Saturday, October 30, 2010

Xeikon and Moss unveil new plastic decoration possibilities at K 2010


Xeikon, a division of Punch Graphix, and Italy-based MOSS, a leader in container decorating technologies are showcasing new applications for its jointly developed digital heat transfer Digital Decorating System at K-2010. The exhibition is being staged in Dusseldorf from October 27 to November 3. Xeikon and MOSS can be found at Hall 04 / E21.

New application, new market
The Digital Decorating System enables the digital heat transfer process to be applied to seamless plastic tubes. The solution has been developed to meet increasing demand for wider versioning capabilities from global brand owners. Previously designed for printing on polypropylene, the Digital Decorating System’s ability to print on HDPE has opened up a new sector and a vast array of end uses.

Filip Weymans, Business Development Manager Labels & Packaging, Xeikon, explains:  “Brand owners are continually revising their graphics and product varieties according to customer demand. The Digital Decorating System enables them to do this faster, easier and more cost effectively than ever before. The system also allows them to be more responsive to versioning opportunities. The innovative technology ensures fast and cost-efficient decoration of seamless plastic tubes, even in very short runs. It creates a sharper image for a more refined result, helping products stand out from the competition.”

A cost-effective alternative
The Digital Decorating System is ideal for label printers and injection molders. It is a high-quality, flexible and cost-effective alternative to direct screen or direct offset print for short-to-medium runs. The solution requires no set-up or plate costs. It also delivers much higher quality compared with direct print technology, in terms of both image quality (1200 dpi) and a more opaque white.

The 1200 dpi image quality is crucial for producing such impressive results, according to Franco Venturi, Moss Sales Manager: “Using our equipment we simply transfer these highly defined images onto flexible tubes. A coating of transparent varnish is then applied to increase the seal of the container and protect the decoration from scratches.”

The Digital Decorating System also offers a number of other benefits: “It’s perfectly suitable for smaller lots rather than longer runs associated with direct offset and silkscreen, as there is no need to prepare any plates,” adds Venturi. “The solution is also very affordable, which will make it attractive to print service providers of all sizes.”

Digital two-step
The first stage in the easy two-step process is Xeikon’s web press, which prints the exact number of transfers required for the decoration. Using the Xeikon press enables self-adhesive and heat-transfer labels to be printed. In the next step, the roll of printed transfers is fed into the MOSS Digital Decorating System, which perfectly applies transfers to seamless tubes via the heat transfer process. The result is a high-quality, digitally printed and applied decoration that is scratch and water resistant.

“The Digital Decorating System has huge potential,” concludes Weymans. “Many of our customers print a broad range of products. The solution will help them to cost-effectively bolster their presence and take a greater market share.”
Moss manufactures and sells silk-screen, offset and hot-stamping machines for the decoration of articles and containers. In addition to its vast range of machines from simple 1-colour semi-automatic machines to fully automatic 8-colour lines with computerized controls, also produces a complete range of complementary equipment, not to mention the sale and installation of labeling machines on its own printing lines, and is in a unique position to be able to offer, not only first class after sales customer service, but also a truly complete service to its customers in terms of art-work, plate and screen manufacturing and technology and inks and varnishes.

A pioneer in digital printing, Xeikon designs, develops and delivers high-end digital colour printing systems for the industrial, document and commercial printing market segments. 

CII successfully organises Food & Bev Summit 2010


The CII organized “Food & Bev Summit 2010” that was concurrently held with the Food & Bev Tech International Exhibition was held on a successful note on Friday, 29 October 2010 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre (Hall 5), Mumbai. The event was flagged off by Mr. Subodh Kant Sahay, Hon’ble Minister for food processing industries who also inaugurated the expo and the summit by lighting the traditional lamp and paying a visit to the stands.

The Summit emphasized on the preparedness of the Indian Food & Beverage sector to compete with the best in the world & cover a wide range of topics of interest to stakeholders in the industry, including CEO’s Round Table - New Consumer Trends in the area of Food & Beverage industry including processed food and how technology infrastructure can help to accelerate growth in this space, Food Regulation etc.

The summit started off with the CEO’s roundtable discussion on the “Consumer & Customer trends in the area of food & beverage industry including processed foods and how technology infrastructure can help to accelerate growth in this space. The event that was moderated by Mr. Mihir Bhatt, Chief of Business - Zee Business TV who was joined in this discussion by Mr. Piruz Khambatta, Chairman - CII as well of Rasna Pvt. Ltd. He was joined by Mr. Pradeep Banerjee, Executive Director - Supply Chain, Hindustan Unilever Ltd. along with a bevy of personalities on the dias that included Mr. Shrijeet Mishra, Executive Director - Hindustan Unilever Ltd., Venkatesh Valluri, Chairman - Ingersoll Rand and Mr. Gokul Das, MD, HRS Process System Pvt. Ltd. The second session post lunch had the dignitaries discussing on “India Food & Bev Tech Inc. – Food regulation - A tool to build the market.”

This national initiative is supported by Ministry of Food Processing & Industries, Government of India and endorsed by galaxy of food associations like Aseptic Food Processing & Packaging Industry Association of India, All India Distillers Association, All India Food Preservers Association, Fragrances and Flavours Association of India (FAFAI), Indian Stainless Steel Development Association, Oil Technologists Association of India and The Soyabean Processors Association of India.

The event attracted a large gathering of top professionals comprising of Chairmen, CEOs, MDs and other Senior Managers from the Indian Food & Beverage industry and key officials from nodal government agencies who presented their perspectives on the future of the Industry. The concurrent exhibition Food & Bev Tech 2010 has also received overwhelming response from over 100 companies who are showcasing the latest machinery, packaging equipment, accessories and services.

The event "Food & Bev Tech International Exhibition" will conclude on Sunday, 31st October 2010. Packaging Plus - India's premier magazine for the package printing and package decoration industry is also participating at this event.

APF successfully completes the Global Residential Training Programme organized by IIP


The Indian Institute of Packaging successfully concluded the two weeks Global Residential Training Programme on Packaging Technology at Hotel Vits, Mumbai in the presence of the Chief Guest Safiullah Chowdhury, President Elect, Asian Packaging Federation (APF). The main objective of this training programme was to disseminate information about the latest trends in packaging, packaging materials, its innovations and their applications in various sectors. The training programme was organized for the benefit of the participants to highlight the role of packaging in the promotion of business growth, merchandising and its impact on the overall economic development of the nation. 14 delegates from six APF member countries like China, Sri Lanka, Thaliand, Singapore, Bangladesh and India had traveled all the way to India to attend this programme. In addition to theoretical class room sessions, visits to reputed packaging industries in and around Mumbai were also organized to provide the delegates with a first hand knowledge about the operational aspects of the various packaging materials.

Sanjay Bhatia, Chairman, IIP felicitating
Safiullah Chowdhury, President Elect, APF
Packaging is considered to be one of the largest and the most diverse manufacturing sectors in the world with a value of more than 550 million USD and an employment for around 5 million people with more than 100,000 companies engaged in this sector worldwide. The Asia Pacific region has become the 3rd largest packaging market and the average annual growth rate is about over 5 – 6 %.  In the global scenario, the packaging sector ranks 9th among the top 10 industries in the developed nations.

Mr. Saha, Director, IIP stated “The Indian Packaging industry has been growing at the rate of 10 – 12% with an annual turnover of USD $13 billion or Rs. 650 billion and is expected to reach to Rs. 850 billion or USD 18.5 billion by 2015. The plastic packaging industry is still growing at the rate of 20-25% despite the negative publicity that the industry draws due to its impact on the environment. This is mainly because of its easy availability, high barrier properties for food products to enhanced shelf life, printability, convenience features and most importantly cost effectiveness. Almost 40% of packaging materials are consumed for processed food products and about 18% for beverages, 5% for pharmaceuticals, 3% for cosmetics and the balance for other products. India being the second largest country in Asia next to China, in terms of population and geographical area, the 4th largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity. The country has seen a rapid growth in the IT industry, largest player in software and BPO services. The country has got a huge potential for the consumption of packaging materials due to the large base of population.”

This trend has resulted to an increase in the consumption of packaging materials. But consequently the society at large is now concerned about the difficulties faced by the nations about collection, segregation and disposal of packaging solid waste.  Hence a great challenge lies ahead for all the global packaging professionals to develop an effective mechanism and system for the disposal of packaging solid waste and to reduce the carbon foot print in order to contribute to a healthy environment and a sustainable society.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Tracking down fakes with intelligent systems

BitSecure® is an innovative digital security feature
that provides proof of authenticity.
Original1, a joint venture between SAP, Nokia and Giesecke & Devrient, has been fighting against counterfeits and for the protection of brand value since the beginning of 2010. Original1’s activities are focused on making digital product authentication available around the world. Now the joint venture has started to receive additional support by Schreiner ProSecure, the specialist for marking and security solutions based in Oberschleissheim near Munich. The collaboration enables Original1 and Schreiner ProSecure to offer their customers a full range of products and services to successfully combat product piracy.

The platform-independent IT solution developed by Original1 creates transparency across the supply chain and enables seamless product authentication using cell/mobile phones and the internet. The system uses a central database containing information on the product and its supply chain history. ERP integration is provided by SAP, mobile code query management by Nokia and data encryption by Giesecke & Devrient. The collaboration with Schreiner ProSecure now extends this range of capabilities: the company develops and produces counterfeit-proof marking solutions with encrypted codes according to Original1’s Global Brand Protection Service (GPBS) standard. These codes can be integrated into ERP systems and the cleartext numbers optionally verified online by consumers.

Due to the combination of the various areas of expertise of the partners businesses receive a full system solution to protect their products and documents which can be integrated quickly into their existing processes and infrastructures. The lifecycle of a product from the time of manufacture all the way to the consumer can be completely tracked. The anti-counterfeiting service can be used around the world and offers businesses from any sector the opportunity to systematically counteract product piracy and to easily integrate the authentication of original products into their processes.

Original1 was founded in February 2010 as a joint venture between Nokia, SAP and Giesecke & Devrient with the aim of offering worldwide software-supported services for product authentication and protection against counterfeiting. Original1 offers solutions from a one-stop source to protect businesses from counterfeits, to preserve the value of their brands and to develop transparent work methodologies enabling sustainability. The aim is to secure the product across the entire supply chain from production all the way to the point of sale.

New generation of packagings: No chance for pharmaceutical cheats

Counterfeiting of medicines is rapidly increasing. In Germany, one in twenty medicines have been adulterated. Researchers are therefore developing authenticity seals and security codes intended to make drug packagings uniquely identifiable.

Just for representational purposes only..
Anyone who buys Sinupret sinusitis tablets from pharmaceuticals producer Bionorica will now see on the folding carton a three-dimensional, optically variable, embossed mark, which can be seen in relief when the carton is tilted. In view of the fact that the herbal medicament was so often copied, Bionorica engaged the Munich company Giesecke & Devrient, which specialises in printing bank notes, to design this tangible security feature for Sinupret. Artur Theis, a subsidiary of the Edelmann Group, developed the production process for the new packaging. The mark is printed and embossed by Braun Pharmadruck – also an Edelmann subsidiary – in Bitterfeld. Sinupret, one of the most popular products on the cold treatments market, is just the start: by the end of 2011, Bionorica intends to emboss the packagings of all its product ranges with the new quality seal. “We want to provide the best possible safeguards for pharmacies and users”, says company head Michael Popp.

Producers who have problems with counterfeiters must make their products uniquely identifiable. This is especially true in the pharmaceuticals sector. “The danger of counterfeit medicines is growing”, says Ulrike Holzgrabe of the German Pharmaceutical Society (DphG). Although producers of pharmaceuticals suffer losses amounting to billions of euros each year through product piracy, this is not the main problem, for counterfeit medicines threaten the health or even the lives of unsuspecting patients.

The Internet is a weak spot
According to EU figures, in 2009 the German customs authorities seized counterfeit medicines to the value of 11.5 million euros – 30 percent more than in the previous year. Moreover, a World Health Organisation (WHO) study claims that even in supposedly safe regions such as Europe and the USA, up to 10 percent of all medicaments are counterfeit. In Germany, according to Holzgrabe, the proportion of such counterfeit products is about five percent. “But this is just the tip of the iceberg”, she suspects. Mail order business offers criminals the greatest opportunities. This sector is booming, especially in Germany. Marketing research firm ACNielsen estimates that sales of non-prescription drugs increased by a quarter last year. According to the consumer research consultancy company GfK, one in four Germans now obtain medicaments through this channel. At the same time, it is apparently becoming harder for consumers to distinguish between reputable mail order pharmacies and illegal traders. Test purchases by the Central Laboratory of German Pharmacists confirm counterfeiting rates of 50 percent for medicines sold by, for example, illegal Internet pharmacies.

“Producers of pharmaceuticals are therefore more willing to look at methods of providing better security against counterfeiting”, says Holzgrabe. The companies have two aims: firstly, consumers should be able verify that they have received an original product; and secondly, experts should be able to identify counterfeits when they carry out checks. The most active companies include not only medicinal plant specialist Bionorica but also Bayer Healthcare, whose products are among the most frequently counterfeited worldwide. The company therefore explains on its website (www.vorsicht-faelschung.de) how patients can distinguish between original Bayer preparations and imitations. In future, Bayer Healthcare will also provide its medicament packagings with counterfeit-proof features. The Leverkusen-based company has also engaged Artur Theis for this project. “Our task is to make the security features suitable for a folding carton production line, and then for series production”, explains Ulrich Dörstelmann, head of the counterfeiting security department at the Edelmann subsidiary.

Based on banknote printing
In Germany, Artur Theis is regarded as the specialist for uncopyable folding cartons. The conditions in its Wuppertal plant, which has been converted into a pure counterfeiting security facility, are the same as those in a banknote printing works: there is strict access control to the production section, the security zones are taboo for most of the personnel, and all processes are exactly documented and archived. The degree of meticulousness is so far unique in the German packaging industry. The result of the cooperation with Bayer Healthcare is, says Dörstelmann, a sort of lenticular image that cannot be imitated by counterfeiters. “We combine printing and embossing technology and use UV security inks.”

The EU, however, requires yet another step to be taken by the pharmaceuticals industry to ensure greater patient safety. Industry Commissar Günter Verheugen announced that in 2011 there will be a standard procedure at EU level in the fight against the counterfeiting of medicines. In 2008 the Commission proposed that medicament packagings should be protected by a security mark, and that in future it should be possible to retrace their path from the counter back to the factory. The WHO is also a strong supporter of counterfeit-proof labelling. Producers of pharmaceuticals are therefore pushing for the introduction of an electronic proof of origin in the form of a track and trace system, with the help of which the complete supply chain can be monitored.

In order to test and demonstrate coding and identification solutions, the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) launched a pilot project in Sweden in September 2009. For several weeks, medicament packagings for 25 pharmacies in the Stockholm region were provided with a two-dimensional data matrix code. This can hold more information than a simple bar code. In the Swedish project, it contained an article number, a batch number, a use-by date and a serial number. At the pharmacy, the code was scanned and compared immediately with an entry in a database. The whole process took only a few seconds, so that counterfeits were immediately identified. Only after this security check did the customer receive the medicament. About 100,000 medicament packagings were tested using this system – with great success, as the EFPIA reported.

Origin checks by scanner
Experts therefore confidently expect the track and trace system to be implemented throughout Europe in the near future. “The EU’s pharmaceuticals package could become law in 2010”, says Dörstelmann. Manufacturers of machinery and systems are well prepared for a switchover. Optima Group Pharma, for example, based in the Swabian town of Schwäbisch Hall, specialises in filling and sealing syringes and vials. It already offers, on request, coordinated track and trace solutions for producers of pharmaceuticals. “Ready-to-use syringes are stored and transported in special syringe nests in plastic boxes referred to as tubs. Our machines label the containers, so that they can be traced at any time”, explains company spokesman Henning Felix. Bosch Packaging Technology, which supplies filling, processing and packaging technology for the pharmaceuticals industry, also has printing and tracing equipment in its portfolio. Bosch product manager Daniel Sanwald explains the function of the printing module as follows: Each minute, up to 400 folding cartons are transported on a conveyor belt at high-speed through a printer, which labels each carton with a data matrix code containing a production number, use-by date and serial number. A camera subsequently checks and verifies the code. The data are finally stored on a high-capacity central server, from which they can always be called up. If a product that cannot be identified in this way turns up in a pharmacy, it must be a counterfeit. “If track and trace becomes mandatory, thousands of production lines will have to be retooled. We can see enormous market potential for our technology”, says Sanwald. At interpack 2011, the most important event in the worldwide packaging sector, manufacturers of machinery and systems will present their track and trace solutions from 12 to 18 May 2011.

A security offensive by producers of pharmaceuticals would also increase demand for high quality packaging materials producers. In order to cut costs during the economic crisis, many companies bought packagings and packaging components for their medicaments in China. The disadvantage is that these products are often of poorer quality, so that dosage sprays, catheters or pumps, for example, may not function correctly or may break more easily. “All those who subscribe to patient safety, and who want to send a clear signal that quality is a top priority, will no longer use these products in future”, says Peter Rösch, head of sales at atomiser pump manufacturer Aero Pump situated in Hochheim am Main. He can see a large market for his company’s quality products: “We put a high priority on dimensional accuracy and precision, and we invest heavily in quality assurance and innovation”, says Rösch. Aero Pump will also present its innovations at interpack.

It is unlikely that pharmaceuticals counterfeiters will be attracted by medicaments that have been provided with a security mark, a code and a top quality packaging. However, there are still many obstacles on the path to obtaining maximum patent protection. An enormous investment is required in order to retool packaging lines, and this could prevent pharmaceuticals companies from acting quickly. Even if the EU rapidly approves its pharmaceuticals package, the implementation process could take years. Another aspect that has yet to be clarified is where all the data associated with a pan-European track and trace system should be stored. Will there be several geographically dispersed servers or one central system? “And then someone must be the owner. This raises the question of who trusts who?”, says Bosch manager Sanwald.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

K 2010 : Your perfect bottle..

'Competence in Solutions' is a guiding principle KHS GmbH consistently applies and will be demonstrated once again at this year's K 2010 trade show in Düsseldorf.  As an international partner for filling and packaging technology in the beverage, food, and non-food sectors, KHS' great competence in the design and manufacture of complete systems and individual machines is convincing.  The company also provides assistance and support to the beverage, food, and non-food branches of industry throughout the entire service life of KHS products.

At K 2010, together with KHS Corpoplast and KHS Plasmax KHS will be presenting various PET bottle design solutions under the motto of 'Your Perfect Bottle'.  The focus will be on the KHS Bottles & Shapes program, the new InnoPET Blomax Series IV generation of stretch blow molders, andInnoPET Plasmax barrier coating. 
There will be a large number of different PET bottles on show, all designed, developed, and tested within the Bottles & Shapes program.  With this program and over 35 years of experience with PET, KHS Corpoplast provides companies with continuous advice and support throughout the entire development process, from the initial idea for a plastic container to its industrial manufacture and flawless performance in the filling line.  One important aspect of the Bottles & Shapes program with regard to sustainability and cost is the development of lightweight, extremely robust and rigid PET bottles.  Only recently KHS Corpoplast introduced what is probably the lightest 0.5-liter PET bottle weighing just 6.4 grams.  Another pioneering development is the 1.5-liter PET bottle for still water with a weight of only 17.9 grams that is currently undergoing tests for implementation in commercial production. 

The new InnoPET Blomax Series IV generation of stretch blow molders is the perfect high-speed production system for even lighter and increasingly environmentally-friendly PET bottle designs developed in the Bottles & Shapes program.  It even tops KHS' stretch blow molding technology on the market to date, not only meeting customer demands regarding speed, precision, and quality in the manufacture of PET bottles at the most impressive level, but also those pertaining to sustainability and reduced overall operating costs per unit.  A few of the many advantages of theInnoPET Blomax Series IV are described in the following.  The time required to heat preforms has been halved.  The innovative CleverLoc system with half the form carrier movable and the other half fixed lengthens the machine's service life, enables an increased speed of up to 2,200 bottles an hour per blow station, and ensures even better process stability with its solid design.  The gentle treatment of preforms has been optimized by adding an active mandrel.  The precision of the stretching process has also been boosted by implementing servo technology.  The new stretching process also reduces the time needed for changeovers when manufacturing different types of PET bottle.  The output-independent stretching motion provides greater process flexibility, process optimization, and process capability.  In Düsseldorf, KHS will have the blow stations from the newest series of stretch blow molding machines on display to give visitors to K 2010 a good impression of the innovative generation of stretch blow molders and let them experience hands-on high tech. 

Another area that will undoubtedly fascinate visitors to the trade show and generate much interest is KHS' barrier technology now in use the world over. KHS InnoPET Plasmax coats the inside of PET bottles with an ultra thin layer of silicon oxide (SiOx).  The appearance of both bottle and product remain unaltered without affecting the excellent recycling properties of the PET bottle, as SiOx is pure glass, gas tight, and completely invisible.  This thin film of glass gives the PET containers the barrier characteristics only heavy glass bottles otherwise have.  InnoPET Plasmax can thus use lightweight PET bottles to also package sensitive beverages, such as beer, juice, wine, and ketchup, which are then able to retain their high quality for longer – at capacities of up to 40,000 bottles per hour. 

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Wheylayer: Sustainable Packaging with Whey Protein

The demands made on modern foodstuff packaging are high: the solutions here have to be ecological, economical, sustainable and functional. Consequently, the development of biopolymers is one of the current top trends in the research field of new packaging materials. The Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV has now presented initial results of the European "Wheylayer" project. 

14 partners from seven EU countries are currently working on a revolution in terms of food packaging: called "Wheylayer" the project sets out to develop a sustainable packaging material with an economical production process that will use the excellent barrier properties of whey protein against oxygen and humidity so as to replace the conventional polymer layers in packaging with a natural product. 

Materials for food packaging have to fulfil particularly high requirements - from process-engineering ones through to barrier properties against water vapour and oxygen. The development of biopolymers that meet these demands is very high up on the agenda in current research. The Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV located in the German town of Freising is involved in numerous public and industry funded projects focusing on the topic of "Biopolymers in Paper and Film Applications". And the key aim in all these projects is to develop both ecological and economical packaging. 

Presentation of Results at interpack 2011 
To achieve this goal materials must be renewable, satisfy food packaging requirements and their production must be possible at marketable prices. Previous biopolymers only achieved this to a limited extent. This is where the research activities of the joint European project "Wheylayer" come in. The project is scheduled to run for a total of three years - from 2008 to 2011 - and the final product is to be presented on conclusion of this period at interpack 2011: an innovative film coating with whey protein that is aimed at achieving greater foodstuff shelf life, saving production materials and, at the same time, cutting CO² emissions. 

The use of biopolymers in packaging materials improves the sustainability and biodegradability of packaging. The positive properties of this material group can be used here such as the antimicrobial and antioxidative effect of a film coated with whey protein. It is thought this will make it possible to obtain particularly pure protein isolates and optimise the film-forming properties of whey protein from sweet and sour whey by chemical modifications and enzymatic partial hydrolysis. Innovative whey protein formulations on the basis of these proteins are thought to both display a great barrier effect as well as excellent adhesion and resistance to mechanical strain. 

Renewable natural products can, however, only replace petrochemically-based polymer layers if they boast the necessary barrier properties against oxygen and hydrogen. A prototype of a protein film of this kind made of whey has already been presented as an intermediate result. The experts are now anticipating great potential from the final result. 

K 2010:Some 3,100 exhibitors will be participating in the global plastics and rubber marketplace

At K 2010 in Düsseldorf, from 27 October to 3 November, some 3,100 exhibitors will once again be presenting their latest developments for all sectors of the industry. Companies from 57 countries have already registered to attend.

The total leased exhibition space comes to 164,100 square meters, about 60 of this being occupied by companies based outside Germany. The number of German exhibitors registered currently totals 1,058, with a net area of 65,740 square meters.

Italy is traditionally the most strongly represented nation among the non-German exhibitors, and more than 400 Italian companies alone have booked a net space of 27,400 square metres to showcase their products. Also strongly represented among the European countries are Austria (8,100 square metres), Switzerland (6,100 square metres), France (5,000 square metres) and the Netherlands (4,200 square metres). 113 companies from the USA will be taking part, occupying some 4,500 square metres of exhibition space – an increase in relation to K 2007. Furthermore, the contingents from China (6,700 square metres), India (4,500 square meters) and Turkey (2,800 square metres) have grown appreciably. With 5,300 square metres, Taiwan is as strongly represented as in 2007. Appearing for the first time are exhibitors from Armenia, Chile, Indonesia, Pakistan and Vietnam.

To enable K 2010 trade visitors to conduct searches and find solutions in advance during the run-up to the fair, the companies are making intensive use of the communication platform offered on the trade fair’s Web portal at www.k-online.de. Under the heading “Companies & Products”, website visitors can search for exhibitors, products/services or company news. With the “extended search” option, it is also possible to locate companies according to country of origin or postal code. In addition, users can obtain lists of exhibitors who offer a particular product or service. The Online Showrooms of the individual companies contain exhibitor data sheets, product information, links to home pages, stand activities during the trade fair, as well as company profiles and figures. And if any questions still remain unanswered, the “Matchmaking” search utility allows users to post specific requests or find products capable of meeting very special demands.

Using the quick and easy login to the trade fair portal – the login section is on the right-hand side of the home page – users can compile their own personalized Product Information catalogue or plan their tour of the fair using the MyOrganizer tool. To make personalized trade fair planning even easier, any number of compilations can be made by repeating searches with different criteria. For those who want to become thoroughly familiar with the exhibition hall layouts before travelling to Düsseldorf, there is an interactive flash floorplan. Mobile research is also possible: the exhibitors and products databases can be accessed via PDAs and other mobile devices. The URL for the mobile version is:http://mobile.k-online.de 

Monday, October 25, 2010

Heidelberg reports increasing demand in Asian packaging market

Manila based Fortune Packaging  recently acquired a Speedmaster CD 102 six-colour with coater, which follows a number of previous installations from the press giant. The Speedmaster CD 102 is the third press purchased by Fortune Packaging within an 18 month period and is expected to expand Fortune’s production capacity of food packaging as well cosmetic brochures and high quality fashion magazines. Fortune Packaging  is one of Philippines largest packaging company.

Meanwhile, Heidelberg has also installed a new Speedmaster CX 102 at KPP, one of Singapore’s leading packaging printers. The purchase is KP second CD 102, with the first one commissioned in 2008. Established in 1986, KPP Packaging is one of the leading suppliers of paper packaging products in Singapore. The company supplies packaging products to software manufacturers, advertising agencies, the electronics and electrical industry, and pharmaceuticals as well as food & beverage manufacturers.

The ongoing relationship between KPP and Heidelberg is based on the reliable performance of the equipment as well as the after-sales support from Heidelberg System service for parts and maintenance work, according to Heidelberg.

Coca-Cola: Produced and packaged upon a regional basis worldwide

Hardly a beverage group is as well-known throughout the entire world as Coca-Cola. The basis for this brand recognition is formed by a decentralised system by means of which the global company can be active in the local markets very successfully. 
In 2011, Coca-Cola will turn 125 years old. There aren’t a lot of brands that have accomplished this and certainly sustainable, responsible action forms the basis for such success. In Coca-Cola’s case, the sustainability concept will play a central role for tomorrow, but obviously this didn’t just begin yesterday.
Coca-Cola from the USA tastes just like Coca-Cola from Italy or France - but nonetheless the international cult beverage also tastes like it’s from home: Coca-Cola is not centrally produced and then transported around the entire world, but rather produced, packaged, and distributed worldwide in one’s own respective country for the domestic market. 



Regionality principle 
For a very long time, it has been among the company’s principles to always produce the products regionally, i.e. even though it’s a global company, business is locally managed in each of the approx. 200 countries. This regionality principle creates many advantages: Short routes for production and distribution save energy and reduce CO2 emissions. Furthermore, the close cooperation with regional raw materials dealers and local production partners strengthens the financial power in the respective region. Based upon company data, even the ingredients for the beverages are largely from the surrounding areas insofar as this is possible. Thus, Coca-Cola procures the required water either from its own wells or from local municipal suppliers and it is processed - upon a standardised basis worldwide – according to strict criteria. Even the sugar is obtained primarily from sugar beets which are grown in domestic fields. 

Sustainable packaging concept 
An important factor in the production process is the packaging. Environmental-friendliness and sustainability are a prevailing theme everywhere in the area of product packaging. At Coca-Cola, above all bottles, cases and boxes are used. The plastic reusable bottles are filled 15 times on average just like the glass bottles and are completely recyclable. In the area of disposable packaging, much progress in reducing weight has been attained in recent years: The weight of the 0.33-litre beverage cans has been able to be reduced from approx. 80 grams in the 1960s to 23 grams today. For example, the weight of the PET disposable bottles in 2009 was able to be reduced by approx. 1.5 to 2.5 grams per bottle by changing the body of the bottle and its neck. According to Coca-Cola’s data, merely by so doing, 1,000 tons of PET per year can be saved which is supposed to correspond to the CO2 equivalent of approx. 3,300 tons. In addition, through improvements in materials and technology - such as, for example, through thinner foils and more economical wrapping of transport pallets - between 10 and 15 percent of packaging foil per pallet was saved. 

Even with regards to its packaging concept, Coca-Cola relies upon regional production to the extent that this is possible: Reusable boxes and labels are often provided by suppliers in the nearby areas and the company itself produces PET disposable bottles from pre-forms at many locations in order to avoid any unnecessarily long transport. 

In order to be able to make the bottles even more environmentally friendly in the future, the percentage of recycling materials is supposed to increase even more in the future. Currently, by company accounts, the PET disposable bottles for refreshment beverages contain approx. 23 percent recycling materials. The goal is to increase this value to 50 percent because the CO2 emissions for recycled PET are more than two-thirds smaller than for new materials. Even beverage cases, paper and paperboard for Coca-Cola beverages contain high levels of recycling components. The reusable cases for the classical refreshment beverages were already produced with up to 100% recycling materials in 2009. 

Global Compact 
In order to document its commitment to exemplary action in the market, “The Coca-Cola Company” signed the UNO’s Global Compact. It defines the company’s norms worldwide. Furthermore, the company still has its own workplace guidelines that are valid worldwide. In accordance with its own workplace guidelines, the company is obliged to adhere to the same minimum standards in the workplace in all countries of the world where it does business. 

By so doing, Coca-Cola is becoming an important economic factor internationally. Worldwide, countless direct and indirect jobs are affected at each production stage - from the procurement of the sugar to water processing to the filling and recycling factories.