PETpla.net Insider 11 / 2014

TRADESHOW REVIEW 28 PET planet insider Vol. 15 No. 11/14 www.petpla.net David González, CEO of Novapet Conference delegates represented the whole spectrum of the PET indus- try: converters, bottlers, brand owners - almost all of them from Spain. Apparently the topic of integration is significant for each of them, espe- cially as growth in the PET market is Europe has ended - except perhaps in niche markets. Presentations Blow moulded bottles, market trends and opportunities for PET John Nash, director of AMI in the UK, spoke on the current status of the European PET markets. He pointed out some familiar and perhaps wor- rying trends in certain product areas, notably CSD, water, juice and nectars and still drinks. He went on to talk about potential measures to address these trends, such as technical developments of lightweighting and thin-walling, developments with recycled R-PET or bio-sourced and bio-degradable PLA. He compared PET with other materi- als, in so doing making special men- tion of the milk and milk drinks sector where there are forecasts of imminent growth in PET at the expense of car- tons. John Nash, Director of AMI in the UK John Nash’s final rallying call – addressed to suppliers of mate- rial (and machines) – was a plea for cooperation through the value chain: ”Help brand owners to innovate their products and you will increase your business“. The message was certainly well received – especially by the promi- nent milk producers present in the audience. From polymerisation to container Jose Antonio Ramos, Head of Packaging Division, also picked up on the topic of integration. “Produc- tion of PET resin is the first and most important link to the delivery of the container for the final client. You need to understand the finished bottle to develop your material.” ”What is PET?” asked Jose Anto- nio Ramos, who began his talk with a reference to Leonardo da Vinci, the role model for “ideas, culture and strategy.” He discussed chemical for- mulae for PET, about quantities, about the – so to speak – almost magical characteristics of PET as a material. He highlighted what he consid- ered to be the key concerns of the PET industry: reduction of weight in bottles – energy savings in process – increase in strengthening capacity – improvements in the technical behav- iours of the bottles – improvement in thermal resistance – barrier effects – introduction of completely new resins for new markets. Participants of Chips & Grapes 2014 enjoy the good weather