PETpla.net Insider 11 / 2015

MOULD MAKING 45 PET planet insider Vol. 16 No. 11/15 -*5 RTGHQTO UVGTKNK\CVKQP KP VJG +PPQ2'6 $NQƂNN 1RVKOWO NQY IGTO EQPFKVKQPU HTQO VJG RTGHQTO VQ VJG ƂNNKPI XCNXG Guards against all types of intrusion Q Minimum use of H 2 O 2 media Q 2QUKVKQPGF KP VJG JGCVKPI RTQEGUU HQT GZEGNNGPV GHƂEKGPE[ Q 2TGHQTO CPF DQVVNG EQPXG[KPI RTQVGEVGF WR VQ VJG ƂNNKPI XCNXG Learn more at www.khs.com or scan the QR code. is where GDXL’s new plant is being developed. The company’s intention is to embark on a gradual relocation to the new site from its present prem- ises, beginning in October 2015. The new building, even though it is still at the skeleton construction stage, is already impressive and is visually reminiscent of a cruise liner. I am struck by the large, open spaces featuring plenty of glass which, at some point in the future, will provide a cleverly devised link between the production and office areas. One external wall of the build- ing incorporates plans for waterfalls between the floors; the extensive area around the building will be laid out like a park. Adjacent to the area is a neatly laid-out housing devel- opment for employees; some of the dwellings are already occupied. All in all, based on this idea, GDXL envisages an ecological and economic construction project where the intention is not only to pick up on recycling ideas but also to create a small microcosm offering quality of life for the workforce. Solar systems installed on the building and a waste and water recycling system are just some of these ideas. Work will be carried out on four floors, inclusive of a fully automatic warehouse. “The ground floor will be reserved for the blow moulds;” explains Mr Zeng, “the second storey will be the preform mould area.” We carry on walking up the stairs that are still covered in construction dust. “Here on the third floor is where the R&D and the inspection sections will be accommodated. The top floor and the roof area of the build- ing will house the employee swimming pool, a canteen and our showroom. What we are looking at here is an invest- ment of around $48m.” The structure will occupy a total area of 62,000m 2 ; offices and workshops will take up an additional 33,000m 2 . Through the relo- cation and the new fleet of machines, GDXL is planning, over and above the ecological issue, to achieve a higher level of manufacturing precision, a 100% increase in capacity within three years and production times shortened by one third. Which PET markets have a par- ticularly promising future, according to GDXL? I put the question to Patrick Lam: “China definitely offers the greatest possibilities. Compared with the global average, per capita usage of PET is still small in China but it is poised for further expansion in the future due to the increase in demand. At the same time production costs here are still low. In addition – and this is an indica- tor worth mentioning – there is the fact that over 60% of PET machinery sales are already underway here in China. This gives us clear impetus in terms of direction.” www.gdxl.com