TRADE SHOW REVIEW PETplanet Insider Vol. 24 No. 11/23 www.petpla.net 31 Tethered caps - changing the game Inspection tasks have been significantly affected by the adoption of tethered caps. The previous regime of removable caps with fairly simple tamper-evident bands has been replaced with rotational symmetric often slitted and rotational asymmetric moulded tamper evident bands. While some elements have not changed at all – whether or not the cap is present, its colour, height measurement and whether it has been fitted properly or are canted over. The system will check for broken bands, broken bridges, cross-threading, and other defects. A short animation sequence illustrated the issues and differences between asymmetric and symmetric bands. The number of cameras used can affect the detection of small defects. Monochrome visual systems rely upon differentiation of shades of grey. Colour cameras, by contrast, can see variations more clearly. A single camera solution has a blind spot of 240 degrees, which makes it difficult to inspect the complete closure sidewall. Using four cameras provides a reliable 360-degree view without blind spots and allows for more accurate inspection but the rotational asymmetry of tamperevident bands can lead to different views in each of the four images, which makes determing the orientation a must to avoid compromises on inspection accuracy. The use of incident light can help identify defects in rotational asymmetric closures that may not be visible under transmitted light. Van Laar explained in detail how Heuft’s latest software can accurately and reliably find small defects in the closure cycle, such as broken bridges and increased deviating pixels, with high accuracy, even for rotational asymmetric tethered tamper evident bands. Questions The audience online was eager to cover a wide range of points, from the use of recycled PET outside the food and beverage industries, such as automotive, textiles and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) to exemptions and enforcement. Dr Trunk said that even with a ‘loss’ to other industries from food and beverage, there is enough PET material to meet EU recycling targets. The principal challenge in the EU is capacity. The first objective in the regulations is to reduce waste in the first place. It is to be cut by five per cent from the 2018 level, even in the event of increased packaging in the market, so achieving a real-terms decrease over the period. The main reduction in waste will be in cardboard. Policing ‘exempt materials’ The chairman asked if ‘exempt materials’ could be used as a ‘get out of jail free’ card, or loophole, to enable countries or corporations to avoid compliance. Dr Trunk emphasised that the exemptions are restricted to, essentially, medical and pharmaceutical applications. These exemptions will be kept under review, in the light of developments in technology. Enforcement On the question enforcement and penalties and how the EU will ensure buy-in from the private sector, especially in the context of the current reduction in recycling capacity, he replied that enforcement of the 2025 levels within their territories are the responsibility of member states. Beyond that, the requirement to meet the 30 per cent and subsequent requirements for recycled content will be enforced by certification and inspection. Fines will be under national law but are expected by the Commission to be significant. The EPR ‘polluter pays’ money is expected to be used to identify bottlenecks in the value chain and to channel resources to relieve them. Moderator Ruari McCallion concluded with thanks to Dr Trunk, Sjoerd van Laar and the audience. On our PETinar website you can watch the recording of the event and download the presentations. Take a look at the PETinar archive - it’s worth it! www.petpla.net/2023/08/22/petinar-eu-directives-are-you-fi t-for-2024/ :06 $"/ )"7& '30. 5)& 4".& 3&4063$& 4BMFT!BDNFESJOLUFD DPN XXX BDNFESJOLUFD DPN 1SPWFO 4JOHMF 4UBHF *4#. .PMET (MPCBMMZ $BWJUBUJPO &OIBODFE UP $3&"5*/( .0-%4 8*5) " %*''&3&/$& "DNF %SJOLUFD 4PMVUJPOT --1 .0-%4 '03 /*44&* "4# .# ] . ] %1) ] %18 "0,* 4*1" &5$ NN 0JM #PUUMF NM )"-- 45"-- $ 7JTJU 6T $BWJUZ .PME 1JPOFFSJOH JOOPWBUJPOT JO *4#. NPMET . /JTTFJ "4#
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