Packaging Strategist

Nampak’s 6 month turnover reaches R10 billion

2009-05-21T21:58:00.000-07:00

Nampak, Africa’s largest packaging company today released its interim results for the six months ended 31 March 2009.

The results show revenue up 14% to just over R10 billion which was achieved mainly through the recovery of raw material cost increases and improved trading from African operations. Despite the tough economic conditions, volumes in the main market, South Africa, held steady, but were lower in Europe.

Trading income before abnormal items increased by 3% and was impacted by the late commissioning of the new paper mill at Rosslyn.

Headline earnings per share were 39% lower due to a loss on the fair value of financial instruments compared to a gain and tax provision write-back last year.

Total capital expenditure was R759 million with the major projects being the Rosslyn paper mill and the Angola beverage can factory.

Andrew Marshall who took over as CEO on 1 March 2009 said “Performance in South Africa was in line with last year. Increased trading income was offset by additional costs from the late commissioning of the Rosslyn paper mill. In Africa, trading income improved significantly due mainly to Zambia and Nigeria. European trading income was lower due to higher polymer costs as well as a poorer performance by the Leeds U.K. carton operation.

Going forward, the group expects current difficult economic conditions to continue in all the markets in which we operate. We shall therefore focus on improving or disposing of underperforming operations, the reduction of costs, management of working capital and reduction of capex.”

Pharmaceutical packaging: dosage caps in high-transparency PP by Bormioli Rocco

2009-04-16T10:57:00.000-07:00

Bormioli Rocco writes a new chapter in the history of plastic pharmaceutical packaging entitled high transparency PP. This polymer of the polyolefin family is used for brand new dosage caps which combine optimum processability with excellent rigidity.

Constant research in the fields of materials and technology has enabled the Plastics Division to improve the characteristics of standard PP and offer customers an innovative product that meets their specific requirements. High-transparency dosage caps in PP are approved for contact with foodstuffs.

PP also offers exciting scope for application in the field of plastic packaging for cosmetics. Indeed, the company also produces a range of bottles in PP with levels of transparency similar to PET. And it doesn't stop there. The company is experimenting with the inclusion of nanocomposites in the polymer matrix of PP. Results to date are highly encouraging in terms of greater mechanical resistance to impact and a barrier effect against water vapour and gases in general.

For further information of Plastics Division products, including plastic closures, cosmetic bottles and dosage caps, visit the website http://www.bormioliroccoplastics.com

Nampak Cartons & Labels Epping is FSC certified

2009-01-14T11:17:00.000-08:00

Nampak Cartons & Labels Epping is the first cartons packaging facility in Africa to become FSC certified. FSC refers to the “Forest Stewardship Council”.

Read the complete article here.

Nampak Cartons & Labels is on track to commence sandwich pack production

2009-01-14T11:16:00.000-08:00

Nampak Cartons & Labels Epping is on track to commence local production of the newly launched and fully biodegradable Woolworths “To go” range of sandwich packs. The timeframe for this to happen is early 2009. The cardboard used in the sandwich packs is FSC certified and the transparent window is made from poly lactic acid (PLA), a corn-based polymer. Imported from Finland and the USA respectively, this is the first time that certified sustainable cardboard is being used in South African food packaging!

Read the complete article here.

BiohazardLabels.com Sells Excellent Quality Biohazard Labels to Enhance Safety

2008-12-31T06:37:00.000-08:00

Biohazard waste is produced by various hospitals, factories, and industries, and it is essential to dispose or store it properly. Most of the times, the biological hazards are not visible but it is essential to use biohazard labels and signs to spread awareness among the employees who work in such places. Exposure to biohazard waste can be dangerous so it is important for the industries where such waste is produced to take extra care for safety of everyone.

BioHazardLabels.com is one such website where one can find excellent quality biohazard labels for enhancing safety. This online store sells biohazard labels, signs and tags which can be used to warn the employees to take necessary precautions for their safety.

It is of utmost importance to use bold warning signs for applying on biohazard storage containers, such as waste containers, evidence bags, freezers and refrigerators, etc. The containers with toxic chemicals have disease-causing organisms which can be potentially dangerous for the environment and people who come in contact with those toxic chemicals.

The biohazard signs and labels can be used in the areas which are susceptible to biological risks. Eye-catching and bold biohazard signs and labels can be used at the entrance of the area with biological risks so that any worker or visitor is not caught unawares. The handling procedure of biohazard waste should be organized so that nothing is left to chance.

People working in places where biohazard material is stored should be careful with their food and drinks too. The refrigerators that are meant for storing biohazard material should never be used to store foods and drinks as they will be exposed to hazardous materials. Care should be taken and the edibles or drinks should never be placed on the surface which has been contaminated by biohazard waste.

BioHazardLabels.com caters to the need of people who are looking for high quality biohazard labels. Various labels, signs, and tags can be purchased from here at affordable prices. A customer can buy biohazard signs according to message, such as Authorized Personnel Only, Biohazard Area, Contaminated Clothing, No Food or Drink in Refrigerator and many more. These labels can also be purchased according to their type like Bilingual Biohazard Signs and Labels, Biohazard Tags, Projecting Biohazard Signs and lots more.

About BioHazardLabels.com

BioHazardLabels.com is one of the best online stores for purchasing labels, signs, and tags for biohazard waste at affordable prices. A person can also get customized labels from here. To know more about this website, kindly browse through http://www.biohazardlabels.com

First industrial-scale extrusion blow-molding of Styrolux

2008-12-10T19:27:00.001-08:00

For the first time in Europe, a machine manufacturer has demonstrated that BASF’s Styrolux® 3G 46 can be processed by extrusion blow-molding. The Kautex Maschinenbau company, a renowned maker of blow-molding systems, has recently produced intricately shaped bottles using this styrene-butadiene copolymer (SBC) on a high-performance extrusion blow-molding machine. BASF launched this plastic as a blow-molding brand onto the market in early 2008.

“We were surprised to realize how easy it is to process Styrolux by extrusion blow-molding. The transparency and high stiffness of this plastic are impres¬sive,” says Markus Holbach, head of the Kautex Maschinenbau technical laboratory in Bonn, Germany. Producing bottles with an integrated handle using this material is very advantageous, since the weld line can be formed without much effort. This SBC poly¬mer also allows lower processing temperatures and shorter cycle times than with comparable packaging materials, and besides, this plastic weighs much less than PET or PVC. This makes Styrolux a cost-effective material for manu¬facturing products that are made by extrusion blow-molding.

Kautex Maschinenbau GmbH, a firm headquartered in Bonn, Germany, is a global manu¬facturer and designer of extrusion blow-molding systems. With over 50 years of experience, this company has been highly instrumental in the development of blow-molding technology.

Nampak Flexible produces new look packaging for Willards

2008-12-08T12:38:00.000-08:00

Nampak Flexible is producing the packaging for the new look Willards Crinkle Cut and Original Cut chips and in so doing is helping the brand communicate a quality message to consumers.

After many years of limited brand activity in the local market, Willards decided to pursue a “back to basics” approach in terms of their offer and made a general commitment to improving the quality of their Crinkle Cut and Original Cut chips.

The cut of the chips was changed to a wavy cut instead of a zigzag cut, which improved the flavour delivery and two exciting flavours were launched: Pickled Onion and Cheese & Sweet Chilli. A gold “W” appeared on all merchandise and the packaging was revamped to include cutting-edge design, a fresh colour palette and bold imagery.

The move to Nampak Flexible bags was part of the total upgrade. Willards specifically required bags that would be airtight, keeping their chips fresher for longer and delivering the brand’s promise of quality to consumers.

With this in mind, Nampak Flexible constructed a bag from high-barrier BOPP film that was laminated using extrusion-lamination technology. Warren McPhail, the key accounts manager of Nampak Flexible responsible for Willards, says that there are three main benefits of extrusion technology for potato chips. “Firstly the bags retain more air in-pack giving better shelf life, secondly they’re more difficult to crush so fewer chips are broken, and thirdly the bags have a quality feel, which is premium.”

The bags are reverse printed on a gravure press in seven colours. The film was supplied to Willards on reels for conversion purposes.

As part of the Willards re-launch, special emphasis was placed on the 30-gram bag. A robust distribution strategy ensured maximum reach and afforded consumers the opportunity to sample the product improvements in a smaller pack and at limited expense. To further improve the attractiveness of the offer, Willards ran an on-pack promotion, whereby consumers stood the chance of winning a share of airtime to the value of R1-million. The details of the promotion were included on Celomat stickers from Nampak Flexible, which were applied directly to the packs during the filling process.

This is the first time that Celomat has been used on snack packaging in South Africa. Warren says that Celomat is great for promotions because it guarantees accuracy of positioning and ensures that there is a sticker in every pack.

Nampak Flexible sourced the Celomat stickers from their gravure printer partner in Argentina. Although they were applied at Willards, Nampak Flexible supplied the applicator machines, led the installations, provided technical support and trained the machine operators.

The category marketing manager of Willards, Julia Dawson, says that the bag and promotion have been “very successful” for the brand.

Nampak Flexible has a multi-year supply agreement with Willards. The Pinetown plant is the primary manufacturing hub.

Can It

2008-10-08T04:42:00.000-07:00

Received an interesting e-mail from this South African crowd that looks like they offer something a little different:

Just as the packaging of an email determines if you open it or not, so too does the packaging of your corporate gifts and promotions determine the returns on your investment. Plastic bags, plastic containers, cardboard? BLAH BLAH BLAH Fish paste. Your client throws it away as soon as they have emptied it. A branded can or canister, is never thrown away, and your clients always keep it, as a sentimental token of your care and concern for them. Whether they keep it in their offices or homes, nothing offers better retention value and brand recognition than a branded can that is also useful once opened. The can is your best form of subliminal advertising! Even Coca-Cola use our range!

Check out their website at www.canit.co.za and tell us what you think of the concept.

FRESH NEW LOOK FOR SAB’s MILLER GENUINE DRAFT

2008-09-30T22:30:00.000-07:00

In keeping with its strategy of continuous brand refreshment and innovation, the South African Breweries (SAB) Ltd has given one of its premium beers, Miller Genuine Draft (MGD), a full packaging and design makeover.

When the brand was introduced in South Africa in 2003, Miller Genuine Draft rewrote the rules of the market by presenting an original authentic draft beer in a bottle. Today its fresh taste stays the same but it now boasts with a whole new packaging and design look and feel matching the freshness of the brand and bringing it in line with its global positioning and redesign. It’s the first renovation of the brand since its launch.

SAB Marketing Director, Ian Penhale, said the company’s strategy is to continually work on its brands to ensure that they are appealing and remain the first choice of consumers.

“The MGD packaging upgrade moves it in line with the brand’s progressive attitude and reinforces its individuality. Consumers of this uniquely cold filtered beer will be as impressed with the brand’s fresh new look as they already are with its genuinely fresh taste,” said Penhale.

“MGD is positioned as an exciting wind-up beer for young, sophisticated, bold and alternative-thinking professionals. These consumers are known for keeping ahead of the curve and don’t expect anything less from their beer. As a consumer-facing company, we invest intensively in market research to stay ahead of consumer trends. MGD has always had a strong following and we believe the change is perfectly timed to evolve with its fans.”

MGD’s redesign is reflected on the brand’s primary packaging, secondary packaging and tray, as well as its below the line artwork. The labels and crown tops of both the 330ml and 660ml bottles sport a contemporary new image, with the 330ml bottle itself also undergoing a facelift.

With MGD’s product quality, pricing and fresh-from-the–tap taste remaining unchanged, SAB believes the redesign will not only appeal to current MGD consumers, but also capture a lot of new consumers.

In keeping with its reputation of being ahead of the pack, SAB said the brand will also be one of the first in its stable to incorporate health warning messages, a full five months ahead of the 23 February 2009 deadline mandated by the Department of Health.

SHEQ Content

2008-09-12T03:47:00.000-07:00

ManufacturingHub.co.za is currently in the process of finalising a content sharing agreement with leading SHEQ website SHEQAfrica.com.

In the interim we have begun displaying some of their Safety, Health, Environmental and Quality related news and information on our site here.

We are aware of the display problem with Internet Explorer 7 and are in the process of rectifying it.

For further information please do not hesitate to contact Marc Ashton on 082-561-1585 or e-mail marc@rival.co.za

Kind regards,
Marc Ashton
Managing Editor

Write for ManufacturingHub.co.za

2008-09-08T12:47:00.001-07:00

ManufacturingHub.co.za - www.manufacturinghub.co.za - is looking to source some new content and we’re looking to hit some of the SA science, manufacturing and biotechnology communities for some ideas.

And the best part of it - we’ll even pay for it (Admittedly not very well but hopefully as the traffic grows we can take it from there).

We woudl like to invite you to circulate amongst your friends and professional colleagues that we have a SMALL writing budget that we would like to try and utilise for ManufacturingHub.co.za (www.manufacturinghub.co.za).

If you believe you have a topic that would be applicable to professionals in the SA Food, Pharmaceutical, Chemical / Biotechnology communities then by all means please either drop me a brief or suggestion and we can take it from there.

We are looking for some content that is fresh and sharp and maybe a little provocative (in a targeted way!). The idea is to now really step up this resource to get South Africans recognising ManufacturingHub.co.za as the premier online industrial resource for the SA Food, Pharmaceutical, Chemical and Cosmetic Manufacturing industries.

Details as below:
Marc Ashton - Managing Editor
www.manufacturinghub.co.za
marc@rival.co.za

Facebook group - http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7654433017

Also spread the word about this group and try and build it a bit so we can expend the SA science community a bit online.

Regards,
Marc Ashton

BASF takes its plastics portfolio to the FAKUMA

2008-08-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

Once again this year, BASF will be taking its thermoplastics, polyurethanes and masterbatch preparations to the Fakuma, the International Trade Fair for Plastic Processing in Friedrichshafen, Germany. From October 14 to 18, BASF will showcase its innovations for plastic processors in Hall B4 at Stand 4308.

Thermoplastics

Three polyamide brands – not to be confused

Many polyamide processors are not yet aware of the fact that the Capron^® brand continues to exist, although not entirely in the same format as before. Many of the products that the Honeywell company used to sell under the brand name Capron are now to be found at BASF within the polyamide assortments of Miramid^® and Ultramid^®. For instance, the former Capron BG40G6HIHS, a PA6 type for exterior car mirrors, is now Ultramid B3WZG6. The former Capron BR30HS, a grade for rotomolding, is now Miramid B3W FP. The Capron grades still form a small product range and thus complete BASF’s three-brand-strategy for polyamides.

The novelties in the Miramid product line include Miramid A3WZ1, a new heat-stabilized and impact-resistant polyamide type intended specifically for cable conduits. Numerous customer-specific color reproductions and special additives are among the services provided by the Miramid brand.

New engineering plastics

Two completely new products being presented to the public at large for the first time are two specially hydrolysis-stabilized PBT types that not only comply with the strict stipulations laid down in the regulations of the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR). They also withstand rigorous flexural stress tests at a humidity of 100% and a temperature of 110°C [230°F]. These products are Ultradur^® B4300G6 HR and Ultradur B4330G6 HR.

A high-performance plastic for novel oil pumps

SHW Automotive has recently launched a plastic specialty onto the market, namely, the first oil pump that regulates the oil flow on an as-needed basis by means of an external gear pump with involute gears. The special feature, i.e. the fact that one of the two gears moves axially, was only feasible with a high-performance plastic that is not only resistant to high temperatures and oil but that also exhibits very good sliding-friction properties. This is where Ultrason^® KR 4113 comes into action, a PESU (polyether sulfone) made by BASF and reinforced with carbon fibers, graphite and PTFE. The pump is used by PSA, BMW and Porsche.

There will also be illustrative examples and many possibilities to discuss the innovations that were presented for the first time in the year of the K plastics fair such as the product segment of the easy-flowing High Speed grades and the new PPSU (Ultrason P). Further topics are the hydrolysis-stabilized Ultramid HRX types for hot water (coolant tanks) and Ultramid A3W2G10 for hot air (intercooler end caps), heat-conductive Ultradur, blow moldable Ultraform^® (POM), special WIT and GID types,

halogen-free flame retardants and laser direct structuring for MID components.

New products for the medical sector

At the Fakuma, BASF will be introducing another plastic specialty for the realm of medical technology: Luran^® HD is the first SAN (styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer) to be offered in conjunction with BASF’s HD services. HD stands for Healthcare and Diagnostics.

The transparent Luran HD complements Terlux HD (MABS), BASF’s first transparent plastic for medical technology. Whereas Terlux HD offers better impact-resistance, Luran HD is more resistant to temperature and UV-light. The new material is already available in commercial quantities. The HD service package encompasses not only technical support for applications, compatibility tests with specific chemicals and biocompatibility testing (e.g. according to the United States Pharmacopoeia and ISO 10993-x), but also the creation of so-called drug master files (DMF).

Greater convenience for PVC in construction: easier heat stabilization

For a few weeks now, BASF has been offering a powder version of its Luran^® HH (HH: high heat, also called AMSAN), a SAN (styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer) that is dimensionally stable under heat. The new brand goes by the name Luran HH 120 Powder and it is intended specifically for PVC processors. Since PVC is often processed in powder form, it is now easier to incorporate Luran HH, which functions here as a heat-stabilizing component. Luran HH is employed for the production of classic profiles, tubes and panels made of PVC, which are subject to high requirements in terms of dimensional stability under heat, for instance, in the case of hot-water pipes or window profiles.

Design for electrical devices: new PMMA/ABS blend and attractive surface effects with SAN

Design also involves the aspects of gloss and surface. Depending on the current fashions and tastes, customers want the electrical devices they use in the kitchen, office or bathroom to be matt or shiny. In fact, BASF can offer several new products and ideas for this area of application.

• First high-gloss ABS specialty in BASF’s product line

The new Terluran^® BX 13036, a blend of PMMA and ABS, combines the properties of both components of this blend: the special ABS provides the requisite mechanical properties while the PMMA component ensures scratch resistance, high gloss and good color depth. The so-called piano lacquer look is intended not only for black tones; the trend is moving towards white surfaces for electrical devices and household appliances. The new material is being introduced into the market.

• UV-stabilized Luran for two-component injection molding

High-gloss effects can also be achieved in a different manner. The recently created, very bright and transparent Luran CC (SAN) is now also available in variants that are specially UV-stabilized. Processed in combination with classic Terluran (ABS) by means of two-component injection molding, this material yields transparent, high-quality top coats for TV set frames, telephones or coffee machines. Luran is as brilliant and scratch-resistant as PMMA and more scratch-resistant than PC, it is easier to process and less costly.

BASF’s designfabrik^™ provides assistance for the design of new products using these glossy and transparent plastics.

Styrene copolymer with new functionality: the first antimicrobial ASA

The kitchen and bathroom should not only look good, they should also be hygienic. In order to prevent the growth of bacteria on plastic surfaces, BASF is introducing the first antimicrobial ASA (acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate copolymer): Luran^® S BX 13042 comes with a special additive containing silver and manufactured by Agion Technologies so that an attack by various microorganisms is reliably prevented.

Polyurethane (PUR)

Elastogran, a company of the BASF Group, has a product line offering tailor-made customer solutions and innovative applications using Elastollan^®, a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (PUR). As will be shown, this material can be employed, among other things, in the manufacture of hoses, films and automotive parts. The range of applications for this flexible special plastic, however, is much broader, extending from the electrotechnical sector all the way to agriculture. Visitors from the industry will also be shown other select PUR applications.

On the Internet:

www.plasticsportal.eu

www.basf.de/masterbatch

www.elastogran.de

www.designfabrik.basf.com

IFAT CHINA 2008: E-Scrap Recycling at the Top of the Agenda

2008-08-19T22:08:00.000-07:00

According to Chinese estimates, there are between one and two million tons of waste electrical and electronic equipment in the People's Republic every year with an expected increase of five to ten percent annually. In addition to old domestic equipment, there is also a great quantity from Japan, Russia, the USA and Western Europe for recycling and disposal in China. A research group at Hong Kong Baptist University estimates that approx. 70 percent of all used computers, cellphones and other electric and electronic equipment to be recycled from the world end up in China. This is actually illegal, because the People's Republic forbids the import of waste electrical and electronic equipment in 2002.
These great quantities of materials are often recycled employing insufficient environmental, safety and health standards. Consequently, the Chinese government is planning to pass new legislation concerning recycling waste electrical and electronic equipment on one hand, by the creation of legal framework conditions, and on the other hand by setting up modern recycling centers.
As the Federal German Agency for Foreign Trade (bfai) reported, China is putting a lot of hope in the administrative rules for controlling pollution caused by waste electrical and electronic equipment, which took effect in February of this year. According to it, the Chinese Ministry of the Environment is drawing up a list of qualified recycling companies for waste electrical and electronic equipment, in which companies with a foreign investment share can be included. The technologies they use must correspond to national environmental standards, and checks at regular intervals are planned. In addition, supplying waste electrical and electronic equipment that has not been treated properly to companies not on the list is forbidden.

According to the bfai, an administrative regulation is currently being formulated concerning the recycling of household appliances. If it is enforced strictly, it will put a stop to illegal recycling activities, because it will stipulate precise details about the setting up of systems for waste collection depots, recyclers and waste disposal companies. The few currently existing, modern recycling facilities in China are still more or less pilot projects and are faced with an insufficiently organized system for collecting waste.
The question of costs is also supposed to be regulated by the administrative rule concerning the recycling of household appliances. Among other things, manufacturers of electric and electronic products will be required to contribute to covering recycling costs.

The German Ministry of the Environment is very interested in continuing and intensifying the existing collaboration with China in several areas of environmental management; this also concerns the regulated disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment. With respect to the size of the Chinese electronics market, the use of energy-saving and resource-saving waste disposal technologies in China will have global environmental policy significance. Because the German waste disposal industry has acquired an excellent reputation with respect to its orientation to innovation and technology, there are excellent business opportunities on the Chinese market for German companies involved in recycling business. Following a Chinese-German workshop about environmentally compatible treatment of waste electrical and electronic equipment at the beginning of this year in Beijing, another bilateral panel discussion is planned on this topic at IFAT China. The objective of this workshop is to expand exchanges between the two countries about the implemented legal and technical standards as well as the framework conditions for successful further development of treating waste electrical and electronic equipment to the greatest extent possible. Participation of high-ranking representatives of the Chinese government and Parliament Undersecretary Astrid Klug as well as representatives from the business world is planned at the workshop.

Parallel to IFAT CHINA 2008, analytica China, International Trade Fair for Analysis, Biotechnology, Diagnostics, Laboratory Technology and Services, is taking place in Halls E4 and E5 of Shanghai New International Expo Center for the fourth time. Additional information is available at http://www.analyticachina.com

About IFAT CHINA
IFAT CHINA is the comprehensive trade fair for practical solutions in the areas of water supply, sewage treatment, waste disposal, recycling, air pollution control, environmental technology and recyclable energy sources in Asia. The trade fair supplies the business and networking platform for Chinese and international industry representatives and is supported by a solidly based technical and scientific conference program. IFAT CHINA 2006 had 284 exhibitors from 25 countries and approx. 10,000 visitors from 66 countries. The 3rd International Trade Fair for Water, Sewage, Waste, Recycling and Renewable Energy will take place at the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC) in China from 23 to 25 September 2008.

About Messe München International (MMI)
Messe München International (MMI) is one of the world’s leading trade-fair organizations with approximately 40 trade fairs for investment goods, consumer goods and new technologies. More than 30,000 exhibitors from more than 100 countries and over two million visitors from more than 200 countries take part each year in the trade fairs in Munich. In addition, MMI organizes trade fairs in Asia, Russia, the Middle East and South America. With six foreign affiliated companies in Europe and Asia as well as 66 foreign representatives covering 89 countries, MMI has a global network.

Additional information is available at www.ifat-china.com

Consol secures new power supply in record time

2008-08-19T21:27:00.000-07:00

The municipal power supply to the Consol Bellville, Cape Town, factory was recently upgraded in record time in a complex logistical operation that depended on optimal collaboration of all involved – Besamandla (Western Cape), the electricity services of Cape Town municipality, Consol and the engineers and project managers Electrical Engineering Solutions (EES).

The installation of the 4 x 825m 11kV XLPE cable that crossed five erven, including the properties of three private companies, and a railway line was practially completed in three weeks from getting on site and was functionally completed within another month. Planning the operation took three months.

Bradley Hemphill, managing director of EES, says a project of this complexity would usually have taken at least twice as long.

“The pressure was on to install the new cable as quickly as possible because the

main electricity cables supplying the Consol site were more than 30 years old. Each time a cable failed a significant portion of load needed to be shed for the duration of the repair to minimise further deterioration of the remaining stressed cables.

“The cables were failing to deliver uninterrupted power to the glass furnaces, potentially impacting production output and turnover. This was becoming risky, particulary in the climate of load shedding.”

Hemphill said that all those involved in the project immediately appreciated its urgency and opted to collaborate in the most productive way possible.

“Processes were streamlined and everyone worked beyond the call of duty. It was a superb example of how a public/private partnership, given the right incentives and leadership, can excell.”

The old cables were left operational and in place while new trenches were dug in which to lay a sleeve network for the new cables. This meant that the disruption caused to Consol’s neighbours was minimised because the basic laying down of the infrastrucuture could proceed quickly and be covered over, and the cable pulling could happen later with minimum impact by accessing the buried sleeve through dedicated manholes.

But digging the new trenches had considerable challenges as existing power and telephone cable neworks, water and sewerage pipes, stormwater drains, a railway line and minor roads along the route needed to be identified and worked around.

Hemphill says there was also a “ element of relationship management involved in the project, specifically with the enterprises whose land we traversed. We had to ensure the security of the property of both the companies and their employees during the entire operation.

“We were acutely aware that the project was disrupting their environment and operations and we worked hard to mimimise the inconvenience to them of having their parking lots dug up, having strangers on their property and the noise.”

He believes that thorough preparation together with extensive knowledge of all the logistical, legal and bureaucratic hurdles inevitable in a project this size ensured efficient management and prompt completion of the installation.

Consol Bellville’s technical manager Craig Findlay says that the rapid installation of the new power cables was a high priority for the company.

“With the older cables we were concerned that power to our furnaces could be disrupted. We are .now secure in the reliability of our power supply and are able to more confidently deliver beyond our customers’ expectations.”

Join the Green Plan—Automatic Recycling Equipment Presented in TAIPEI PLAS 2008

2008-08-13T10:22:00.000-07:00

TAIPEI PLAS 2008, which has gathered various suppliers & manufacturers excelled in making recycling equipment, is coming from July 21st to September 30th. This ongoing trade show combined with the International Plastic & Rubber Expo attempts to open visitors' eyes by the advanced and environmental-friendly machines or projects. It inclines to present not only industry-wide providers but buyers or visitors hot-eyed in the information about recycling equipment.

To respond the worldwide issue—Protect Environment against Global Warming, this time, TAIPEI PLAS 2008 presents categories of recycling equipments to join the global green plan. Manufacturers specialized in making recycling equipments are highly-invited to show their R&D technologies, new innovation, recycling products, marketing strategies, or even more business opportunities toward buyers and traders. A great number of these recycling equipments have drawn visitors much attention, and even more attention by its mass-scale & effective propaganda in these days.

By the business events, manufacturers of recycling equipments have many chances to strengthen ties between buyers & importers, enhancing the reputation of the good-quality and high-accuracy machines toward many foreign traders. Of course, to join the green plan by purchasing or producing recycling equipments is another major job for today's machine makers.

According to regulations of Industrial Department Bureau, Ministry of Economic Affairs, in recent years, factories and plants should pay more and more efforts and time to obey the 3R Rules while in the manufacturing process. The Bureau has already set up various centers and institutes for dealing with water-waste problem, pollution, and disposal of industrial waste. Hence, domestic recycling equipment makers definitely ought to be aware of the latest information. And certainly, this trade show will inform visitors, too.

For example, the Scrap Recycling Equipment is one of the major green masterpiece for recycling the used plastic or rubber. The heavy duty shredder is powered by induction motor, of which power ranges from 1250 to 8000 HP. The recycling system process through 5 steps: Feeding, Compress, Shredding, Separating, and Selecting. All the scraps are transfered and feed into pre-shredder through a steel conveyor. After that shredder tears those scarps into pieces, the de-dusting system just takes out ASR from the product and the magnetic drum, taking ferrous away. The ESC separates nonferrous and waste.

Following the 3R Rules (Reduce. Reuse. Recycle), TAIPEI PLAS recommends the machines it brings in during this trade show. Also, suppliers can introduce the new plastic recycling skills and full automation by its well-trained sales & staff in this trade show, publicizing the progressive machines with new total solution for 3R Rules.

Leading each visitor toward the precise direction, TAIPEI PLAS 2008 offers detailed info, the latest industrial news, the wanted components, the new innovative machines, used machines, and discerning plastic & rubber parts to fulfill every buyer's demand by this one-stop business fair. Industry-wide buyers cannot miss TAIPEI PLAS 2008, or will lose the opportunities to meet both the overseas & domestic partners during this show.

Source: SanePR

Extruders & Extrusion Plants Bows in TAIPEI PLAS 2008

2008-08-11T21:10:00.000-07:00

Taiwan (SANEPR.com) August 11, 2008 -- In this August, TAIPEI PLAS has gathered hundreds of extruders manufacturers & extrusion plants for the ongoing International Plastic & Rubber Trade Show. It inclines to provide not only industry-wide suppliers and buyers but visitors interested in any information about extruders and other impressive products. Trying to make this business fair beyond the expectation, TAIPEI PLAS has been collecting a great amount of trading leads, extruders marketing projects, and total solution for extrusion plants.

In addition, lots of plastic & rubber parts providers in this trade show also offer bargaining policies as well as the projects for good-quality sample production. Buyers can order used extrusion machines in need and be passed down the extruding technology by other experienced plants or suppliers. And of course, suppliers have the chances to meet worldwide visitors, searching for new business partnership.

Regarded as the major international expo, TAIPEI PLAS 2008, which is hold for manufacturers specialized in extruders & extrusion plants, presents various products & business opportunities toward buyers, suppliers, and exporters from July 21st to September 30th. It has drawn visitors much attention by its mass-scale & effective propaganda. By the business events, manufacturers of extruders and extrusion plants have the great chances to strengthen ties between exporters & importers, enhancing the reputation with good-quality machines like extruders, plastic extrusion machines, plastic recycling equipment and more. Also, suppliers can introduce the extruding tech and full automation toward foreign & domestic buyers during this trade show.

The extruders can be applied to fields of industry uses such as PP woven bag production, plastic bag making, laminating or looming etc. Due to the pop issue about global warming, many governments combined with manufacturers try their best to reduce the quantity of using plastic & rubber products. They attempt to search for some other replaceable materials and green machines. For the above reasons, the most-inquired machines during this trade show are including plastic recycling equipment, PP Flat Yarn Extruding Production Line, PP Flat Yarn Making Machine, PP/PET Strapping Band Making Machine and so on. All these green machines can help in both cost-saving & waste-saving.

Eye-opened to the hundreds of thousands of plastic & rubber products, visitors and buyers are also able to view the most advanced recycling equipment during this trade show. For instance, the Plastic Extrusion Machine, of which max. output is around 120kg/hr.~150kg/hr, can offers mass scale production as well as huge volume wastewater treatment. Hence, buyers or users can handle the wastewater & pollution problem with this machine as easily as possible.

TAIPEI PLAS 2008 can lead every buyer to the right direction, seeking the wanted components, new innovative machines, used machines, or even plastic & rubber parts, fitting the need by this one-stop show. Certainly, industry-wide buyers cannot miss TAIPEI PLAS 2008, or will lose the chances to meet both the domestic & overseas business partners in this stage.

Source: SanePR

Cornetto Packaging

2008-08-10T08:56:00.000-07:00

My wife sent me to the shop today to pick up a Cornetto ice cream for her. Her instructions were clear - Chocolate or Vanilla but NOT strawberry.

Having bought her a chocolate one a couple of days ago I knew what to look for. I grabbed one headed home handed it over and realised "DAMN IT'S STRAWBERRY".

While the newish packaging looks quite funky, I was suckered by the similarity between the packaging of the different flavours and because they were packed near to eachother in the shelf I didn't pick it up until she did.

I didn't even pick up the white vs. pink of the packaging. I just saw the brown packaging interlinked with a lighter colour.

There's a lesson here - while its great to have uniform packaging
- just be careful that it doesn't confuse your brands.

Flexible PCBs Becoming the Technology of Choice for Advanced Packaging

2008-08-04T13:16:00.000-07:00

Innovative demands from various end-user verticals including telecommunications, automotive, medical, and industrial packaging will fuel robust growth in the flexible printed circuit board (PCB) market. Flex has become the technology of choice for advance packaging, which includes both multichip and 3-D.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, the growth partnership company (http://www.smt.frost.com), finds that the worldwide flexible printed circuit board markets earned revenues of over $7.3 billion in 2007 and estimates this to reach $16.4 billion in 2014.

“The physical advantages of flexible circuits are projected to be the primary factors that increase demand in the years to come, as FCP becomes the enabling technology to achieve desired size, shape, weight, or functionality in an electronic device,” says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Ashwin T Ananthakrishnan. “With high density interconnection (HDI) becoming more mainstream, it is anticipated that the growth of flexible circuits would also be hastened.”

The ability of FCPs to reduce package size, package weight, assembly time, and assembly cost, while increasing system reliability, has found great favour in the handheld wireless electronics segment. The increased demand for laptops, notebooks, personal computers, cell phones, and personal digital assistants (PDAs), coupled with the growing adoption of hard disk drives in digital music players, set top boxes, and gaming consoles are encouraging the use of flexible circuits in electronic applications.

Over 35 different companies vie for the global market space, which makes for high competition in the flexible PCB market. Most of the Asian manufacturers play a dominant role.

“Japan is the largest contributor to the FPC board market, but confines high-technology PCBs in-house, while outsourcing only known technologies to low-cost regions,” notes Mr. Ananthakrishnan. “The lack of experience of FPC manufacturing outside Japan impedes the development of FPCs in other geographic regions.”

As manufacturers in North America and Europe achieve greater expertise with the technology, they will prevail over the challenges posed by Japan and other Asian manufacturers. Ongoing consolidation of Tier 1 PCB companies acquiring Tier 2 and Tier 3 companies also supports and benefits the market, as the capacity to offer both rigid and flexible PCs becomes a key differentiator for success.

“Factors like the convergence between rigid and flexible PCs and the reduction in the organic growth across end-user verticals are likely to hamper the growth of flexible PCBs in the later half of 2014, while at present the flexible PCB market has a lot of growth potential across verticals,” says Mr. Ananthakrishnan. “In addition to this, developments and innovations across various verticals accelerate the growth of this market immensely.”

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants with an overview of the world flexible PCB markets, then send an e-mail to Patrick Cairns, Corporate Communications, at patrick.cairns@frost.com, with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company website, city, state and country. Upon receipt of the above information, an overview will be sent to you by e-mail.

World Flexible Printed Circuit Board Markets is part of the Surface Mount Technologies Growth Partnership Service program, which also includes research in the following markets: World Chip Bonders Markets, World LCD Manufacturing Equipment Markets, and World SMT Screen Printer Markets. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Interviews with the press are available.

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, partners with clients to accelerate their growth. The company's TEAM Research, Growth Consulting and Growth Team Membership™ empower clients to create a growth-focused culture that generates, evaluates and implements effective growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan employs over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 30 offices on six continents. For more information about Frost & Sullivan’s Growth Partnerships, visit http://www.frost.com.

SAB'S GROUND-BREAKING PROJECT CALABASH NEARS COMPLETION

2008-08-04T11:13:00.000-07:00

The South African Breweries Ltd (SAB) has entered the final stages of its ambitious Project Calabash, the largest packaging project ever undertaken in South Africa.

The two-year project focuses on replacing 330-million of SAB’s iconic 750ml quart bottles with 430-million new “Calabash” quart bottles, for Castle Lager, Carling Black Label, Hansa Pilsener and Castle Milk Stout.

It involves the setting up of huge Sorting, Overpacking and Culling (SOC) sites linked to each of SAB’s seven breweries around South Africa to sort, recycle and replace the old quart bottles. The first SOC site was linked to the Newlands Brewery in May 2007, and the final site is for the Polokwane Brewery.

By the time Project Calabash is completed, a total of 3,2-million man-hours of temporary work will have been done, and 90 000 tons of glass recycled – and SAB will have invested approximately R1,2-billion.

SAB embarked on Project Calabash for reasons of contemporisation and differentiation: the old bottle shape, which had been in use for 40 years, was tired and old-fashioned, and there was an opportunity to modernise SAB’s mainstream beer offerings; also, there was a need to meet new packaging trends, and give SAB a better marketing platform and edge in the marketplace.

“Packaging and pack formats are an integral part of our brand and product presentations. At SAB we strive constantly to anticipate and respond to the needs of our customers and consumers by providing formats that enhance the brand experience and ensure efficient and successful distribution into the market.

“This has been a mammoth undertaking, the likes of which has never been seen before. We’ve needed to find enormous temporary premises because our breweries did not have enough space, employ many temporary workers (most of whom have been recruited from local communities at each site), and handle the kind of transport and site logistics that an army would be proud of.

“Critics predicted that we would never be able to pull it off – but we’re in the home straight now, and it has been fantastically successful,” says SAB communications manager Janine van Stolk.

For Project Calabash project manager Piet Pretorius, one of the greatest accolades he has received so far is this snippet of feedback: “Project Calabash is a non-event – it just happened.”

“With this feedback, one is very proud. It is a clear indicator of how smoothly and successfully the project has gone so far,” says Pretorius, paying tribute to his 17-person project team – six of them permanently allocated to Project Calabash – for their contribution to the project. “Without these people, this couldn’t have worked.”

According to Van Stolk, the importance of Project Calabash to SAB cannot be overstated.

“The 750ml returnable bottle is very important to SAB’s packaging mix. Over 80% of beer sold is in returnable bottles, of which quarts make up the majority. The new returnable quart format is both an environmentally friendly and economically attractive alternative for both our consumers and our customers in trade. This has been a visionary undertaking in increasing the appeal and relevance of our products and it goes without saying, then, that Project Calabash has significant implications for SAB’s business success.”

BASF plasticizer Hexamoll® DINCH comes out ahead in eco-efficiency analysis

2008-07-28T12:42:00.000-07:00

The BASF product Hexamoll® DINCH has the highest eco-efficiency in a comparison of the top five non-phthalate plasticizers on the market today. So say the results of a BASF eco-efficiency analysis, verified by the impartial German organization TÜV Rheinland. Plasticizers are added to PVC (polyvinylchloride) to make this naturally hard, brittle material soft and elastic. BASF analyzed the eco-efficiency of non-phthalate plasticizers for three everyday product groups: children's balls, tubes for medical devices, and garden hoses. The eco-efficiency analysis assesses the ecological properties of a product over its complete life cycle from manufacture to disposal, incorporating the costs of production and use.

"Hexamoll DINCH is by far the best researched plasticizer on the market. The eco-efficiency analysis shows that the product has the lowest environmental impact throughout its life cycle, so we are helping our customers to achieve sustainable development," says Dr. Albert Heuser, President Petrochemicals Division. In a bid to meet rising demand, BASF increased annual Hexamoll DINCH production capacity at the Ludwigshafen site last year from 25,000 to 100,000 metric tons.

The competitor products investigated in the eco-efficiency analysis alongside Hexamoll DINCH were the commercially available non-phthalate plasticizers diethylhexylterephthalate (DEHTP), alkylsulphonic phenyl ester (ASE), acetyltributyl citrate (ATBC) and acetylated castor oil derivative. Non-phthalate plasticizers were developed for sensitive areas such as medical devices, toys and food packaging. Results for Hexamoll DINCH were above average in all categories, especially so in terms of toxicity and risk potential, energy use and emissions. Other eco-efficiency criteria included material use and area required for production. The eco-efficiency analysis method has been validated by the TÜV Rheinland Berlin Brandenburg
(ID 5711150561).

Plastic: THE design material of the 21st century

2008-07-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

On the occasion of the Milan furniture fair 2008

What do an iron, an airplane seat, a shopping bag and a socket have in common?

We are hardly aware of it any more but we are living in the age of plastics. Owing to their multifaceted application possibilities, plastics have become an indispensable fixture of modern life. Plastics are instrumental for our quality of life and comfort. They play an ever-greater role when it comes to conserving natural resources since the use of plastics can save more fossil fuel than is needed for their production – a fact that many of us do not realize.

Plastics give designers and engineers a high degree of design freedom; more than with metal, glass or wood, the shape of objects made of plastic can be easily varied and numerous functions can be integrated. Over the time spanning from the prototype of the Panton chair made of Luran® S back in the 60s to MYTO, the innovative cantilever chair created by Konstantin Grcic in 2008 (1), a myriad of interesting design objects have been made of BASF plastic in bold, exciting, clever or simply beautiful shapes. They reflect the versatility of BASF over the course of 50 years of competence in plastics.

Noble seating furniture and quiet walls

* The Italian company Softline® All Kit is using Luran®, a BASF styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN), to produce the seat shell of SLIM, its new designer chair. This thermoplastic stands out for its high transparency and brilliance, making it the material of choice for designers aiming to create eye-catching pieces. (2)

* The furniture manufacturer Walter Knoll, of Herrenberg, Germany, has launched the first fire-proof upholstered furniture with a core made of a special foam. This novelty has been made possible by Basotect®, BASF’s flame-resistant melamine resin foam. With this material, the designer furniture series KITE 560 – its body consisting of steel, impregnated Basotect and a core of Bonnell springs – is particularly well-suited for furbishing public spaces. This fire-proof sofa was created by the British design team PearsonLloyd, for which they have been awarded a number of design prizes. (3)

* Basotect, a universal foam developed particularly for sound insulation, is also the foundation of the new acoustic system that BASF and Caparol showcased in 2007, namely, the CapaCoustic Melapor acoustic system, consisting of molded parts made of BASF foam that are available in 50,000 shades of color and can be mounted on walls or ceilings with little effort. These parts now also come in decorative colors and they can even be printed with images, all the while retaining their characteristic properties of high sound absorption, fire resistance, and flexibility. The acoustic system is well-suited for retrofitting public buildings such as kindergartens and hospitals with fire protection, easily and harmoniously blending in with the existing architecture and without taking up too much space. (4)

Design in the home

* THE KETTLE, a water boiler concept made of BASF’s engineering plastic Ultrason®, was recently awarded the Design Plus prize by the German Design Council and by the Frankfurt Trade Fair. Ultrason is a material that is particularly well-suited for use at temperatures of up to 220°C [428°F] and it also exhibits good electric insulation capacity. In their quest to showcase the innovation potential of this material in the realm of design, plastics experts at BASF have blazed new trails. Together with the IDEO agency of Munich, Germany, they fashioned new ideas for esthetically pleasing applications for Ultrason in the home. THE KETTLE is one of these outcomes. (5)

For our feathered and hoofed friends

* The construction kit for the birdhouses made by the Dutch company Wilnest is an example of a clever application for BASF’s plastic Luran® S (ASA), an acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate copolymer impact-modified with acrylic ester rubber. This double-walled and thus well-insulated plastic structure is made almost completely of this lightweight and weather-resistant material. This plastic is particularly well-suited for outdoor applications. (6)

* The Belgian injection-molding company Polymar uses Terblend® N, BASF’s ABS/PA blend, for the toe-cage treads it produces and sells under the name Compositi. This marks the first time that this plastic has gone into such an application, where primarily leather or metal had been used up to now. The lightweight, easy-to-install parts prevent the rider’s foot from slipping through the stirrup when the horse is galloping. In these safety-relevant parts for horseback riding, this material has an edge over conventional materials since it is easier to maintain, cheaper and dimensionally stable. (7)

In traffic: for cars and other vehicles

* More design freedom and an improved energy balance – for Dutch traffic systems manufacturer Vialis, these are excellent reasons to use plastic to replace conventional aluminum housings in the production of traffic lights. Development engineers at Vialis turned to BASF’s Luran® S for the ViaLina traffic signal – the winner of the International Forum Gold Design Award 2005. This material meets the requirements relating to a high-quality appearance and stability (impact resistance) as well as good weathering resistance. (8)

* A futuristic engine cover with an integrated air filter is the brainchild of developers at MAHLE Filtersysteme in Öhringen, Germany. MAHLE produces this large part with its attractive design for DaimlerChrysler’s V8 engines. The company uses BASF’s Ultramid®, a polyamide 6 reinforced with 30 percent glass fibers. This material combines the aspects of a particularly high resistance to bursting pressure with very good dimensional stability, while its surface characteristics allow the creation of aesthetically pleasing products. (9)

* A bicycle, a carrier and a pushchair combined in one and, on top of that, an award-winning design object – that is the new Triobike from Denmark. The part of this combo vehicle that functions as the pushchair has to meet very high requirements in terms of safety and its exterior has to be resistant to weathering and UV light. This is why the manufacturers turned to multifaceted Luran® S (ASA). The sandwich structure of the pushchair panels consists of two co-extruded sheets and a foam filling in-between. The sheets have a Luran S side and an ABS side. (10)

Wood finishing

* With the PermaSkin® system, thermoplastic films are shaped and, at the same time, laminated onto components made of wood, plastic or metal in a single work step. This is how doors, window frames or façades can be systematically protected against the effects of weather. Textures that are typical of the surface of the material, such as the grain of wood, show through this colorfast film down to the last detail. The technical laboratory at BASF’s site in Ludwigshafen, Germany serves to demonstrate the capabilities of this paint-free coating system on the customers’ own, actual doors or window profiles. BASF offers the innovative and sturdy PermaSkin coating system within the scope of a new business model: customers receive the film, the adhesive and the laminating machine directly from BASF. (11)

Design and the designfabrik
A new piece of furniture, a new type of packaging, an innovative electrical device, novel sports gear? Which plastic matches my vision? What can it do? How should the material be processed?

With an eye towards assisting designers in their work with plastics, BASF has now combined all of its competence in the realm of designing with plastics. An integral part of this concept is the designfabrik™, the design factory that BASF founded in Ludwigshafen, Germany in May of 2006, a place where industrial designers can consult with BASF plastic experts regarding their projects, starting from the original idea and ranging from the product concept all the way to color choices and tool design. (12)

Just give us a call to schedule a visit.
Phone no.: [+49] (0) 621 60 45946

www.designfabrik.basf.com

Packaging Strategist

2008-07-13T12:53:00.000-07:00

Packaging remains one of the most crucial parts of any marketing mix and product branding. In industries such as food and fast moving consumable goods (FMCG), it is becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate your brands.

Globalisation means that your brands are no longer just competing with the "usual suspects". I was sitting in an Indian restaurant the other day having ordered a brandy and coke. The 'Coke' arrived and only as I finished pouring it, did I realise that it was not in fact Coca Cola. The packaging was near identical with very similar colours and from a taste perspective - if I didn't know it wasn't Coca Cola I would have sworn blind it was.

Brands like Cadbury's have attempted to register or trademark their colours to prevent other chocolate manufacturers from impersonating these colours - but in many cases the competitor may have been there first or may have done it unintentionally.

The aiming of this particular blog is to highlight technologies and packaging success stories for industry professionals to learn from and discuss potential strategies going forward.