MACHINERY | THERMOFORMING
Above: A Reifenhäuser sheet line will help extruder Day Young cut energy and raw material costs
Brown acquires GN US-based Brown Machine Group (BMG) has acquired Canadian machinery manufacturer GN Thermoforming Equipment. GN, which primarily makes equipment for the food industry, has significant sales outside North America – including a service and sales centre in the Czech Republic. It will continue to operate and manufacture under its current name, and remain headquartered in Chester, Nova Scotia. BMG says the takeover will expand its thermo- forming product offering and give it greater access to new markets in food packaging. “GN’s unique technology and talent increases the
scope of BMG’s offering to reach small and medium size thermoforming customers,” said Greg Wolf, CEO of BMG. “BMG has significant sales in North America, whereas over half of GN’s sales are outside North America. This acquisition greatly expands market access and growth for both entities.”
Clear result Mayzo says that its ‘Beta Technology’ – a beta nucleating masterbatch – can help thermoformers to use less polypropylene (PP) during production. This can help to offset rising resin costs, trans-
portation difficulties, supply disruptions and sustainability imperatives, said the company. “Thermoforming customers achieve two substantial advantages through the use of Beta Technology,” said Philip Jacoby, retired VP of technology at Mayzo. “They are achieving down- weighting of at least 15%, meaning that less PP resin is required to make the same amount of end product. They are also realising a productivity improvement of up to 25%.” The faster cycle rate is particularly valuable for customers in rigid food packaging, he said. Other benefits include a reduction – or even elimination – of TiO2 pigments used to make white containers.
26 FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | September 2021
Smart delivery Day Young, a Taiwanese producer of takeaway packaging such as lids, trays and containers, recently took delivery of a new line from Reifenhäuser. The new line, used to make A-PET films for thermoforming, will help the company expand production. It is equipped with a Mirex MT-V polish- ing stack and twin-screw extruders, and allows for direct extrusion. Reitruder twin-screw technology, combined with efficient vacuum units and venting system, processes up to 100% PET flakes directly. Throughput is up to 1,100 kg/h PET – or up to 900 kg/h PLA with net film widths of 710-860mm. Reifenhäuser calculates that, with the planned capacity utilisation of the line, the company will save around €2 million in energy costs within 10 years. This equates to around 40% in energy savings. “The high energy efficiency of the line goes perfectly with our commitment to sustainable production,” said Jacky Lee, general manager of Day Young. “The line also increases the competi- tiveness of our plant.” Another advantage of the Reitruder twin-screw
extruder is the processing of high proportions of additives and fillers – which are continuously added to the melt instead of finished compounds. This creates a homogeneous melt and high quality PET film. The film made on the line has high tear resistance, allowing it to be made thinner. Much less scrap is then produced in the next production step – when thermoforming the cups, trays and containers. In addition, the use of additives and fillers instead of finished compounds cuts raw material costs by up to 30%. Shortly after starting the line, Day Young
received a major order – due to the high quality of its PET sheet.
Although the Reifenhäuser line was around twice the cost of a locally made line, Day Young said that it was a worthwhile investment for the future. “To be successful on the international market,
our production had to be become more economi- cal and sustainable,” said Lee.
CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: �
www.greiner-assistec.com �
www.plasticingenuity.com �
www.placon.com �
www.waddingtoneurope.com �
www.ambpackaging.com �
www.brownmachinegroup.com �
www.gncanada.com �
www.mayzo.com �
www.reifenhauser.com
www.filmandsheet.com
IMAGE: REIFENHAUSER
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
