Converting Industry News, Part 2
- Published: December 31, 2004, By Edited by Deborah Donberg
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Industry Studies
Plastic Films Subject of New Study
CLEVELAND, OH—A study from The Freedonia Group projects US plastic film demand will expand 2.7%/yr to 15 billion lbs in 2008, valued at $9.5 billion (resin cost only).
Total plastic film demand (including resins, additives, and processing costs) will grow to $22.7 billion in 2008, the study adds, noting plastic films will continue to make inroads at the expense of other materials due to cost and performance advantages, as well as technology and processing improvements.
PP will provide the best opportunities, while LDPE will remain dominant. The fastest growth prospects will come from EVA, although from a smaller base, due to greater barrier requirements in food markets. PVC and PVDC films are expected to exhibit the slowest increases.
For more information contact Freedonia at 440/684-9600 or visit freedoniagroup.com.
An RPA Roundtable Convenes
WASHINGTON, DC—The 100% Recycled Paperboard Alliance recently held a roundtable in New York City that included folding carton converters, paperboard manufacturers, and Clif Bar, a consumer product company. The purpose: to assess why companies are making the switch to recycled paperboard for their folding carton packages and to review the progress of the material.
Clif bar product manager Kevin Gnusti noted, "As an end-user, I’ve seen tremendous quality standards in recycled paperboard cartons from end to end. We found consistent qualities between recycled paperboard and virgin pulp-based folding grades.…When people learn that Clif Bar uses recycled paperboard, they are much more inclined to purchase from our company."
RPA sums up the results of the roundtable by saying that while some companies switch to 100% recycled paperboard for environmental reasons, many make the switch based on improvements in overall quality consistency, strength, cleanliness, smoothness/printability, and customized products and services.
For more information contact RPA at 877/772-6200 or visit rpa100.com.
Show News
Corrugated on Center Stage
ATLANTA, GA—SuperCorrExpo, held Nov. 8–12 at Atlanta’s Convention Ctr. with 6,000+ attendees and more than 250 exhibitors, is being hailed by co-sponsors Assn. of Independent Corrugated Converters (AICC) and TAPPI as the corrugated industry’s premier event.
AICC’s fall meeting, held at the Westin Peachtree Hotel in conjunction with the show, featured a keynote presentation by Stuart Varney entitled "New Realities of the Global Market Place." The co-host of CNN’s "Money Line News Hour" addressed the radical shift on Wall Street this past year and how the global economy will be affected.
On the exhibit floor, Bobst promoted its SPO 160 Vision die-cutting press; Scitex Vision introduced the Corjet digital press; Appleton debuted MoistureBloc corrugated linerboard; and Inkspec highlighted its in-line sensor and controller.
Also spotlighted were the winners of the CorrPak competition, a design contest open to boxmakers worldwide. For a list of winners, contact TAPPI at 770/446-1400.
For information on SuperCorrExpo 2008, visit supercorrexpo.com.
CMM Endorsements Grow
CHICAGO, IL—Organizers of CMM Intl. 2005, scheduled for April 18–21 at Chicago’s McCormick Pl., report 17 trade associations from all over the world now have endorsed the event. In addition to those previously announced, four new groups have come on-board: Packaging and Label Gravure Assn. (PLGA); National Assn. of Printing Ink Mfrs. (NAPIM); Waterless Printing Assn.; and Flexographic Pre-Press Platemakers Assn. PLGA and NAPIM are among endorsing associations offering special pavilions and solutions theaters at the show.
For more information call 212/268-4160 or visit cmmshow.com.
K Show Pleasing to Exhibitors
DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY—K 2004, the International Trade Fair for Plastics + Rubber, resonated with optimism, according to show organizers Messe Düsseldorf. Ulrich Reifenhäuser, chairman of the K 2004 exhibitor council, reports, "[the show] not only far exceeded expectations but generated new impetus and, best of all, new business for all sectors of our industry."
Held October 20–27 at the Düsseldorf Fairgrounds, the event featured 2,914 exhibitors and an attendance of approximately 230,000, which surpassed predictions, says Werner Matthias Dornscheidt, president and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf. He adds the exhibitors were pleased with the decision-making powers of the visitors as well as their broad international profile (more than 100 countries were represented) and their readiness to invest.
The next K will be staged in Düsseldorf Oct. 24–31, 2007. For more information contact Messe Düsseldorf at 312/781-5180 or visit mdna.com.
ICE Halls are Filling Up
OBERAUDORF, GERMANY—Organizers of ICE 2005 (International Converting Exhibition), Nimble Shows & Media, report business was brisk at the K 2004 plastics trade fair, with a dozen new stands confirmed for ICE, which will take place November 22–24 at the M,O,C, in Munich, Germany.
The show already has more confirmed square meters of stand space than ICE 2003. With two halls sold out during the second week of K, ICE has taken an option on a third hall. Says event director Michael Boyle, "Until now it was a challenge to find enough exhibitors to fill the halls. Now the challenge is to find enough halls for the exhibitors!"
For more information visit ice-x.com.
Radtech Chooses Las Vegas
PARAMUS, NJ—Organizers of CPP Expo 2005, scheduled for September 26–28 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV, report Radtech Intl. North America will hold its 2005 annual Fall Membership meeting in Las Vegas as well, on the same dates. The Radtech event will be held at the Venetian Resort Hotel.
CPP is produced and managed by HA Bruno LLC. For more information call 201/543-5060 or visit cppexpo.com.
Ipex Makes Some Moves
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, UK—Ipex 2006 announces paper converting and packaging production functions have been transferred to Halls 1, 2, and 3 as part of an integrated postpress area. The halls will showcase the complete packaging workflow, with flexo printing, die-cutting, folding/gluing, corrugated and board conversion, inspection, and accessories all in one zone.
Notes exhibition director Trevor Crawford, "…the lines between postpress and converting are becoming increasingly blurred.…The decision to move to Halls 1, 2, and 3 will benefit visitors to Ipex 2006 by providing them with an end-to-end representation of the print and packaging industry in a single arena."
For more information visit ipex.org.
Awards
DuPont Diamond Winners
WILMINGTON, DE—Innovative packages were honored at the 17th DuPont Awards Competition. An eight-member panel of international experts honored 22 entries that utilize plastic packaging materials in food and non-food categories (entries need not include a DuPont product to be eligible).
DuPont sponsors the competition with Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Assn., Gloucestershire, England, and the National Food Processors Assn., Washington, DC.
There were three Diamond Award Winners (those deemed most innovative):
- The Paper Products Ltd. and GlaxoSmithKline for a holographic foil for blister packs to help prevent counterfeiting of pharmaceutical products;
- The Procter & Gamble Co., Liquid Container Co., Amcor Flexibles, Erie Plastics, and Multi-Color Corp. for Folger’s AromaSeal shaped plastic coffee canister, called a packaging paradigm shift for coffee, replacing a 150-yr tradition of metal cans; and
- Morningstar Foods and Owens-Illinois, Closure & Specialty Products, for Morningstar Intl. Delight Coffee Creamer customized toggle dispensing closure, ergonomically designed for one-handed opening and closing.
For information on other award winners visit dupont.com/packaging.awards/.
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