Blow Molding

PET has long been the most popular material for food and beverage packaging. However, antimony (Sb) has been associated with bottled water for the last 20 years. What are the facts?

ExxonMobil is using Techmer PM’s TechSperse dispersion technology to help HDPE blow molders reduce the let-down ratio of the colorant, thereby saving money and enabling thinner-walled containers while maintaining consistent coloring.

Kaffeeform, a Berlin-based company, revolutionizes coffee packaging by transforming used coffee grounds into eco-friendly products, promoting sustainability and waste management.

NetImpact, Hillenbrand and Coca-Cola partnered to organize a Circular Plastics Challenge designed to boost the supply of recycled PET (rPET). At NPE they named the winner as a team from Boise State University in Idaho, whose Strong Bottle concept proposes a bottle design that will not crush so flat in recycling facilities, enabling more PET resin to be reclaimed.

Sustainability management is a continuing process that must become an integral part of the business operations. Sustainability management is not a single act but a process. 

The Holy Grail 2.0 initiative led by the AIM-European Brands Association and powered by Digimarc is transforming the recycling landscape through innovative technology.

Most plastics processing sites use gas simply for space heating but some processes use gas as part of the process, e.g., rotational molding.  Where gas is used for hot water only then this is generally relatively constant over the year. For space heating, the gas use load will be related to the weather conditions (how cold it is) and the weather is then a ‘condition’ driver for gas use. 

Packamama’s eco-conscious, lightweight, flat-pack, recycled PET (rPET) wine bottles save space, reduce supply-chain emissions, and are virtually unbreakable.

Employed by myriad sectors ranging from fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and retail packaging to pharmaceuticals, construction, and even government identification initiatives, these technologies have played a pivotal role. Taggants imbue plastic products with an additional layer of security and authentication, presenting a formidable challenge to counterfeiters who attempt to replicate or alter these items.

Recycling plastic films through Solvent-Targeted Recovery and Precipitation (STRAP) is crucial for environmental sustainability since packaging commonly uses these materials. While experts are testing pioneering methods, scaling these techniques remains a challenge.

The IKV Colloquium demonstrated the plastics industry’s resilience in addressing current challenges. On February 28th-29th, 2024, RWTH Aachen University’s IKV organized an event fostering industry-academia exchanges.

While certain PFASs are notorious for their toxicity, persistence, and environmental mobility, Fluoropolymers emerge because of their durability, safety, water insolubility, and bio-inertia. These high-performance polymers are revolutionizing industries with their attributes.