THIN WALL MOULDING | TECHNOLOGY
Netstal brand, has established a strategic partner- ship with SABIC for the development of new thin-wall packaging applications. The companies say that as well as the exchange of mutual know-how in the fields of polymer technology and processing, the aim of the partnership is the joint use and further advancement of the existing application centre for thin-wall packaging at the Netstal plant in Näfels, Switzerland. The cooperation will focus on applica- tion, material and processing innovations in the thin-wall packaging industry through collaboration across the segment‘s entire value chain. “This is a major investment in synergy for us,”
says Sergi Monros, SABIC Vice-President of Performance Polymers & Industry Solutions, Petrochemicals. “Together with Netstal, we will bundle our expertise in polymer science and processing to enable new material and injection moulding solutions for the competitive edge of customers throughout the thin-wall packaging industry and beyond.”
SABIC will be using the innovation centre to develop material solutions with potential for improving important properties of thin-wall packaging applications, such as balance of stiffness, impact strength, cycle time reduction and sustainability. The Netstal packaging portfolio can be further optimised as a result of improved material and process insights. The centre will be fully equipped and expanded with advanced new development, processing, material and application testing facilities tailored to the needs of the packaging industry, including a dedicated laboratory for injection moulding and part performance evaluation. “We are pleased to welcome SABIC at our Netstal business headquarters here in Switzerland, which has a long history in innovative technologies for thin-wall injection moulding,” says Renzo Davatz, CEO of KraussMaffei HighPerformance AG. “The collaboration with SABIC will add significant momentum to the further development and commercialisation of our product portfolio for innovative new thin-wall packaging applications.”
CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: �
www.sumitomo-shi-demag.eu �
www.wittmann-group.com �
www.arburg.com �
www.engelglobal.com �
www.ilsen-gmbh.de �
www.kraussmaffei.com �
www.sabic.com �
www.lanxess.com �
www.benvic.com
www.injectionworld.com
Benvic compostable materials trialled in coffee capsules
Compounds producer Benvic Group says it has undertaken a set of tooling and injection moulding trials that will lead the way for the consistent production of thin wall containers made from bio-based materials. It says it is focusing on market opportunities in the medical, healthcare and packaging sectors, including coffee pod capsule applications. The trials, which involve Benvic Plantura bio-based material, are intended to lead to full production of compostable packaging for the coffee pod sector. Eric Grange, Benvic Product Marketing Manager, says: “The first results have been extremely positive.” He points out rheology and structure problems can arise using bio-based materials in the injection moulding process. “Generally speaking, most biopolymers have poor rheological behaviour and performance when compared to their polyolefin-based alterna- tives. This factor appears to be the main roadblock concerning the introduction of compostable plastics for packaging. However, we at Benvic feel that it is only a matter of time before we arrive at a combination of factors – tooling, injection moulding machine and biomaterials – that will see the problem solved. Currently, our work is focussed on thin walled parts for packaging containers.” Benvic is focusing the bulk of its plastics processing research on rheological matters. “Much of the work is experimental, and involves a balance of polymer resins and additives in order to best achieve the desired process efficiency targets,” says Grange. Benchmark testing with moulding machine makers has been successful and has led to some conclusions regarding product characteristics and advantages. From this, Benvic is hopeful moulders will begin transitioning to next-generation plastics based on compostability. The next stage of research will look to solve other challenges linked to the blend of compostability, performance and costs.
March 2021 | INJECTION WORLD 37
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