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IC*STAR: New Ways in Woven Sack Production 

A stronger sack bottom, material savings, low maintenance requirement – woven polypropylene sacks welded with a sealing band instead of sewn at the bottom bring significant advantages for both producers and users and help protect the environment.
With the IC*STAR sack concept, developed and realised by Starlinger and STATEC BINDER, broken needles, stitch holes and traces of oil on the sack fabric are now destined to become obsolete. ‟Closure of sacks by welding is the solution of the future for standard woven sacks,” Hermann Adrigan, Sales Director of Starlinger & Co. GmbH is convinced. ‟Compared to sewing, the IC*STAR process offers considerable material savings in sack production, consequently requiring less raw material – polypropylene, in this case. Sack producers profit from lower costs, and the reduced carbon footprint is good for the environment.” Material is saved by the elimination of the seam allowance required for a sewn closure, as well as by the use of lighter fabric made possible by the greater sack bottom strength. Moreover, this type of closure makes IC*STAR sacks completely tight – an important advantage especially for packaging fine powdered goods which tend to sift through stitch holes and form dust, presenting a health hazard in some cases. The oil-free production process makes IC*STAR sacks ideal for packaging foodstuffs.
Welded sacks – the production concept of the future
IC*STAR sacks are produced on the Starlinger sack conversion line multiKON KX. This conversion line is equipped with the sealTEC bottom closure module, jointly developed by Starlinger and STATEC BINDER. Instead of a sewing unit, the IC*STAR concept features a welding device which, in a continuous process, welds a coated sealing band onto the sack bottom by means of hot air – no glue is required. The mouth of the sack remains open and can be closed, after filling on the filling line, either by welding with another sealing band or by sewing. The sealTEC module requires less maintenance than a sewing machine and needs considerably fewer replacements of spares and wearing parts. Both coated and uncoated IC*STAR sacks can be produced by this new method in an efficient and material-saving process.
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About STATEC BINDER:
A specialist in packaging and palletizing machines, STATEC BINDER GmbH is a globally operating manufacturer of flexible solutions for the bagging and palletizing of bulk goods. The product portfolio ranges from bagging systems for polyethylene, poplypropylene and paper sacks to high-level palletizing systems and robot palletizers, renowned for reliability and durability.
STATEC BINDER develops, designs and manufactures all machines in its own ISO 9001 certified plant in Gleisdorf, Austria. To date, approximately 1000 packaging lines have been supplied and installed worldwide. 

About Starlinger & Co. Ges.m.b.H.:
Starlinger is a Vienna-based engineering company with production sites in Weissenbach and St. Martin, Austria, as well as Taicang, China. As the world’s leading supplier of machinery and complete lines for woven plastic bag production and PET recycling and refinement, Starlinger & Co. Ges.m.b.H. is a synonym for leadership in quality and technology in over 130 countries. Founded in 1835, the family-owned business has been exporting machines worldwide for more than 45 years with an export quota of over
99.5 %.
Branches in Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa, USA and Uzbekistan ensure quick and professional technical support and service.


Further information:
Starlinger & Co. Ges.m.b.H. Sonnenuhrgasse 4
1060 Vienna, Austria
T: +43 1 59955-0
F: +43 1 59955-25
E: sales@starlinger.com www.starlinger.com 

battenfeld-cincinnati: Plast 2012 - Milan

Optimized for pipe and profile
production

At this year’s Plast from 8 to 12 May, battenfeld-cincinnati will be presenting optimized machine concepts for makers of pipes and profiles. At its booth A 01 in hall 13, the German-Austrian machine manufacturer will showcase a twin-screw extruder from its latest-generation twinEX series for profile production and the solEX single-screw extruder for pipe extrusion. Information will also be provided about greenpipe, the innovative energy-saving concept for pipe production, and about techBEX, the complete line for producing small technical profiles

A twinEX 78 parallel twin-screw extruder will be on display, the smallest model of the series, which comprises a total of four models with screw diameters ranging from 78 to 135 mm. With its 34 D processing length and typical battenfeld-cincinnati features – such as customized screw geometries, maintenance-free screw temperature control and effective barrel cooling – these extruders reach outputs between 120 and 1,000 kg/h in PVC profile production. Of course, twinEX extruders can also be used to produce pipes with output performances ranging from 200 to 1,700 kg/h. The machines stand out by their high flexibility with gentle, homogeneous melt processing, and also offer a favorable price/performance ratio.

Moreover, a solEX 75-40 from the company’s powerful single-screw extruder series will be presented. The five models from the solEX series feature top performance in terms of throughput and melt homogeneity in the production of HD-PE and PP pipes. They reach an extremely high throughput level, which allows manufacturers to use the next-but-one smaller machine model compared to conventional 30 D extruders. Depending on the application and the material, outputs between 240 and 2,200 kg/h can be reached with screw diameters ranging from 45 to 120 mm. This high performance is achieved by an optimized screw geometry and high torque in addition to a screw length of 40 D. Like all extruders from battenfeld-cincinnati, these extruder models also come with maintenance-free, energy-efficient AC motors and an extremely compact design, so that their space requirements are modest.

Another topic of this trade fair is the modular greenpipe concept, which enables a drastic reduction in the lengths and energy costs of pipe extrusion lines compared to conventional lines, with simultaneous optimization of pipe quality. Processors have three different options at their disposal: pipe dies with an efficient air cooling (EAC) system, the KryoS pipe die series based on spiral mandrel distributors, which allows reductions in energy consumption by 30 to 45%, and the greenpipe downstream concept. The latter enables the length of the cooling section to be cut almost by half. In the greenpipe downstream aggregate, fresh cooling water is pumped only into the hindmost tank instead of every tank, then passed on from one tank to the next from back to front in the opposite direction to the extrusion process.

Finally, battenfeld-cincinnati will present detailed information in Milan about the techBEX turnkey line concept for small technical profiles, which was already presented in Italy during an Open House event at Fainplast s.r.l. in Ascoli Piceno. Under the motto of “quality meets cost-efficiency”, techBEX stands for a range of standardized, complete extrusion lines, which are able to cover a wide range of applications. The total package consists of an extruder, which can be selected individually from a choice of six different models, and a completely wired and pre-assembled downstream section including everything from the calibration table to the tilting table, which is ready for immediate start-up on site.

www.gpmagazine.gr

PLASTIVISION ARABIA 2012

Main events of the 6th World Water Forum in Marseille

Εcotec 2012 - Conergy

Clariant gives designers and brand managers vital insight with new color palettes

Color is a powerful communications tool with the ability to convey emotions and stories. It has deep connections with cultural, political, religious and social influences, as we all respond to color psychologically and intuitively. In a world filled with conflicts and pressures, the impact of color, whether conscious or subliminal, can bring value to our lives by positively influencing our moods. It can take us from sad to happy, tired to alert, anxious to calm. In knowledgeable hands, valuable guidance can be provided for applying color to real-world challenges to achieve desired outcomes. In the world of plastics, that guidance comes from Clariant's ColorWorks™ and its ColorForward™ color design tool.

ColorForward is a dedicated color forecasting service in the plastics industry, now in its 7th year. The newly launched ColorForward 2013 is a welcome event for designers and marketers of plastics products. Industry-wide, ColorForward’s predictions help define what colors consumers will respond to in the years ahead. The service has proven to be of great value to manufacturers of all types of products, giving them a head start on using the power of color to influence consumer purchasing decisions.

ColorForward’s color predictions are based on intensive research of the most influential societal trends around the world. Uncovering the most significant trends and the colors they engender is not a simple task. Each ColorForward forecast package is based on a year-long effort that involves hundreds of plastics industry and trend analysis experts from around the world. Color specialists from industries as diverse as architecture, textiles, packaging, housewares, automotive and fashion all participate in the process. Many trends are considered, but only the ones with true global impact make the final cut. 

The color selections for 2013 are based on four powerful societal trends that are deemed to have the strongest global impact in the near time frame.

Let's tackle the problems of the world - Science Superhero
Climate change, diminishing energy supplies, feeding a growing global population, pollution of land and oceans, new disease threats are monumental challenges we wake up to daily. But, there is hope in a trend Clariant calls SCIEN-SATIONAL. It represents the growing sense of optimism we have in the capabilities of science and technology to find the best solutions. We fully support our scientists and believe their experimentation and explorations will yield amazing breakthroughs and achievements that will improve the quality of life for everyone on earth.

Feed me, and make it good – I’m Loving Eat!
Our food supplies have entered center stage. Food has taken on a greater meaning than mere sustenance in our lives. It's a trend Clariant callsFOODTURE. We live in a global society where what we eat, how it's grown, and where it comes from are important issues. TV channels dedicated to food, celebrity chefs, cookbooks by the score, and culinary tourism are examples of our obsession with what we eat and the search for new tastes. Urban vegetable gardens are commonplace. And new technologies are developing ways to produce food closer to where people live.

There's a group I'd like to join – Meet You There
People are feeling a need to join together with others who share the same interests and values. This is a drive to create communities of kindred souls that Clariant has named COMMUNINATION. These social networks, aided by rapidly growing communication technologies, will be both local and global. They will provide real benefits to members by enabling people to call on each other for assistance, for a cause, or simply for companionship. Another aspect of this trend is the interest in things produced and sold locally with special appeal for the "home-grown" and "hand-crafted" of true quality.

Do we really need more stuff? – Classy Austerity
It seems people have finally learned that accumulating possessions is not the route to happiness. Today's new generation feels they can enjoy life more by having less. This global shift from collecting stuff to choosing what we feel is essential, is a trend Clariant titled ENOUGH... IS ENOUGH! The downturn in the world economy, the "green" revolution, the desire for a less pressured lifestyle – all contribute to the new attitude against conspicuous consumption. We are willing to pay more for better quality, and we want our things to provide a meaningful experience.

Through their dedication, depth of experience, and true collaboration, not to mention a healthy dose of intuition, the worldwide Clariant ColorWorks team has developed a range of color palettes that harmoniously resonate with each trend’s influence. The color palette for SCIEN-SATIONAL represents a sense of the mystique and the joy of scientific discovery. FOODTURE's palette is very organic and brings to mind a bright, fresh, healthy and tasty salad. COMMUNINATION offers a warm palette that's clean, direct and grounded, supportive of our communal outreach. The colors of ENOUGH... IS ENOUGH! foster a sense of quality and durability along with our desire for an emotional connection.

The color palettes of these trends are quite varied and will give designers much to think about. "But that's the idea," says Cristina Carrara, Designer at ColorWorks Europe and a member of the Clariant Masterbatches global ColorForward team. "The colors are conceptual ideas. They are meant to inspire the imagination." Carrara also points out that the colors can be mixed and matched, and freely adapted to the needs of local markets or blended with regional influences.

"Our customers are eager to work with the next release of ColorForward every year,” says Maurizio Torchio, Head of ColorWorks Europe. “Finding it an inspiring and serious design tool. It is a challenging, creative puzzle they really have fun with."

Anyone interested in learning more about ColorForward can visit www.colorworks.clariant.com and click on the Color Trends tab. Clariant also offers seminars at the seven ColorWorks locations as well as at selected conferences and at customer sites.

Clariant Masterbatches products are marketed under the following global brand names: REMAFIN® olefinic masterbatches and compounds; RENOL® masterbatches and compounds based on engineering resins, styrenics and PVC; MEVOPUR® masterbatches for medical and pharma applications; CESA® additive masterbatches; HYDROCEROL® chemical foaming and nucleating agents; OMNICOLOR® universal color masterbatches, and ENIGMA® special effects. These brand names are all registered trademarks, and ColorWorks™ and ColorForward™ are trademarks of Clariant. 

www.gpmagazine.gr

WM Wrapping Machinery sa

WM Wrapping Machinery SA in Stabio, Swiss company established in the construction of thermoforming systems, will take part in the PLAST 2012 trade fair in Milan next May.

Especially for this occasion, the new version of the Model FC 780 E Speedmaster Plus reel thermoforming machine will be presented to the operators.

This new generation of machines collects all of the technological updates and new state of the art features for vacuum-pressure thermoforming with steel rule cutting.

Visitors to the WM stand A 47 in pavilion 22 will also be able to see a FT-700 punch and die thermoforming machine with a lower tilting platen and automatic robotised stacking system. 

The former with steel rule cutting FC 780 E Speedmaster Plus, which will be presented on demonstration, features, among other facilities, a 4-column forming station, with a closing force of daN 75,000, also suitable for incorporated cutting in the same forming mould.

In addition, the thermoforming machine has the second daN 60,000 press, of 4-columns, for separate cutting and finally the stacking, counting and evacuation station. The version with a two or three-axes robot manipulation system, which ensures the widest range of stacking solutions for the diverse thermoformed products, is already available. 

The machine can fit moulds up to a maximum size of 780 x 570 mm and is able to form products with depths (negative and positive) of up to 130 mm.

As mentioned previously, this line, named Speedmaster Plus, has also many new features; a particular nod to the new processor for machine management and for gathering together all of the production “recipes”. The new generation of B&R PC use a digital interface that guarantees a high and precise speed of exchange of the machine parameters.

The software automatically manages the auto-setting of the cycle parameters on the basis of the few elements requested to the operator.

Moreover, the mechanics of the machine has been rationalised and new linear guides have been introduced for positioning the cutting press and stacking stations. The transducers have been replaced by absolute encoders and the pneumatic system has been brought in line with the uses, as much as possible, by considerably reducing the intervention times of the various functions, all the while reducing consumption.

In keeping with principle of developing new machines for the purpose of greater focus on energy saving, the WM systems integrate a regenerative power supply that regenerates the kinetic energy produced during motor decelerations by reinserting it into the network, resulting in the consequent energy saving in the machine movement.

Another new feature is the structure of the heating ovens and their positioning according to the material pitch, which has also been provided with a great possibility of division the heating zones in order to best adapt the system to the type of material to process.

In regards instead to the model FT 700 with a tilting platen relevant to the demonstrations, there is a maximum mould size of 705x400 mm, a 150mm negative depth of the thermoformed products and a closing force of 40,000 daN.

WM Wrapping Machinery SA supplies also complete IN LINE plants, including the extrusion and calendaring of the sheet.

www.wm-thermoforming.com

Thermo Fisher Scientific Introduces New Versa RxV Checkweigher for Track/Trace

System Combines Checkweighing with Coding, Verification 

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, today launched its new Thermo Scientific Versa RxV checkweigher for track and trace applications in the global marketplace. The company will demonstrate the new system at IPACK-IMA, February 28-March 3, 2012, at Fieramilano, Milan, Italy, hall 9, stand D28.

The Versa RxV addresses the needs of pharmaceutical and other products which require track and trace capability. The all-in-one high-speed system (up to 550 bottles/cartons per minute) combines code printing and verification (alpha-numeric and machine readable) with checkweighing.

Because of increased counterfeiting and product recalls, there is a heightened emphasis on tracking and tracing pharmaceutical products throughout the distribution channel. The GS1 track and trace serialization standard calls for individual drug package components (bottle, carton, shipping case, pallet, etc.) to be marked with an identifying code. Codes must be unique, random and unduplicated. Although the GS1 standard is currently voluntary, Food and Drug Administration regulations making it mandatory could come as early as 2015.

“Pharmaceutical companies, as well as manufacturers of other products such as food and cosmetics, are looking for cost-effective ways to integrate track and trace capabilities into their production lines. By combining the key elements of serialization—marking and verification—into the checkweigher, companies save both cost and space,” said Kevin Zarnick, North America pharmaceutical sales manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Thermo Fisher’s customizable approach to building a Versa RxV enables manufacturers to select which code printer and vision system brand is added to the checkweigher frame. The modular build means that pharma companies can specify the exact components they prefer.

A key differentiator of the Versa RxV from competitive all-in-one units is its single operator interface. Instead of mounting separate user interfaces for the checkweigher, code printer and machine vision system, Thermo Fisher has incorporated control of all functions into one screen.  This significantly improves ease-of-operation and saves valuable line space.

The company also has engineered additional features into the Versa RxV that make it particularly suitable for these applications.  A single brushless motor mounted in the back of the enclosed cabinet minimizes mechanical vibration while powering the infeed, weigh table and outfeed conveyors. The “knife-edge” belt design provides superior product handling when products travel from the infeed conveyor onto the weigh table at high speeds. Both of these design features improve checkweighing accuracy.

Additionally, side belts with horizontal and vertical adjustment  ensure the correct position of the bottle or carton during marking and verification. The checkweigher also features two reject mechanisms—one for packages rejected by the vision system due to illegible or incorrect codes and the other for over/under weights.

“The World Health Organization has estimated that up to 15 percent of all medicinal products in the world are counterfeit. With more than $75 billion in counterfeit drugs moving through the global supply chain, pharmaceutical companies must take proactive measures to minimize the chance that illegally manufactured drugs get into the hands of consumers. Adding track and trace systems to production lines is one way to accomplish that objective,” Zarnick said.

The Versa RxV checkweigher for track and trace applications is backed by the extensive worldwide Thermo Fisher service network. For more information about Thermo Scientific checkweighers, please visit: www.thermoscientific.com/checkweighers. 

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is the world leader in serving science. Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. With revenues of nearly $11 billion, we have approximately 37,000 employees and serve customers within pharmaceutical and biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions and government agencies, as well as in environmental and process control industries. We create value for our key stakeholders through two premier brands, Thermo Scientific and Fisher Scientific, which offer a unique combination of continuous technology development and the most convenient purchasing options. Our products and services help accelerate the pace of scientific discovery, and solve analytical challenges ranging from complex research to routine testing to field applications. 

www.thermofisher.com.