16882, Korea +82-31-763-5621 www.pnstech.co.kr +82-31-763-5621 [email protected] Inspection system IMDvista 100% closure inspection systems Camera vision inspection CHS - inspection machines combining vacuum conveyor belts and vision systems CVS - vision systems for existing customer’s lines or integrate into SACMI machines Cap closure inspection Inspection speed 80cps / 4,800cpm / 288,000cph 2,400 caps/min Up to 4500 caps/min Up to 6,000 caps/min Max 2,200 cpm Inspection method High resolution colour cameras Inline Proprietary CVS software suite featuring both conventional vision algorithms and artificial intelligence algorithms Vision Inspected objects Any closure geometry and design Beverage closures Flat top caps, tethered caps, sport caps, multi components caps Aluminium / steel / plastic Inspected parameters: -Inner inspection Short shots, flash, colour defects, contamination, ovality, sealing lip defects, deformation, inside diameter Yes Inspection of tamper evident band, side walls, thread, plug seal, bottom. Gasket inspection (applies to 2-pieces caps), plug-seal (applies to 1-piece caps) Inspection criteria: voids or excess of material, black speck, contaminations, colour variations, colour streaks, wrong colours (in LAB colour space), roundness, dimensional controls, special checkpoint specifically designed to control the perfect moulding of wings (voids, flashes, black specks and others) Ovality: ± 0.2mm, black particle: Φ0.3mm, pinhole: Φ 0.5mm -Outer inspection Contamination outside wall, height meas., colour defects, deformation, outside flash, ovality, diameter Yes Inspection of the sidewall through proprietary 360-3D algorithms, decoration inspection (both bottom and sidewall, if present), inspection of the engraving, the cut of tamper evident band (applies to both straight or tethered cuts): presence of the cut, ends alignment, thickness of the bridges, others. Inspection of the knurls, bulging Black particle: Φ 0.5mm, print: ≥30 gray level & ≥1.0mm offset -Geometry Any type Yes Measurement of inner and outer diameter, diameter of the plug seal (applies to 1-piece caps). Measurement of cap height, of diameters along the body (the user can define both the point where the measurement is applied and the number of measurements to be carried out) -Cavity number reading Automated 100% cavity inpspection by IMDvista Neuron (generic AI tool) Yes Yes, through proprietary AI algorithms Save images by number with mould number reading function -Microhole inspection Available / high-voltage Spark system Yes Yes, using proprietary spark tester device with patented compensation of the voltage based on the air humidity, up to 4000 pcs/min -Additional inspection criteria for inserts Top plate inspection for colour, print and contamination N/A AI-based algorithms Inspected diameter range : 12-53 mm; inspected height range 4-37mm Further inspection options New calibrated and validated system solution; AI inspection for tethered closure types - no false rejects, Inline measurements with absolute values due to system calibration Correlation of defects by mould or tool number, in injection-moulded caps, this function is performed by reading cavity numbers engraves inside the cap using proprietary OCR-AI algorithms. In rotary machines, the correlation is carried out using electrical signals, benefiting from a robust and time-efficient method for associating inspection information with the tool. This method can be applied to all rotary machines including those that do not mould or print a number inside the cap. Cavity recognition, print colour, print damage Colour Camera: All colour cameras Yes Yes, up to 5M pixels Yes Installation: Stand-alone (offline) Available No Yes, thanks to Sacmi know how as leader in manufacturing lines for caps, we can provide state-of-the-art turn-key solutions complete with all the necessary ancillaries for a correct feeding, cooling and boxing Yes Inline Available Yes Yes, to any existing or new machine (assembly machines, compression moulding machines, injection moulding machines, slitting/folding machines, lining machines, etc) Yes Softwarefeatures: AI tool - IMDvista Neuron; IMDvista Portal - Connects your IMD vision systems Software portal for process monitoring and control CVS software supports OPC/UA, MODBUS, and HTTP protocols for sharing statistical data with MES or supervisors. It provides a set of intuitive web pages displaying statistics, line performance, alarms, measurements, and trends throughout the production day or a specific period of time."},{"@ID":42
"40 EVENT PREVIEW PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net 40 EVENT PREVIEW Sustainable solutions with certified resins for EU’s Circular Economy EcoBlue Limited, a Thai landbased recycler, is driving the circular economy by producing high-quality rPET, rHDPE, and rPP from postconsumer and industrial waste. By using advanced mechanical recycling, EcoBlue provides sustainable resins for diverse industries such as packaging, consumer goods, automotive, textiles, and home furnishings. From its state-of-the-art recycling plant with annual capacity of 60,000 t, EcoBlue offers high quality, food grade rPET, rHDPE and rPP resins. Their holistic approach to sustainability is claimed to go beyond recycling and includes several key initiatives: Ocean-Bound Plastics (OBP) Program – Collecting plastic waste near coastlines to prevent marine pollution and support coastal communities. People First Initiative – Ensuring fair wages, ethical labour practices, and financial stability for waste collectors, thus strengthening the recycling supply chain. Digital Traceability via Blockchain – Provides option of full transparency in recycling process, allowing brands to verify material origins and mitigate greenwashing concerns EcoBlue’s RecyClass Recycling Process Certification ensures compliance with stringent European standards, reinforcing its commitment to quality and sustainability. As Europe continues to progress towards its circular economy goals, EcoBlue remains a trusted partner, delivering compliant, high-performance recycled resins to global markets. www.ecoblue.co.th EcoBlue Booth H118"},{"@ID":24
"BOTTLE MAKING 22 PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net Observing new technology trends in PET packaging Emerging tech revolutionising European PET bottle manufacturing The European PET bottle manufacturing market is set for significant growth, projected to reach a value of US$44.3 million by 2029, representing a 3.87% increase. As global priorities evolve and environmental concerns grow, sectors across the manufacturing industry are adapting to emerging technologies and sustainable practices to remain competitive. By 2030, 60% of all manufacturing production, including PET bottle manufacturing, are expected to adopt sustainable practices, demonstrating the industry’s commitment to environmental preservation. But what other innovations are driving this thriving industry forward? Welding Alloys, a Cambrigde, UKbased company specialising in industrial deposition welding, manufactures pipe solutions for pneumatic material handling systems for plastic pellets or powders. These are designed to improve the reliability and efficiency of material transport and ensure a seamless material flow throughout the PET bottle production process. In addition, the company continuously identifies and tests innovative technological approaches in the various markets and under individual conditions, including in the PET packaging industry. The use of 3D printing 3D printing is being utilised in both PET and recycled PET bottle manufacturing. Companies like Unilever are employing 3D printers to create precise moulds for plastic bottles using rigid 10k resin. This resin enables the production of moulds with smooth surface finishes that can withstand internal pressure and temperature. Mario Cordero, Group Innovation Director at Welding Alloys, said: “3D printing is becoming an increasingly common solution to speed up production processes at a more favourable and affordable cost. This technology allows businesses to create items layer by layer with CAD support. Through the help of this tool, manufacturers can assemble complex designs that would otherwise be challenging and expensive to produce with more manual, conventional methods. In this respect, 3D printing opens the door to customisations, too. Because every manufactured item is based on a digital blueprint, each product can be easily tweaked without the need for retooling. This is particularly useful for the healthcare and medical sectors, where splints, supports, and health devices can be customised to suit a specific patient’s diagnosis. That said, the versatility of 3D printing can be extended to a wide range of businesses in the manufacturing industry, including aerospace, and consumer goods.” Adopting robotics and cobots Cobots are being developed by Proco Machinery, for example, to improve efficiency and profitability, reduce manufacturing costs and reduce the reliance on manual labour required to palletise trays for plastic bottles. For PET filling, Motion Controls Robotics has developed a new mobile robot that streamlines bottle handling operations, including loading and unloading, coating, leak testing, case packing and palletising. Modern industrial robots are equipped with sensors and AI, which can proactively identify potential issues and execute precise movements with minimal delay. By sharing workspaces with humans, cobots enhance workplace safety. They can perform dangerous tasks, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries, while also freeing up human workers to focus on more complex and strategic activities. Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) in PET bottle manufacturing The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) offers significant potential to transform PET bottle manufacturing. By interconnecting machines, devices, and sensors across the production line, enabling real-time data collection, analysis, and control. Key benefits of IIoT in PET bottle production include increased efficiency by optimising production processes, reducing down-"},{"@ID":36,"#text":"PACKAGING / PALLETISING PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net 34 Sipa’s Robby Rack advanced 6-axis robot confi guration Addressing the challenges of large container handling Sipa, a specialist in packaging solutions, has refined its Robby Rack system to address the challenges of handling large containers, particularly 3- and 5-gallon bottles. Originally introduced in 2000, Robby Rack has evolved to accommodate diverse bottle shapes – including round, triangular, and rectangular – as well as different rack materials, ensuring seamless palletisation and de-palletisation. Sipa provides comprehensive bottling line solutions, extending beyond preform and bottle design and production to encompass the entire downstream process. This includes both traditional and robotic palletising and de-palletising, as well as versatile cartoning systems for diverse applications. In the specific area of large-size bottles, the company features its Robby Rack palletising system. Sipa has been addressing the challenges of large container handling for over two decades with its Robby Rack system, a robotic handling solution that is claimed to offer adaptability and precision. Since 2000, the company has been developing the Robby Rack further, accumulating experience in handling a diverse range of 3 and 5-gallon bottle types - from the traditional round to the more complex triangular and rectangular shapes. This experience extends to various rack types, both metal and plastic, and includes seamless palletisation. To enhance efficiency, Sipa has incorporated AI-powered control systems, including container presence verification and automated bottle rejection, ensuring operational consistency and quality. A key feature of Robby Rack, which integrates seamlessly with major automation providers such as Fanuc and Kuka, resides in its flexibility allowing for precise, customised movements tailored to specific operational needs. The design of the system’s gripping head ensures safe handling without damaging the containers. For increased throughput, multiple heads can be mounted, allowing for the simultaneous handling of multiple containers (from 1 to 10 during the racking of full 5-gallon bottles). As packaging needs evolve, Robby Rack features a modular gripping system, allowing for easy and fast interchangeability of grippers if needed. In these operations, precision, reliability, and consistency are critical. Robby Rack addresses these needs while safety measures are also integral to the design, with automatic shutdown functions preventing damage in the event of rack defects or unforeseen issues. The system’s flexibility extends beyond simple palletising or de-palletising. It can be used in either application, or even in combined cycles to simultaneously empty and fill racks. For applications requiring specialised handling, self-adjusting grippers can be supplied to accommodate unique or varying rack sizes. Specifically, the Robby system for large-sized bottles offers a range of robotised configurations: Robby Rack P for palletising bottles into various rack types, Robby Rack P/Pallet for palletising bottles onto pallets or rack-pallet combinations, Robby Rack D for de-palletising bottles from racks, and Robby Rack D-P for a combined de-palletising of empty bottles and palletising of full bottles within the same system. The Robby system is available in two key models: Robby PAL: This range covers a wide spectrum of container moving solutions, using row gripping head or layer gripping head customising the solution accordingly to the product to be handled. Robby Rack: This is the specialised solution for palletising large-size bottles on racks or pallets. Sipa says that Robby PAL finds applications across a broad range of industries, handling packs, cartons, crates, shrink-packs, bottles, jars, pallets, interlayer materials, and both full and empty loose containers. www.sipasolutions.com"},{"@ID":2,"#text":"vbr-voѲࢼomvĸ1ol SFL v_b[v |_; 0om7-ub;v bm |_; ;oѲࢼom o= Ѳbm;-u 0ѲoloѲ7bm]Ķ o@;ubm] l-bll Y;b0bѲb| 1ol0bm;7 b|_ bm1u;-v;7 o|r|. 1omvoѲb7-|;7 |;1_moѲo] b|_ |_; Ѳo;v| |o|-Ѳ 1ov| o= om;uv_br Ŏ$ ŏ om |_; l-uh;|Ķ 7;vb]m;7 |o or;u-|; b|_ Ǝ |o Ѵ 0Ѳobm] 1-bࢼ;v -m7 |o u;-1_ - l-bll ruo71ࢼb| o= ƏĶƍƍƍ 0oѲ;vń_ouń1-b|Ķ b|_ |_; Ѳo;v| ;;u ;m;u] 1omvlrࢼomĸ $_; u;=;u;m1; =ou |_; $ r-1h-]bm] l-uh;|Ķ ml-|1_;7 bm |_; bm7v|uĶ v_ov ml;uov |;1_moѲo]b1-Ѳ 7;;Ѳorl;m|v bm |;ulv o= vr;;7Ķ t-Ѳb|Ķ ;uv-ࢼѲb|Ķ 1-r-1b|Ķ ;m;u] ;L1b;m1 -m7 o;u-ѲѲ vv|-bm-0bѲb|ĸ | bm1ourou-|;v _b]_Ѳ bmmo-ࢼ; 7b]b|-Ѳ voѲࢼomv |o C| bm |_; lov| bvbom-u \"l-u| -1|ouĸ ѲѲ |_;v; mbt; =;-|u;vĶ |o];|_;u b|_ |_; Ѳo l-bm|;m-m1; 1ov|vĶ l-h; \"\r |uѲ - ļ0;v| bm 1Ѳ-vvĽ -lom] Ѳbm;-u vv|;lv. FLEXIBLE packaging and extreme stretching capabilities SUPERIOR productivity & performance EASY to use and to maintain ECO energy saving & sustainability focused TCO SAFE & CLEAN no hydraulics, operator and food safety LINEAR BLOWMOULDER: SIMPLY THE BEST IN CLASS."},{"@ID":12,"#text":"EDITOUR PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net 10 Family business for preforms and bottles of all kinds “Four out of six PET bottles on the market come from our factories” by Kay Barton The Aquah Group has several production sites in 6th of October City. What once started small has become one of the most important players in the country for more than four decades: the Aquah family, which gave the company its name, now has 13 sites in Egypt, primarily in the preforming and bottle blow moulding sector for all beverage, food and non-food segments, including medical packaging. In conversation with both CEO Karim Salah Al Aquah and VP Ahmed Salah Al Aquah, sons of the original founder Mr Salah Al Aquah, we not only visited various plants in the surrounding area, but above all learnt what it means to be guided by inspiration. Interview with The Aquah Group September 8, 2024 We met: Mr Karim Salah Al Aquah, CEO Mr Ahmed Salah Al Aquah, VP Karim Salah Al Aquah’s spacious office, where we sat down for the interview, is located on the top floor of the Aquah Group’s headquarters and offers a view of the industrial area from its window front. Diagonally opposite, at the other end of the room, hangs a document that actually started it all, as Karim explained to us, long before the Aquah Group itself existed, which today processes 60,000 t of PET. “My father is a chemical engineer and had a scholarship in Japan, where he attended a Plastics Technical Training course at the Osaka Municipal Technical Research Institute in 1979. There he was involved in the birth of the first PET preform production on a single-stage machine. He has always been fascinated by the possibilities of PET processing,” said Mr Al Aquah. This led to the founding of the Aquah Group in 1981, initially as a pure machine and product trading platform, the Egyptian Company for Industrial Suppliers (ECIS). “Over the years, we have helped shape interesting projects,” said the CEO. “For example, we hold patents for several injection and blow moulds in the Middle East and have developed a 340 g preform for foldable dispenser bottles with high IV together with Siapi. We designed the PepsiCo Aquafina bottle, which Siapi then produced with us.” In 2000, the father founded the Polypet division, which is also where we were at the meeting and in which 3,500 t/a of PET are produced into over 80 million preforms and bottles for a wide range of applications. This was followed in 2006 by the Egyptian Company for Agricultural Packaging (ECAP), specialising in large-volume PET containers for mineral water with around 30 million units per year and 500 million small-volume bottles for mineral water and edible oil. In the same year, the Egyptian Company for Fibers & Plastics (ECFP) was also founded, specialising in preforms for dairy products, detergents, edible oils, mineral water and soft drinks, both for domestic sales and exports, with a consumption of around 10,000 t/a of PET. Finally, Polytech for Plastics and Chemicals also started in 2006, specialising in large PET preforms, bottles and jars for the mineral water and food industry. “Our plants are located in various strategic locations on the outskirts of the capital Cairo,” said Mr Ahmed Salah Al Aquah, explaining the strategic setup. “Here in 6th of October City we mainly deal with preforms and dairy bottle production, in the 10th of Ramadan City we make preforms, pharmaceutical bottles and also produce plastic crates and pallets, another business segment in our group. Preforms and bottles for CSDs, detergents and pharmaceuticals are produced in Al Obour. In Al Sadat we take care of all bottle blowing related operations and in El Sokhna we have our supply chain management. All in all, four out of six PET bottles on the market come from us.” CEO Karim Salah Al Aquah next to a Husky HyPET HPP5e+ 300 line EDITOUR CEO Karim Salah Al Aquah next to his father’s certificate from the Technical Institute in Osaka"},{"@ID":27,"#text":"BOTTLING / FILLING 25 PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 of-the-art KHS technology is helping us to successfully pursue this objective.” Less plastic use thanks to lightweighting Savings in resources are also being made by consumption of less material for primary packaging. Thanks to proven KHS stretch blow moulding technology, high-quality lightweight PET containers are now manufactured using up to 10 to 15% less raw material. Gwanetsa mentions a further major criterion with respect to sustainability: the long service life of the machines. “We’re factoring in the new NRET PET line for the next 20 years,” says the Schweppes expert. The longer the bottler operates a line, the lower its ecological footprint throughout its entire life cycle. Bradley Naicker, KHS sales manager for South Africa, reports on one special challenge faced in the course of this particular project. As the amount of room available at the Schweppes production site in Harare was extremely limited and the new system had to be installed in a small area, the KHS experts adapted the machinery to fit the available space. The line was thus installed in an L shape instead of the usual rectangle – in record time. Just six weeks after installation, the first saleable product ran off the belt – thanks to the good cooperation between KHS’ and SZL’s project teams. Individual palletising requests Special customer requirements also needed to be met in the robot palletising section. As the PET bottles are produced in certain special formats, the bottler uses specific pallets that, like the containers, do not correspond to the norm. “We were able to adapt the robot palletiser to pack the Shrink packer with field-proven economy: the modular Innopack PSP Advanced packaging machine can process up to 14,400 packs per hour in the high-capacity range. respective SKUs through individual robot programming and thus achieve an optimum result,” Naicker explains. Naicker happily looks back on what has been achieved here. “We’ve exceeded expectations regarding production capacities, economy and the use of resources. SZL is now bottling more beverages of a better quality at a lower cost and with a smaller carbon footprint.” www.khs.com"},{"@ID":35,"#text":"CAPS & CLOSURES 33 PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net Cap weight adjustment translates into reduced raw material usage, helping to lower the carbon footprint associated with production and transportation. Geographical markets and demand for used machinery The used-machinery market for cap production has seen a decline in demand in Europe, as existing machines are adapted to current regulations. Despite this decline, Europe remains the continent with the largest supply of used cap machines. However, demand continues to grow in other regions, particularly in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, where regulations are less stringent, and companies seek cost-effective equipment. The demand for cap production machinery in 2024 has shown a transformation in the global industrial landscape. India remains the largest market, but with a significant decrease compared to previous years, suggesting a potential slowdown in investment in new machinery or greater consolidation of local manufacturers. The Middle East maintains steady demand, reinforcing the regions and Asia’s importance as growth hubs. In Latin America, Brazil, and Mexico stand out as key markets, driven by industry modernisation and increased consumption of bottled beverages. Meanwhile, Nigeria represents the highest demand in Africa, reflecting the growth of the region’s industrial infrastructure. These changes indicate a market shift, where growth is no longer concentrated exclusively in industrialised economies but is expanding to emerging markets with evolving needs. International trade shows play a fundamental role in the cap machinery industry, serving as strategic platforms where manufacturers, distributors, and buyers can interact, discover the latest innovations, and identify new business opportunities. In a globalised market, these events allow companies not only to showcase their technology but also to understand the specific needs of each region and adapt their offerings accordingly. Events such as Chinaplas in China and Gulfood Manufacturing in Dubai have proven to be key meeting points for the industry, particularly in the second-hand machinery sector. The high attendance of buyers from Asia, the Middle East, and Africa at these trade fairs reflects the growing interest in costeffective and efficient solutions for cap production. In these emerging markets, where investment in new machinery may be limited, used machinery presents a viable alternative for cost optimisation without compromising quality. www.machinepoint.com The disassembly of a Sacmi cap machine"},{"@ID":3,"#text":"No.03 2025 www.petpla.net D 51178; ISSN: 1438-9452 PETplanet is read in 159 countries Suppliers of caps & cap inspection systems MARKETsurvey M A G A Z I N E F O R B O T T L E R S A N D B O T T L E - M A K E R S I N T H E A M E R I C A S , A S I A , E U R O P E A N D A L L A R O U N D T H E P L A N E T 17 . 03 . 25 Page 38 EDITOUR Page 10 Page 27 Page 41"},{"@ID":13,"#text":"EDITOUR PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net 11 On average, the group is growing by 5% annually. A special feature is the objective to invest around US$10 million annually in continuous expansion. A total of 750 employees work at the sites on a total area of 400,000m2, of which around two thirds are dedicated to production and one third to warehousing. In addition to the Egyptian market, the products are exported to the Middle East and the MENA region, including seven African countries. US exports also take place from time to time. For preforming, the group relies on 15 Husky HyPET HPP 300 and 500 systems of different model generations with cavities ranging from 72 to 144. The preform range goes from 8 g to 360 g for large containers and includes all common types. The CSD segment accounts for around 40% of the entire business, followed by water with 30%. The remainder is accounted for by all other segments. A special product that is also produced here is the PET can with an aluminium lid, which is shown to us in one part of the plant tour. RECYCLING SOLUTIONS HIGH PERFORMANCE CLEANING ADDITIVES & SUPPORT How can your recycled product meet permanently increasing demands? With the CHT range of high performance process solutions with environmental relief for the wet cleaning and recycling process. We support you directly on site and ensure your quality controls in our laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment. Thus, your strong position in the growing market is confirmed day by day. More about us at www.cht.com Karim Salah Al Aquah went on to explain: “We are currently selling our preforms even better for export, which ensures higher profits. In our view, we currently have an excess demand for preforms due to the recurring inflation that occurred in the Egyptian market.” www.aquahgroup.com Mr Al Aquah at a KHS InnoPET blow moulding line for dairy PET bottles"}]}}
