THERMOFORMING | MACHINERY
being recyclable. The matte finish and colour- matching capabilities helped Holon achieve a “cohesive interior environment”. With plans to launch in both North America and
Europe, Holon needed production flexibility and consistent quality – so Sekisui connected it with thermoforming partners in Germany and the US.
Natural boost At the latest Bioplastics event, organised by AMI, Shilpa Manjure, director of R&D at Natur-Tec USA, focused on the thermoformability of PLA as a replacement for polystyrene (PS). In the case of lids for coffee cups, PLA cannot be used as a drop-in replacement for PS, as its heat performance is inferior when made using the same one-stage forming process. “PLA formed in the same process is not high-
heat resistant,” she said. This is usually overcome using a two-stage
process, which improves crystallisation. However, Natur-Tec has devised a one-stage forming process that uses heated forming air to achieve this. The process has a 20°C wide processing window (120-140°C).
She presented results showing that its XF5003
grade has higher heat resistance than a typical PS grade – and 25% higher stress before breaking. “The lids demonstrate stable thermal perfor- mance up to 120°C, ensuring reliability in boiling water conditions,” she said.
Thermoforming expansion Medical packaging company Nelipak is expanding operations – with a new manufacturing facility and an acquisition. Late last year, the company completed the acquisition of Merrill’s Packaging, which specialises in custom thermoformed packaging. It also offers complementary products and services such as die-cut pouch/mounting cards and design, develop- ment and tooling services. It has production sites in California and Costa Rica that are ISO 13485 certified and equipped with ISO Class 8 cleanrooms. “This is an incredible opportunity for our employees and customers” said Rick Schulz, CEO of Merrill’s. “With access to Nelipak’s global capabilities and broad suite of rigid and flexible product solutions, we look forward to exploring new ways to deliver value to our customers.”
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