PETpla.net Insider 12 / 2019

TRENDS PET planet Insider Vol. 20 No. 12/19 www.petpla.net 37 offerings, whether it’s smaller pack- ages or more varieties of beverages with nutritious ingredients and supple- ments, such as coconut water, infused vitamins, etc. This requires packages to be designed and manufactured to better protect this sensitive content. Husky rates its multi-layer technol- ogy to serve this trend, as it is an inte- grated solution for plastic packaging that provides a barrier against oxygen and light to keep product contents fresh and nutrient rich. The ability to precisely dose the barrier layer and adjust the content range ensures seasonal variations are considered for enhancing package shelf life, while providing a potential savings of up to 50 per cent on barrier material costs for some applications – thereby reducing the total cost to produce per package. 3) Consumer preference for more convenient premium packaging More than half of the global population currently resides in cities, and the United Nations predicts this number to grow to 68% by 2050. This rapidly growing shift from rural to urban living is largely driven by a desire for economic empowerment. With urbanisation and wealth increasing, consumers are looking for premium products that are convenient. Packaging is usually central to the marketing of premium products, since it is often the package quality that signals a product’s high-end status. To make their products stand out against the competition, brand owners want creative package designs that catch the eye of consumers. Different dispensing systems enable the production of more user- friendly premium closures, such as flip-tops, sports caps, or extra- tall closures. With the capability to produce various colours, sizes and shapes, Husky’s multi-layer technol- ogy is claimed to allow for more crea- tive decorative packaging solutions. For example, innovative materials added to packaging’s middle layer can enable phosphorescent bottles that glow in the dark, appealing colour gradients, or packages that react to temperature changes. 4) Growing interest in e-commerce and on-demand purchasing Many consumer habits are driven by convenience. Same-day home delivery, drive-up and pick-up grocery services, and other digital shopping services are becoming increasingly popular. It seems that the consumer preference for fast delivery and pur- chasing products online is quickly becoming the expected standard. This rapidly growing interest in e-commerce brings a wealth of new challenges and opportunities. Brand owners and plastic packaging produc- ers must respond to market demands in a much faster way and change products more quickly to meet chang- ing preferences. Faster package redesign and speed-to-market for new products are key to gaining a premium position and growing market share. The Next Generation Operating Model (NGOM), which is a digitalised, end-to-end manufacturing system is intended to offer enhanced capa- bilities to deliver solutions with unmatched speed and flexibility. Husky developed the automated manufacturing system to enable hardware to be configured through a web interface and then produced in a state-of-the-art laboratory through an automated process, ensuring that customers can more quickly respond to changing consumer preferences. 5) Demand for more sustain- able, eco-friendly packaging Consumers are more environmen- tally conscious, placing more empha- sis on the environment and recyclabil- ity. Demonstrating a commitment to sustainability is something consumers are increasingly demanding of the companies they choose to purchase from, and brands are responding with bold commitments to sustainable, eco-friendly products and packaging solutions. Sustainability has become a pre- dominant theme in the plastics pack- aging industry. Maximising the use of recyclable and post-consumer resin (PCR) in packages and closures is in strong demand now and will continue to be in the years ahead. To meet this market need requires manufacturing systems with precise, controlled tech- nology to ensure that high productivity and quality standards are maintained. Today, Husky is developing other high-precision systems for producing packaging with higher levels of post- consumer resin (PCR). This includes Husky’s HPP5e systems that can process 100% PCR and multi-layer technology solutions that can help increase PCR content for bottles, pails and other packages. With continued innovation in mechanical recycling, the company is also in the process of developing a new system focused on incorporating PCR in packages, intended to enable customers to bring more than 60,000,000 kg/a of PET into the circular economy. Working in conjunction with equipment that puri- fies the recycled material and elimi- nates intermediate steps of pelletising and re-melting, the system is stated to offer additional value in both opera- tional savings and material quality. www.husky.co Launched in April 2019, HyPET HPP5e is Husky’s highest productivity system.