PETplanet Insider Vol. 23 No. 01+02/22 www.petpla.net 37 TRADE SHOW REVIEW tic Science by Design, a company that assists plastic converters and their customers, when challenged by plastic material science. The presentation delivered by her business partner Mr Frank Doorenbosch demonstrated, via real-life case studies, how innovative materials and approaches can produce stark improvements in costs, quality and performance. This was followed by a V-Demo screened on behalf of CMG Granulators. CMG’s range of size reduction equipment provides an invaluable service to recycling in the plastic packaging industry. It includes granulators specifically designed for blow moulded products. To a lay person, size reduction may sound trivial; it is, however, a complex, often challenging operation which includes metal detection and removal, dedusting, precise cutting, screening, frictionless transportation, air filtering, etc. With a wide range of throughputs (30-1,500kg/h), these granulation lines can deal with a broad variety of needs and product sizes. The next V-Demo, screened on behalf of And & Or, focused on the shift to Industry 4.0. The video demonstrated how a complete preform injection and stretch blow moulding plant can be run fully automatically, through the use of automated mobile robots handling the entire flow of materials and products throughout the facility. The complete robotisation of intra-factory logistics results in cost and energy efficiency, improved safety and better management of processes and information. The presentation by Mr Tangui Van Der Elst, co-founder and Board Member at Keiryo Packaging Technologies, described a novel, patented methodology (albeit based on established science) of increasing the performance of polymeric materials such as PET, by using flow enhanced nucleation and induced crystallisation. The company proposes this improvement in existing processes, via the retrofitting of a special accessory, designed to precisely control the rheological regime. Next it was the turn of Prof. Rudolf J. Koopmans, Director General of the Plastics Innovation Competence Center, who provided a strategic view of the route towards sustainability. Based on statistical information and science, he showed that, in most instances, alternative packaging materials are not ecologically superior to plastics. Instead, by employing a multi-pronged approach, enhanced with concepts such as life cycle and biomimetics, science can lead the planet to a better future. The proceedings ended with another keynote presentation, delivered by Mr Nicolas Hodac, Director General of Unesda – the European Association of Soft Drinks. Mr Hodac presented in detail the impact of European legislation on the future of packaging. A key driver of that legislation is the EU Circular Economy Action Plan. Among other things, this seeks to gradually phase out singleuse plastic packaging. Unesda and its member companies have responded with Circular Vision 2030, a complex programme aimed at making packaging fully circular. Throughout the presentations programme, the audience participated actively with pertinent questions, comments and opinions. Before adjourning the proceedings, the Conference Chair congratulated Mr Tom Palmer, Global Product Manager – Plastics at Greif, who won the Chair’s Prize for the Best Questions. This fifth edition was sponsored by a number of distinguished companies, each a leader in its respective field of activity: Sidel, KHS, W. Müller EBM Technology, Sipa, Erema, Tomra and Autefa. PETplanet was the Media Partner, while the European Plastics Converters association (EuPC) acted as supporting organisation. Blow Moulding 2022 will take place on 30th November – 1st December, again in Brussels. www.blow-moulding.com product development caps & closures design high cavitation moulds multi-component moulds closure production systems after sales service competent – professional – inspiring +43 5572 7272-0 | sales@z-moulds.com | www.z-moulds.com
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