The annual Gold Pack Awards once again saw the South African packaging industry come together to recognise and share in innovative and exciting achievements. “The Institute of Packaging would not be able to run this programme without the incredible support we receive from the industry – as entrants in the competition and as sponsors,” said… Read more »
Increase in the amount of disposable diapers found illegally dumped THE results of the 2018 International Coastal Clean-up have just been released. During the 2018 event, 19 563 volunteers collected 241 425 items nationally in audited clean-ups that took place along the country’s 2 500km coastline. Although this is the official figure, many more volunteers… Read more »
By Grace Nolan, British Plastics & Rubber EXPERTS at Fraunhofer UMSICHT are discussing bioplastics and its compatibility with recycling. The new German packaging law took effect on 1 January, which allows for more food packaging, such as fruit and vegetables, to be made from sustainable plastics. The new law creates incentives for using products made… Read more »
Nearly 30 plastics companies commit over $1.0-billion to help end plastic waste in the environment AROUND 30 companies who have co-founded a global alliance to advance solutions that reduce and eliminate plastic waste in the environment, especially in the ocean. The Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) has committed over $1.0 billion with the goal… Read more »
More than 130 assist in largest clean-up to date ONE of South Africa’s most famous landmarks, Robben Island, was freed from some of its waste burden as more than 130 volunteers, guided by the national PET Recycling Company (PETCO) and Plastics SA, embarked on the island’s biggest ever waste collection drive. The tourist attraction and… Read more »
Signals changing sentiment among producers RPC Astrapak Thermopac has become the first in the PET thermoform plastics sector – responsible for products such as lightweight sandwich and fruit trays, which account for just under 20% of PET products nationwide – to sign on with PETCO, which until now has been supported primarily by the PET… Read more »
Signals changing sentiment among producers AMID mounting pressure on major retailers and brand owners to be more environmentally-minded, one of the country’s leading food packaging producers has become the first in the PET thermoform plastics sector to join the PET Recycling Company (PETCO). The move signals a changing sentiment among producers amid a tidal wave… Read more »
PETCO’s top tips on how to design easily recyclable packaging We live in a world where take, make, dispose – a so-called linear economy – is a way of life for many South Africans. We now know that this way of life is not sustainable. We must therefore urgently transition to a circular economy, one… Read more »
The ARMSA team drummed up support for the South African roto moulding event during the global ARMO event in Hamburg in September, with Wayne Wiid, Michael Boltau, Nick Agett, Brian Robertson and Ro-anne Wiid in attendance. The aim was to encourage roto moulding practioners to visit South Africa for the ARMO 2019 conference/exhibition in Sun… Read more »
Pipes not in compliance could jeopardize safety of employees, public, environment SAPPMA has added its voice to a recent warning about substandard HDPE pipes that do not comply with relevant product standards, issued by the Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI) – the major North American plastic pipe trade association with many of its member companies… Read more »
Support from local certification bodies stand together THE relationship between the Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association (SAPPMA) and certification bodies such as the South African Technical Auditing Service (SATAS) and the Productivity Engineering Services and Consultants (PESC) continues to grow from strength to strength as these associations are increasingly supportive of each other’s efforts… Read more »
Thousands rolled up their sleeves for world clean-up day 2018 THOUSANDS of South Africans rolled up their sleeves, put on their rubber gloves and took to the beaches in September as part of the first World Clean-up Day – the largest peacetime civic action in human history. Stretching across 24 different time zones, involving 144… Read more »
THE Ocean Cleanup Workers on The Ocean Cleanup project deployed the high density polyethylene pipe and plastic skirt system in the Pacific Ocean late last year. The plastic pipe-and-skirt system placed in the Pacific Ocean to corral marine litter needs repair for “structural malfunctioning” about two-and-a-half months after being deployed to the garbage patch halfway… Read more »
Scientists find 93% of samples analysed contained levels of microplastics UNIQUE information on the global concentration of microplastics pollution in our oceans has been presented at an international science conference in Lanzarote. The information was collected from seawater samples taken during the Volvo Ocean Race, which, for the first time, combined a global sporting event… Read more »
A biodegradable film 50,000 times thinner than human hair AS global sea temperatures rise with climate change, some of the most fragile biomes, like coral reefs are being threatened. The rising temperatures can cause coral bleaching, when corals expel the colourful algae living in their tissues, turning them white. While bleached corals aren’t dead, they… Read more »
THE Ocean Cleanup Workers on The Ocean Cleanup project deployed the high density polyethylene pipe and plastic skirt system in the Pacific Ocean late last year. The plastic pipe-and-skirt system placed in the Pacific Ocean to corral marine litter needs repair for “structural malfunctioning” about two-and-a-half months after being deployed to the garbage patch halfway… Read more »
AS plastic regulations and bans on plastic bags and other single-use plastic items such as drinking straws increase globally, the demand and market value of biodegradable polymers exceeds $1-billion (about R15-billion) and will rise sharply to $1.7-billion (about R20-billion) by 2023, says global information provider IHS Markit. Biodegradable or compostable polymers are bio-based or fossil-fuel-based… Read more »
Plastic pollution is a huge problem worldwide, and cities around the world are now implementing various initiatives to stem the tide of disposable, single-use plastics before it gets out into the environment or into the oceans. In the Netherlands, Recycled Island Foundation has been working for the last five years to create Recycled Park, a… Read more »
Marks sharp change in plastics use and role of government in the industry OCEAN litter, recycling and more environmentally sustainable uses of plastics in general got significant attention in the Ocean Plastics Charter adopted on 9 June by five of the G7 member nations. The non-binding charter, signed by Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United… Read more »
Latest tax statistics for 2016/17 show government collected R232-million in levies from bag sales SOUTH African retailers have started making a concerted effort to do away with wasteful plastics which is being used in their products, with both Woolworths and Pick n Pay announcing plans to remove various practices. Woolworths has announced that it aims… Read more »
Single use plastic shouldn’t be used just once THE idyllic coastline of Kenya on the east coast of Africa is known for its beautiful beaches and azure blue shores. Situated just off the mainland of Kenya is the island of Lamu, a piece of paradise recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site and is home… Read more »
A Belgium based startup trying to make the world a bit sunnier WR Yuma, a Belgian company launched in September after a successful Kickstarter campaign, is the first company in the world to 3D print sunglasses from recycled plastics, using filament made from car dashboards, fridges and plastic bottles. The frames are not only made… Read more »
What do you get if you take 60 000 plastic bottles and a 3D printer? LONDON recently saw the launch of BOTTLETOP in Regent Street, the world’s first store created using zero waste design. But what does that actually mean? It means robots and high tech 3D printers created the interiors entirely from a filament… Read more »
Only interested in the legal cannabis market AS the stigma of marijuana use, both medicinally and recreationally, continues to wane in the United States, more plastics packaging companies are embracing the market. According to PlasticsNews.com, that was clearly evident at Pack Expo in Chicago, where companies openly displayed a willingness to jump into the market…. Read more »
Partnering with Tesco, Head & Shoulders haircare brand has released a shampoo bottle made using plastic recovered from each shores. As part of its “Clean Hair, Clean Beaches” initiative, up to 25% of its new packaging is made using beach plastic. While plastic retrieved from the ocean is hard to reuse due to degradation issues,… Read more »
Compounding & adhesives investment to meet growing demand in transportation, electronics, industrial and consumer products markets DUPONT is investing more than $80-million to build a new manufacturing facility in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu Province in East China. The new facility will produce compounded high-end engineering plastics and adhesives to serve customers in transportation, electronics, industrial and consumer… Read more »
Innovative material solutions for energy-efficient solar houses ONGOING urbanisation brings with it many challenges, especially in megacities because they’re currently developing in countries such as China. Above all, solutions are needed that reduce the energy consumption of buildings and vehicles. The Chinese government is now promoting sustainable urban planning concepts and a wider use of… Read more »
Metal-to-composite conversion reduces cost, weight, improves engine performance AN Asian automaker has replaced machined aluminum with a unique carbon fibre-reinforced composite in an injection moulded oil control valve within the variable valve timing system that controls engine intake and exhaust. The high-performance thermoplastic valve (2-8 valves per vehicle depending on engine size) reduces cost and… Read more »
Fashion goes green with these minimalist plant based shoes SNEAKER aficionados are used to choosing between high tops and low tops, laces and Velcro. But how about a sneaker with a sole made from corn? Reebok is planning to unveil a completely compostable sneaker designed to not cause harm to the environment when it’s created,… Read more »
YOU may know that 75% of all Nike shoes and apparel now contain some recycled material. You may also know that Nike has diverted nearly 5 billion plastic bottles from landfills since 2012. But did you know that at least 12 of those bottles form the backbone for every one of Nike’s federation kits —… Read more »
Better protection for the horse, making the jobs of farriers a little easier By ERIN PUSTAY BEAVEN, online content editor for Rubber & Plastics News CONTINENTAL knows a thing or two about traction, grip and vibration control. And one of its latest innovations, the direct result of collaboration with German firm Turfcord GmbH, is helping… Read more »
LANXESS has decided to become a premium sponsor of the young eMotorsports Cologne team from TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences and support Formula Student – a design competition with more than 900 universities worldwide. This future has already begun for Formula Student: since 2009, the team of 35 students from eMotorsports Cologne has… Read more »
CFRTP composites from Covestro make mountain bikes safer LIGHTWEIGHT, highly resilient and ideally also attractive to look at: These are the demands that enthusiastic cyclists make on the components of their bikes today. The challenge: the synthetic resin-carbon fibre composites that are in great demand in this scene may be light and chic – but… Read more »
adidas ‘Telstar 18’ is the most advanced World Cup ball to date ALL eyes were again on the ball when 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia kicked off on 14 June. The ‘Telstar 18’ proudly continues the series of Official World Cup Balls adidas has produced since 1970, when the original Telstar with its iconic 32… Read more »
BASF’s Infinergy results in higher ball rebound with faster ball response MODERN day tennis players tend to play with more spin and as a result, hit the ball out of the top of the racket rather than the center. The disadvantage of this is players swing with more force to generate more power and spin…. Read more »
Make housing comfortable and energy efficient A RANGE of high-performance technology solutions powered by The Dow Chemical Company were used in several venues at the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. These included modular houses and the Olympic village. Dow’s solutions were applied to help reduce energy usage while making accommodations… Read more »
Premiere for new product at hockey field in Germany FOR the first time, synthetic sports floorings can be produced with carbon dioxide – which means less crude oil is needed as a raw material. The world’s first subfloor of this kind has now been opened in the hockey facility of a renowned sports club in… Read more »
THE Trail Shreda was designed in conjunction with the Crank Shop and was manufactured by Pioneer Plastics in Rosslyn South Africa. The product won the 2018 ARMSA Product of the Year Competition. The moulds are all made from CNC aluminium and were made in-house by Pioneer Plastics. Trail Shreda is the first pure mountain bike… Read more »
ROEDIGER Agencies of Stellenbosch, which offers SA’s only dedicated testing laboratory service for the polymer, elastomer and composites sectors, has made further investments in lab equipment. The systems installed over the past two years expand the company’s services, give it the ability to conduct a variety of new tests and also give it additional back-up… Read more »
PROGETTO, the in-line automation systems provider, has developed its own automated carton packer solution. At first glance, the Progetto design of this important packaging utensil appears straightforward … but on closer examination the interested party will find that there are a number of features that required highly specific and accurate positioning of shifters and moving… Read more »
MILLIKEN has named PlastiColors the official distributor in South Africa for its clarifiers, nucleators, UV absorber concentrates and ClearTint concentrates. The agreement took effect on 1 August 2018. PlastiColors has actively developed markets for Milliken’s products over the past five years. PlastiColors has a thorough understanding of the value and workings of Milliken’s nucleators and… Read more »
Merged group will create new global player in polymer industry REHAU GmbH, the procurement arm of the Rehau Group, and the worldwide trading subsidiaries of MB Barter & Trading AG will combine their strengths into a new, yet to be named, Swiss based company with an annual turnover of $2.5-billion. Both companies are active in… Read more »
IT’S NOT often that you hear of tools being supplied from South Africa to Germany, if ever for that matter, but remarkably that is the case at HellermannTyton in Johannesburg. The engineering team at the company’s Linbro Business Park plant is, surprisingly, supplying moulds back to the global group’s German parent company for use there… Read more »
THE Edwards brothers of Concept Plastic Moulding of Howick, KZN, have recently commissioned their biggest blow moulding machine yet, a True Easy system from China which can manufacture containers up to five litres. Part of a capacity expansion project, Concept also recently commissioned two new Yizumi machines (120 and 260-ton systems), giving it the opportunity… Read more »
BOTTLE Printers of SA, one of the country’s top specialised container printers, has opened a new factory in Cape Town, enabling it to expand services to the Cape market. Bottle Printers Cape Town is a joint venture with Cape-based print fundi Laurent Moret, who has over 20 years’ experience in container printing. Centrally located in… Read more »
MODERN day tennis players tend to play with more spin and as a result, hit the ball out of the top of the racket rather than the centre. The disadvantage of this is players swing with more force to generate more power and spin. This puts extra load on the player’s arm and can result… Read more »
ACCORDING to a recent study conducted by London based Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew claims that fungi are capable of expediting the breakdown of plastics. The aspergillus tubingensis fungus was featured in the State of the World’s Fungi 2018 report, which also documented that fungi are optimal in producing sustainable building materials and are capable of removing… Read more »
A TUGBOAT departed San Francisco Bay on 8 September bound for the Great Pacific Garbage Patch with a marine litter collection system in tow, designed to rid the seas of plastic. According to PlasticNews.com, the tug was deployed by the Rotterdam, Netherlands-based nonprofit group Ocean Cleanup. The 610-metre-long system consists of a floating plastic boom… Read more »
JEFF Cawcutt and his Zerma Africa team are grateful to have had a busy couple of months, installing several Zerma shredders and granulators around the country. Sizabantu Piping Systems, established in 2002 as a specialist supplier of plastic piping to the civil, industrial, mining and agricultural sectors; and having grown from strength to strength, partnered… Read more »
NATIONAL awards officially recognising innovation and excellence in Advanced Manufacturing were made for the first time in South Africa at the African Additive Manufacturing & Composites Show held in PE in November. The National Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Awards, hosted by the DT and the national Composites Cluster, were opened to all companies operating in the… Read more »
BUILDING on the success of the PF24-8B 1.5 Step injection stretch blow moulding machine first launched at K2013 in Düsseldorf, Nissei ASB recently debuted the first of its new PF36 Series at China Brew & Beverage 2018 in Shanghai. The new model line-up extends the range and capabilities of the platform providing higher productivity and… Read more »
The SPECTROFLEX V from motan-colortronic is a modular, extremely flexible volumetric dosing system for powder, granules, pellets, regrind, flakes and fibres. The modular design enables optimized individual adaptation. With just a few hand movements, the dosing unit can easily be adapted to different material properties. There is now a gravimetric dosing module available for the… Read more »
THE Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Thermoforming Division has announced the winners of its annual parts competition. “A variety of heavy and thin gauge parts of exceptional quality were submitted to this year’s competition,” noted Matt O’Hagan of the SPE Thermoforming Division’s Board of Directors. “This year’s winning entries highlighted the innovation that continues to… Read more »
LOVELL Industries is one of the largest blister packaging manufacturers in South Africa and has, since its establishment in 1973, manufactured moulds and dies for various industries. In the 1980s the focus of mould making naturally moved into the blister packaging sector and, since then, Lovell Industries’ business model has continued to evolve: the company… Read more »
