Super User

Super User

Packaging Innovations and Empack will return to Birmingham’s NEC on 25 and 26 May 2022. The show represents a red-letter day for packaging professionals, as it will showcase the latest developments in innovation, design, and technology. This year, the show programme will include a variety of exciting features, including The £10 Billion Debate, Sustainability Trail, Innovation Showcase, Ecopack Challenge, and an in-depth, free to attend seminar programme.

Renan Joel, Divisional Director at Easyfairs, explains what visitors to the show can expect, and why it is an unmissable event for packaging professionals across the entire supply chain.

  1. Where else to start but the rearranged date? Why was the show moved from February to May?

It was a really tough decision to move our NEC show, especially as there was no event last year due to the pandemic. But, as the UK’s flagship packaging event, it was important to us that visitors and exhibitors felt safe whilst at the show. We decided the best way to ensure this was to delay until May, when the country would be better prepared to house large events like ours.    

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  1. Will sustainability remain a key theme at the show?

Absolutely! Sustainability is one of the hottest topics within the industry at the moment as we continue to navigate a post-pandemic world of packaging. With this in mind, we have introduced a new feature to the show for 2022 – The Sustainability Trail. This will provide visitors with the chance to discover the eco-stars of the industry, all of whom will be showcasing a series of panel-approved concepts designed to shape the future of packaging. It shouldn’t be missed.

As always, sustainability will also be a key focus on the show floor, with many of our exhibitors taking proactive steps to create solutions that are effective but don’t cost the planet. Indeed, many have committed to reducing their use of virgin materials, improving recyclability, and cutting down on waste. Others are creating brand-new materials that are environmentally friendly.

  1. Can you tell us more about what’s new for 2022?

Of course! We’re really excited to bring The £10 Billion Debate to Birmingham following its incredibly successful launch at the London show. The session will put government initiatives on packaging under the microscope, including proposed plans for a deposit return scheme. I can’t wait to continue the discussions in Birmingham.

We also have some exciting things in the works, but I am not allowed to unveil them just yet. Stay tuned though.

  1. Will visitors be able to get involved at the show?

We always try and keep our features and sessions interactive, and 2022 is no exception. Our popular Innovation Showcase is back, showing off the latest ideas and innovation from across the packaging sector. Visitors can vote for their favourite innovation, with exhibitors competing to win the title of ’Most Innovative Pack’. I can’t wait to see the fresh ideas entrants will come up with this year!

The popular Ecopack Challenge returns to the show after a short hiatus, presenting visitors with an interactive Dragon’s Den style contest. The challenge will see a handful of sustainable creators pitch their ‘green’ ideas to a panel of experts, led by Ocado, live at the show.

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  1. Clearly, one of the main goals of the show is to give visitors access to the most innovative minds in the industry. What can visitors expect to see from the experts on show?

Our industry-leading seminar programme has been designed to offer our visitors tangible advice that they simply wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else. We have some of the biggest names in the industry already signed up, including Ocado, OPRL and HP, with more to be announced soon!

For 2022, we have three stages. The first is The Empack stage, and this will focus on manufacturing, processing, and logistics where discussions will range from energy efficiency to robotics. On the other two stages, some of the brightest packaging minds will share what they expect from the year ahead, discussing trends, formats, and graphic developments.

No matter which area of packaging you are interested in, our programme really does have something for everyone!

  1. Suppose a visitor has a particular packaging query, where would they go for help at the show?

We’re delighted to announce that our Packaging Consultancy Clinic will return to the NEC in May. This part of the show allows guests to book a slot with a packaging expert, who will analyse their packaging and answer any burning questions they might have. Whether the query relates to design, shipping, innovation or the supply chain, our experts will be on hand to provide guidance on how to realise their packaging dreams!

To register to attend Packaging Innovations and Empack NEC 2022, please visit the registration page. For any further information, please visit the Packaging Innovations and Empack NEC 2022 website or contact the show team on +44 (0)20 196 4300 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About Easyfairs

Easyfairs organises and hosts events, bringing communities together to visit the future.

We currently organise 200 face-to-face events in 14 countries (Algeria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) and manage eight event venues in Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden (Antwerp, Ghent, Mechelen-Brussels North, Namur, Gorinchem, Hardenberg, Malmö and Stockholm).

We are passionate about “easifying” the life of our customers and increasing the return on investment and return on time for professional communities through our all-in formulas, advanced technology and customer-centric approach. Our digital features and initiatives provide these communities with excellent opportunities to network effectively and do business throughout the year. We listen carefully to create compelling online formats that meet their constantly evolving needs.

The Easyfairs Group employs 600 highly committed talents, deploys the best marketing and technology tools, and develops brands with a strong appeal to our stakeholder communities.

In 2018 Easyfairs was named Belgium’s “Entrepreneur of the Year®” and earned recognition as a Deloitte “Best Managed Company” and a “Great Place to Work”.  For the third year running, Deloitte conferred “Best Managed Company” status on Easyfairs in 2021.

The company is ranked 17th in the list of the world’s leading exhibition companies.

Visit the future with Easyfairs and find out more on www.easyfairsgroup.com.

Packaging company certified by European energy network operator for reaching 100% renewable energy

BW Flexible Systems, a Barry-Wehmiller Packaging Systems company, has reduced carbon emissions at its Italian facilities by 92% via a partnership with E.ON, one of Europe’s largest operators of energy networks. As of January 1, 2022, the flexible packaging company’s two Italian manufacturing plants—located in Mestrino and Monte di Malo—are now powered by 100% renewable energy, as certified by E.ON.

“Our partnership with E.ON is one of many sustainability improvements we will be making to support a greener manufacturing industry moving forward,” said Michele Allamprese, Vice President, Europe, for BW Flexible Systems. “In addition to reducing our own CO2 footprint, these sustainability improvements will allow our customers to reduce the environmental impact of their supply chains throughout 2022 and beyond.”

Previously, BW Flexible Systems’ Italian facilities were powered by a mix of brown and green energy sources. Based on data certified by the Italian Ministry of Ecological Transition and the Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, BW Flexible Systems in Italy estimates that changing its energy to 100% renewable sources will reduce carbon emissions by 252.61 tons in the first year.

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“We are extremely pleased with the leadership demonstrated by our team members and supply chain partners in Italy,” said Michelle Bryson, Global Sustainable Packaging Leader for all BW Packaging Systems companies. “This is precisely the kind of initiative we will look to emulate across the broader BW Packaging Systems organization as we continue to develop our sustainability programs.”

In addition to this carbon footprint reduction effort, BW Packaging Systems recently announced a broader sustainability roadmap, which includes better usage of responsible materials, recyclability, efficient packaging design, waste reduction and more. Developing the path to execute some of these plans could take place at BW Flexible Systems’ Technical Centre of Excellence in the U.K., among other BW Packaging Systems locations that have the space to collaborate with customers and suppliers on more sustainable solutions.  

BW Flexible Systems creates flexible packaging solutions by bringing together some of the industry's most trusted and innovative brands, including Hayssen, Thiele, Rose Forgrove, Sandiacre, Schib, Simionato, Streamfeeder, Symach and others. Its range of machinery options includes form-fill-seal packaging, horizontal flow-wrapping, bag filling and palletizing, and more. BW Flexible Systems is one of several Barry-Wehmiller companies represented in BW Packaging Systems, which brings together the collective packaging capabilities of Accraply, BW Flexible Systems, BW Integrated Systems, Pneumatic Scale Angelus and Synerlink.

ABOUT BW FLEXIBLE SYSTEMS

BW Flexible Systems is a global manufacturer of packaging systems that fill and bag thousands of food and non-food products. Our packaging systems are designed and manufactured to maximize the efficiency and lifetime value of our customers’ packaging lines. Our range of machinery includes form-fill-seal, feeding, bag filling and sealing, pouch-making equipment, flow-wrap, reclosable packaging solutions, palletizing, stretch-wrapping and more. For more about BW Flexible Systems, a Barry-Wehmiller Packaging Systems company, go to bwflexiblesystems.com.

ABOUT BARRY-WEHMILLER

Barry-Wehmiller is a diversified global supplier of engineering consulting and manufacturing technology for the packaging, corrugating, sheeting and paper-converting industries. By blending people-centric leadership with disciplined operational strategies and purpose-driven growth, Barry-Wehmiller has become a $3 billion organization with nearly 12,000 team members united by a common belief: to use the power of business to build a better world. CEO Bob Chapman shares the story of the company’s transformation in his book, Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family. To learn more, go to barrywehmiller.com

Wednesday, 09 February 2022 09:20

Toscotec to participate in ExpoAcotepac 2022.

Toscotec will participate in the 30th International Conference and ExpoAcotepac 2022 organized by the Colombian Association of Technicians of the Cellulose, Paper and Cardboard Industry (ACOTEPAC) from 16th to 18th February in Cali, Colombia. 

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At the conference, Toscotec will present its innovative technology for superior energy efficiency with two technical speeches on 17th February:

  • 4.15 pm: Enrico Fazio, Sales Director of Toscotec Paper & Board division, will illustrate the advantages of two paper machine rebuilding projects in the case study analysis titled “Even small rebuilds bring great benefits.”
  • 5.15 pm: Gabriele Romanini, Sales Manager of Toscotec Tissue division, will talk about the “Strategic roadmap to energy-efficient tissue machines”. The presentation focuses on the superior drying efficiency of the shoe press of new generation TT NextPress paired with the third-generation design TT SYD Steel Yankee Dryer.  

Contacts to book an appointment at Toscotec’s booths 25-26-27
Enrico Fazio, Sales Director, Paper & Board division, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Marco Dalle Piagge, Sales Director, Tissue division, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Gabriele Romanini, Sales Manager, Tissue division, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

With just two months until the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) is introduced (1 April) in the UK to encourage the use of recycled plastic in product packaging, Andrew Thurston, Customs Duty Consultant at MHA, argues the process of proving compliance, or exemption, to this new tax will be especially burdensome for businesses reliant on imports for packaging:

“There are good intentions behind the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) but, while it should work well for UK businesses who source their plastic packaging domestically, it will create a very cumbersome administrative burden for those that rely on imports and could potentially prove self-defeating.

2022 01 31 102911“The tax is designed to encourage UK businesses to increase the recycled content of single-use plastic packaging. It will apply to finished plastic packaging manufactured in, or imported into, the UK if the plastic is less than 30% recycled. It means companies will need to meticulously calculate and report their recycled packaging plastic to ensure they remain tax complaint.

“The administrative burden will be felt most acutely by those businesses who purchase goods and packaging materials from outside the UK. To ensure they are compliant with, or exempt from PPT, they must obtain evidence from their international suppliers of the recycled content of packaging. Obtaining the necessary evidence could be a difficult and costly request, potentially rendering any attempts to claim tax exemption cost-prohibitive. Ironically, this could result in businesses ignoring the call to use more sustainable materials as meeting the exemption-threshold might not be worth it financially, defeating the purpose of the tax.

“In addition, any companies purchasing goods from outside the UK will need to review individual products for the weight of the plastic packaging to be able to accurately report quantities and account for PPT. This is a dauntingly long and complex process, especially as hundreds of different products enter the UK through today’s complex supply chains.  The additional costs will ultimately be passed through to the end consumer, resulting in increased retail prices.

“All in all the PPT could prove a huge headache for certain kinds of business, in particular those who package goods and fresh produce for retail, such as supermarkets. More taxes designed to promote sustainability are also likely to be introduced in the near future. UK businesses would be wise to adapt to the new tax landscape as quickly as possible to ensure they are prepared.”

About MHA

MHA is a network of independent accountancy firms, ranked the 12th largest accountancy group in the UK*. It comprises four member firms with a strong reputation for specialist industry knowledge, which collaborate and share best practice to provide outstanding client service. These include: MHA MacIntyre Hudson, MHA Moore & Smalley, MHA Monahans and MHA Tait Walker. The network has 136 partners and 1,375 staff across the UK.

The MHA Network is the UK independent member of Baker Tilly International, one of the world’s largest leading international networks of independently owned and managed accountancy and business advisory firms, operating across 148 territories.

Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, will increase prices by 8 to 15 percent on all polyacrylamide polymers and retention aids across the EMEA region, effective February 1, 2022, or as customer contracts allow.

2018 04 24 070924The price increase is required to offset cost increases in raw materials, packaging, energy and transportation. In addition, Solenis continues to face shutdowns and force majeure declarations from key suppliers.

“Solenis is committed to keeping its customers supplied,” said Naama Lilach, Vice President Commercial Operations, Eurasia, Solenis. “Our recent acquisition of the SCL GmbH business, a leading global producer of primary raw materials for cationic polyacrylamide production, is one of many activities we are currently undertaking that will enable us to secure materials and continue serving our customers.”

About Solenis

Solenis is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, focused on delivering sustainable solutions for water-intensive industries, including the pulp, packaging paper and board, tissue and towel, oil and gas, petroleum refining, chemical processing, mining, biorefining, power, municipal and pool and spa markets. The company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids and functional additives, as well as state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets, minimize environmental impact and maintain healthy water. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 47 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of over 6,000 professionals in 120 countries across five continents. Solenis is a 2021 US Best Managed Company.

For additional information about Solenis, please visit www.solenis.com

Valmet will supply a board machine rebuild to Stora Enso’s Skoghall mill in Sweden. The main goal of the project is to increase the production capacity of the board machine 8 (BM 8). The two-step project is planned to be completed at the second half of 2023.

The order is included in Valmet's orders received of the fourth quarter 2021. The value of the order will not be disclosed. The total value of an order of this type and delivery scope is typically around EUR 30-40 million.

2022 01 25 085635In October 2021, Stora Enso announced the investment to expand the board production at Skoghall. Following the investment, the annual packaging board production at Skoghall can be increased by approximately 100,000 tonnes, to a total capacity of the mill exceeding 900,000 tonnes, subject to environmental permits. The project will be implemented through debottlenecking of one of the existing production lines, and executed in two steps, utilizing the scheduled maintenance breaks.

“The investment strengthens Stora Enso’s capability to produce high-quality and cost-competitive consumer board grades within the growing core segments of liquid and food packaging,” says Marie Morin, Mill Director, Stora Enso’s Skoghall Mill.

“We have developed the BM 8 at Skoghall with Stora Enso for a long time; Valmet completed a forming section rebuild with several steps at the same machine line in 2017-2020. We are happy to continue our cooperation in this project,” says Per Holm, Vice President, Sales, Scandinavia, Valmet.

Valmet’s delivery in the two-step project will include upgrades in the stock preparation system and multiple improvements in several parts of the board machine. All the machines and equipment included in Valmet’s delivery will be delivered installed.

About the customer Stora Enso

Part of the bioeconomy, Stora Enso is a leading global provider of renewable solutions in packaging, biomaterials, wooden constructions and paper. Stora Enso believes that everything that is made from fossil-based materials today can be made from a tree tomorrow, and it has some 23,000 employees, and sales in over 50 countries. Stora Enso’s Skoghall site in western Sweden is a modern, world-class producer of consumer packaging board, for liquid packaging and dry food packaging. Total annual production currently exceeds 800,000 tonnes of board. 

Valmet is the leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. We aim to become the global champion in serving our customers.

Valmet's strong technology offering includes pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bioenergy production. Our advanced services and automation solutions improve the reliability and performance of our customers' processes and enhance the effective utilization of raw materials and energy.  

Valmet's net sales in 2020 were approximately EUR 3.7 billion. Our 14,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward - every day. Valmet's head office is in Espoo, Finland and its shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki.  

Read more www.valmet.com

AFT recently had another successful refiner start-up with the BillerudKorsnäs group, world leader in packaging grades.  Our new pulp mill reject refiner started-up in December at the 460 000 t/d Skärblacka mill in Sweden, designed to defiberize knots, shives and fiber bundles coming from pulp screening. Combined with Finebar® technology, AFT refiners deliver optimized performance and energy savings which will help support BillerudKorsnäs’ sustainability goals through resource-efficient production.

AFT refining at BK SkarblackaAFT refining at BK Skarblacka

The Skärblacka installation also includes an AFTLinx integration unit for monitoring refiner performance remotely.  Our optional IoT gateway collects equipment-specific operating data to address customer needs for remote product support and service. The data access allows AFT specialists to assist with start-ups, conduct comprehensive real-time machine diagnostics, and provide advice for optimized refiner operation. 

About AFT:

AFT is a global supplier specialized in stock preparation, screening, refining and paper machine approach flow systems. With over 100 years of experience, we offer expert solutions that help mills produce more while using less energy, water and chemicals.  Our solutions are tailored to the customer’s furnish, their application, and the end-product being produced in order to optimize their return on investment. 

For more on AFT refining products and services, contact us at http://ow.ly/6u4m50HtSAb

PulPac has just announced the filing of an additional patent application, further refining its pioneering cellulose forming technology for competitive fiber-based packaging and single-use products. 

The new patent application comprises a hybrid tool that uses the pressing force to work in mould parts both in a pressing direction and in a lateral direction. The hybrid tool efficiently uses one pressing stroke for manufacturing a product having a general form in the pressing direction and a special feature such as for example undercut in the lateral direction. This is especially advantageous when manufacturing products like lids and other applications where e.g. stacking and denesting features are important. The hybrid tool also brings possibility of enhanced surface quality and improved tool life.

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“Innovation is a core function at PulPac. It is at our heart and how we drive change for a sustainable future together with our clients. This patent application is a good example on how we continuously can refine and make Dry Molded Fiber even more effective or adapt it to specific demands or product applications” says Peter Ekwall, IP Manager at PulPac

Dry Molded Fiber is a fiber forming technology that can replace single-use plastic with sustainable fiber-based alternatives at low cost.

About PulPac
PulPac provides the packaging industry with a groundbreaking manufacturing technology for low-cost, high-performance fiber-based packaging and single-use products. By pioneering the technology of cellulose molding PulPac enables their customers to replace single-use plastics with a sustainable and cost competitive alternative globally. www.pulpac.com

About Dry Molded Fiber
Dry Molded Fiber, invented and patented by PulPac, is a manufacturing technology designed for the circular economy – using renewable pulp and cellulose resources to produce low cost, high performance, fiber-based packaging, and single-use products. Dry Molded Fiber gives up to 80-90% lower CO2 footprint at similar cost as plastic. It is up to ten times as efficient as conventional fiber molding invented over 100 years ago. The dry process also saves massive amounts of valuable water resources. In addition, energy savings are significant - as the molded products need no drying.

Dynamic inventory management system ensures timely delivery of packaging materials to keep manufacturing and distribution flowing

AGE Industries, Ltd, a leading supplier of innovative and custom packaging and shipping solutions for industry and government agencies, offers Just-in-time (JIT) delivery of corrugated boxes, fiber tubes, and packaging materials. During the current supply chain challenges, customers rely on AGE Industries’ dynamic inventory management system and efficient operations for timely delivery of packaging materials to keep manufacturing and distribution flowing.

AGE Industries offers a comprehensive one-stop shop for corrugated boxes, fiber tubes, and ancillary shipping items including stretch wrap, bubble tape, and labels. An in-house design and engineering team works with customers to develop custom solutions and ensure that exact specifications are met. 

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Custom design solutions enhance the protection of products and reduce shipping costs, and custom printing increases brand awareness and supports point-of-purchase marketing campaigns. Options for custom boxes are limitless which allows you to tailor your packaging for its market.

With six manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Mexico, AGE Industries ships to any location in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Products can also be delivered to anywhere in the world by AGE Industries or one of its affiliated partners, providing customers with an integrated program for satisfying all their custom design and packaging needs.

For more information about the AGE Industries, Ltd, visit www.ageindustries.com.

About AGE Industries, Ltd.

Founded by Arthur G. Eltzroth in 1974, AGE offers innovative custom packaging and shipping solutions for private industry and governmental agencies. AGE designs and manufactures corrugated boxes, fiber tubes, and wood crating for Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and New Mexico in the United States. AGE Box de Mexico, based out of Reynosa, Tamps. Mexico, provides custom corrugated packaging and overall packaging solutions for Mexico. AGE meets WBENC, Tx HUB, and CMBL certifications.

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Clearwater Paper Corporation (NYSE: CLW) has just introduced NuVo® withBioPBS™, a sustainable cup stock that provides foodservice operators with a compostable alternative to hot cups coated with low-density polyethylene.

NuVo® withBioPBS™ is the first cup stock to combine a compostable barrier, 35% post-consumer fiber, Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) chain-of-custody certification (FSC-C008402), and a high-definition print surface.

“When we launched the NuVo® brand in 2019, we made a promise to continually innovate to maximize product differentiation and sustainability. We are pleased to continue delivering on that commitment by introducing NuVo® withBioPBS™, a next-generation cup stock that we believe will allow our customers to be at the forefront of growing trends in sustainability,” said Steve Bowden, senior vice president and general manager of the pulp and paperboard division.

You can find additional information about NuVo® on the Clearwater Paper website at Clearwater Paper Corporation - Paperboard Products.

ABOUT BioPBS™

BioPBS™ is supplied to Clearwater Paper by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation and PTTMCC Biochem Company Limited, a 50-50 joint venture between MCC and PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited.

ABOUT CLEARWATER PAPER

Clearwater Paper is a premier supplier of private-branded tissue to major retailers, including grocery, drug, mass merchants and discount stores. In addition, the company produces bleached paperboard used by quality-conscious printers and packaging converters, and offers services that include custom sheeting, slitting, and cutting. Clearwater Paper's employees build shareholder value by developing strong relationships through quality and service.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including statements regarding product quality, attributes, and development; sustainability and customers. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations that are subject to change, and actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include those risks and uncertainties described from time to time in the company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements based on new developments or changes to the company’s expectations.

For additional information on Clearwater Paper, please visit our website at www.clearwaterpaper.com.

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