PETpla.net Insider 06 / 2018

8 NEWS PET planet Insider Vol. 19 No. 06/18 www.petpla.net Prof. E.h. Dr.-Ing. Johann Grabenweger is leaving KHS KHS in Dortmund, Germany, part of the Salzgitter Group’s high-growth technology business unit, has announced changes to the KHS Executive Management Board concerning the Sales and Service division. As part of its Strategy 2021 pro- gram Salzgitter AG plans to further expand its technology business unit. In order to follow KHS’ own growth strategy while strengthening its inner performance KHS is implement- ing its KHS Future action plan. As part of the KHS realignment process Prof. E.h. Dr.- Ing. Johann Grabenweger, is leaving the company by mutual consent after 13 years of successful work in Production, R&D and, most recently, Sales and Service which has grown by about a third in the last few years. Until a final decision has been reached regarding the appointment of a successor, Management Board respon- sibility for the Sales and Service Division will be assumed by the chairman of the KHS Executive Management Board, Burkhard Becker. www.khs.com European bottled water producers make major pledges towards circular economy by 2025 The European Federation of Bottled Waters (EFBW) announced four industry-wide pledges that aim to increase the collection of PET bottles and the use of recycled PET. This will accelerate the shift towards a more circular European economy. EFBW is therefore announcing the following pledges to be implemented by 2025:  Collect 90% of all PET bottles by 2025, as an EU average. Ensuring PET bottles are collected means that they can be used to produce new bottles or for other products. EFBW will be a driving force alongside all actors involved in the waste management process;  Collaborate with the recycling industry to use at least 25% recycled PET (rPET) in its water bottles by 2025, as an EU average. To increase the use of rPET into new bottles, natu- ral mineral and spring water producers require a consistent supply of high-quality recycled material;  Innovate and invest further in eco-design and research on non-fossil based plastic materials. The bottled water industry has always had sustainability at its heart, and is continuously investing in packaging R&D. This includes optimising its packaging design through light-weighting, eco-innovation, and research on plastics from renewable origin;  Engage with consumers who play a key role in preventing littering. The industry will support initiatives which encour- age the proper sorting and disposal of packaging. To ensure that its members can deliver on the new pledges, the EFBW intends to work with all relevant stakeholders, includ- ing Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE). In order to guarantee transparency and accountability, EFBW will report regularly on progress of the pledges announced. www.efbw.org Husky announces organisational changes to align with market demands and consumer trends Husky Injection Molding Systems has announced organi- sational changes to proactively realign its business to support customers in response to evolving market trends and changing consumer demands. Husky has taken the step of combining its Beverage Packaging business and Specialty Packaging business under one new consolidated business called Rigid Packaging. This change will allow the company to offer a wider range of solutions and services to both Consumer Packaged Goods brands and plastics processors. Robert Domodossola will lead Husky’s new Rigid Pack- aging business. Mr Domodossola was formerly President of Husky’s Medical and Specialty Packaging Systems business and was appointed to this position in April of 2017. Since join- ing Husky in 1996, he has progressed through a number of design and engineering management roles. Bringing these two businesses together under Robert’s leadership will enable Husky to be more nimble in responding to market needs and better help its customers to be more competitive. Gerardo Chiaia, Husky’s former President of Beverage Packaging, is leaving the organisation to dedicate more time to his family. This comes after an outstanding 24-year career with the company. www.husky.co SMI chosen as ‘National Winner’ of the European Business Awards SMI has reached the Grand Final of the Euro- pean Business Awards, after being chosen as a ‘National Winner’ by inde- pendent judges from a list of almost 3,000 busi- nesses. The European Business Awards created the list after a review of over 110,000 European companies. At the final in Warsaw, Poland, in May, for the first time in the Awards’ 11-year history, each finalist had a stand to display their notable success, and 55 business experts come from across Europe to decide the winners of the Awards’ 12 categories. In this final stage of the competition SMI has represented Italy in the category “Awards for Innovation” with the project of the EBS K stretch-blow moulding machine. This latest devel- opment is the results of an even more compact, ergonomic, eco-friendly machine. www.smigroup.it