PETpla.net Insider 10 / 2014

NEWS 9 PET planet insider Vol. 15 No. 10/14 www.petpla.net US demand for caps and closures to exceed USD11 billion in 2018 US demand for caps and closures is projected to advance 4% per year to USD11.1 billion in 2018, with unit demand exceeding 300 billion. Gains will be driven by an acceleration in container unit growth relative to that of the 2008-2013 period, the continued popularity of single serv- ing containers, and greater use of costlier product types, such as dispensing and child-resistant closures (CRCs). Preventing faster growth will be the maturity of several large beverage applications and competition from closureless packaging options such as aluminium cans, most stand- up pouches, blister packs and peelable lidding. These and other trends are presented in Caps & Closures, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based market research firm. Beverages are the single largest cap and closure market, representing 33% of total value demand and 54% of total units in 2013. Pharmaceuticals, the second largest cap and closure market in value terms, will see the fastest growth through 2018, aided by the expansion of older segments of the population and the need to comply with government regulations and industry standards. Plastic caps and closures, which comprised 81% of unit demand in 2013, will post unit and value advances in line with the overall averages through 2018. The outlook for plas- tic closures will be constrained by the already high penetra- tion of plastic containers in most markets and a lack of new large volume applications. Dispensing closures will enjoy the fastest growth based on convenience and functionality. Metal cap and closure demand is expected to rise 2.4% per year through 2018. Despite ongoing losses due to inroads by plastic closures and the resurgence of aluminium cans in the beer market, units will increase modestly based on greater use of roll-on closures with wine and opportuni- ties for screw and lug closures with ready-to-drink beverages such as iced tea and coffee. www.freedoniagroup.com Octal becomes member in the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) Octal is taking steps toward their goal of increasing vis- ibility within the PET packaging industry through its recent membership in the National Association for PET Container Resources (Napcor). Founded in 1987, Napcor is a trade association for the PET packaging industry that advocates for the use of recy- cling and re-use of PET packaging, promoting the features that make it an environmentally sustainable packaging material. Octal views the membership in Napcor as a way to become involved with other PET industry leaders, collabo- rating to find new ways to expand PET’s competitiveness. Through a combined effort of leaders in the PET pack- aging industry, the implementation of innovative ideas and recycling practices will have a positive impact on the future of PET resin and sheets for clear rigid packaging. www.napcor.com/PET/index.html www.octal.com Full range of automatic labelling machines on display at Pack Expo 2014 The company P.E. USA will present six different types of labelling machine at the upcoming Pack Expo 2014 in Chicago. The Compact model, a pressure sensitive linear label- ling machine, is suitable for those with space restrictions. This labeling machine is characterised by the absence of safety doors, thus reducing overall dimensions. A high-tech optical barrier system is said to guarentee safety to opera- tors. The labelling machine for low production speeds, the Modular Plus 540 model, features three labelling stations installed on the peninsula, claimed maximum accessibil- ity to operators. The company will also show the labelling machine Modular Top 1120 for the front and back appli- cation of labells combined with the Maya model, a linear sleeve labell applicator for Bi-Pack promotional packag- ing and the Modular Plus 810 labeling machine with Ergo Seal cachet applicator. Also on display is the made-in-USA Roll-Line model which consists of a roll-fed linear labelling machine. www.pelabellers.it Al Ahlia Gulf Line achieves 20% energy savings with Sidel Al Ahlia Gulf Line, which is the licensed bottler and dis- tributor of Coca-Cola brands in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman, has announced savings of 20% in energy after upgrading its water production line with solutions from Sidel Services. Al Ahlia made use of Sidel’s Eco Booster ser- vice, which provides measurement, advice and continuous improvement of Sidel production equipment. Improvement in the performance of its blow moulder enabled a reduction in energy consumption, the company said. Al Ahlia is ISO 14001:2004 (environmental management system) certified and has set what it describes as ambitious plans to reduce its carbon footprint and energy consumption, in line with gov- ernment ecological initiatives. It started operations at its Al Ain Plant in 1990 and now produces Arwa Water, as well as bottling and distributing Coca-Cola brands including Fanta and Sprite. The plant uses two Sidel SBO8 Universal blow moulders for CSD production, along with a PET water line fitted with a Combi SBO 20 blow moulder, Eurotronica filler and Rollquatro labeller. www.sidel.com