PETpla.net Insider 12 / 2012

MATERIAL / RECYCLING 15 PET planet insider Vol. 13 No. 12/12 www.petpla.net Arto claims that PET in Europe is associated with mature markets, with overcapacity and low demand growth. The pre-recession growth for PET packaging markets is unlikely to return. Thus growth opportunities are generated through new innovative applications. In particular in the area of social (easy to use, smaller pack sizes), environmental (light weight- ing and recycling) and health (func- tional and enhanced drinks - vitamins, proteins, minerals) and especially by substitution of alternative materials for packaging – such as carton, metal, cans, glasses and amongst plastics. PET versatility has offered competitive advantages to many niche markets and is now the material of choice. In addition to the markets already supplied, there is progress through enhanced performance PET materi- als, PET processing equipment, filling equipment, additives and container design. Through permanent product innovation and timely market anticipa- tion PET is without frontiers. Novapet examples for such new applications being: PET bottles for long shelf-life milk Dual oven-able trays for ready meal Unique customised high transpar- ent pieces Big containers for water cooling units, PET bottles with metal cans, coloured transparent brand bottles and flasks, customised packaging for products requiring a hot fill and/ or pasteurisation process. “New solutions of light barrier in concentrates” Fortun Leza, Technical Director of Novapet – continued in the quest for new PET products in his presentation. Fortun Leza PET in long life milk bottles is a good example of PET’s capability to penetrate competitively in packag- ing sensitive products and replace traditional packaging materials such as cardboard, HDPE, both multilay- ers. Mono-PET or dairy grade resin is being used with the integration of pig- ments and active components - right from the polymerisation phase. The characteristics of Novapet LUZ (trade name of the material) are transpar- ency/translucency, specific UV-VIS barrier, coloured solutions (except white) as a result of the specific light barrier. Perfect dispersion and uni- formity is achieved and guaranteed – for products with a specific sensitivity, products for extended shelf life and photosensitive products. Leza compared various standard PET products versus Novapet Luz – proving the reduction of light transmis- sion (%) at the respective wavelength (nm). Another new resin being the Nova- pet DCU for long shelf life, sensitive products – with characteristics for light weighting and total light barrier - appli- cable to monolayer and multilayer. With these materials Novapet managed to maintain a leadership in PET bottles for long life milk. Summary Novapet undoubtedly succeeded in organising the Chips & Grapes conference for industry profession- als and thus delivered to the audi- ence up-dated information, but they also managed to strengthen their own image in the market. New applica- tions – as proposed by Miguel A. Arto – and innovations and new solutions – as presented by Fortun Leza – may indeed be future strategies for Euro- pean producers in general. – as we view Europe’s anticipated develop- ment and future. Novapet has already travelled along this road: approximately 65% of sales and turnover are in speciali- ties such as diversified grades, extra performance, application oriented. Approximately 35% is in so-called commodities. For the professional audience the Chips & Grapes con- ference was informative and also inspired both creativity and pleasure. CCT Creative Competence Technology GmbH Idsteiner Strasse 74 D-65527 Niedernhausen, Germany r.steinmetz@cct-systems.com www.cct-systems.com CCTsystems ® -40 Cav. Mold ≥ 160 to Clamping force CCTsystems ® -60 Cav. Mold ≥ 240 to Clamping force PET Molds Design and Patents Developments PET Systems All Closure types with CCTsystem®- BPT Best Performance Technology Closure molds Closure Molds Closure Systems