news
Pregis bags Sharp in takeover
US-based Pregis has acquired Sharp Packaging Systems for an undisclosed amount. Pregis says the acquisi- tion will enable it to expand its portfolio to include a complete line of flexible packaging bagging systems and materials. Last year, Sharp built a
new 160,000 sq ft manufac- turing facility to keep up with growing demand for its bagging systems and bags. “By adding bagging
systems to our protective packaging product offering, we can offer customers – particularly those whose market strategy includes ecommerce –another option to deliver their products,” said Kevin Baudhuin, president and CEO of Pregis. ❙
www.pregis.com ❙
www.sharppackaging.com
European trade bodies warn over shortages
Two European trade associa- tions have issued warnings over the impact of tight supply and rising prices on the continent’s plastics proces- sors. Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE), whose members represent around 80% of European sector turnover, said that shortages in China of polyamide precursor caprolac- tam – together with recent force majeure announcements on two polyamide production lines – is likely to see smaller users facing tightening availability for the polymer over the coming months. “The current situation – to
increase margins combined with force majeure declara- tions – is either the test or use of market power,” said Guido Aufdemkamp, executive director of FPE. “Alternatively, it demonstrates the strong need for maintenance and con-
tinuous investment in the European production facili- ties.”
The FPE announcement
comes just weeks after Polymers for Europe Alliance (PEA), a sub-division of the European Plastics Converters (EuPC), said parts of the European plastics converting industry are facing a threat from limited supplies of titanium dioxide (TiO2). The association said that unplanned maintenance shutdowns are restricting output and driving up prices to uncompetitive levels. PEA chairman Ron Marsh
called on producers to “help our plastics converting industry to create a global level playing field to secure the development of our business in Europe”. l EuPC has created the Vinyl Films and Sheets Europe (VFSE) Association, to repre-
sent the interests of European suppliers of plastics sheets, films and foils. VFSE will drive common
action tackling environmental and recycling issues and carry out industry-related studies. “The group aims to deepen
collaboration of vinyl films and sheet manufacturers in Europe,” said Roberto Bozzi of Italian coated film producer Vulcaflex – who has been elected president of VFSE. Michel Py of Cifra is the vice
president, and other board members are José Texeira (TMG), Emanuel Legrand (Griffine), Joao Ronchel (Draka Polymer Films) and Marino Uberti (Alfatherm). VFSE is open to all
companies active in vinyl film and sheet in Europe, and collaborates closely with Vinyl Plus. ❙
www.flexpack-europe.org ❙
www.plasticsconverters.eu
Leak ends Nasa high pressure balloon flight
The latest test flight of Nasa’s Super Pressure Balloon (SPB) has ended up in the water after the huge structure sprang a leak.
The balloon, made largely from
polyethylene, was launched from New Zealand on 25 April but underwent a “controlled flight termination” 12 days into the mission, after the leak was discovered by Nasa.
The balloon, flying at an altitude of 33km, was carrying a UV fluorescence detector to observe cosmic particles entering the atmosphere. ❙
www.nasa.gov
6 FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | May 2017
www.filmandsheet.com
PHOTO: NASA/BILL RODMAN
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