Page 56 - Food & Drink Magazine Jan-Feb 21

MEMBER NEWS
A B GRAPHIC INSTALLS 2000TH VECTRA REWINDER
A B Graphic International has reached a major milestone in the global supply of its finishing systems by recently installing the 2000th Vectra turret rewinder.
The 2000th machine, a Vectra ECTR, was purchased by the largest privately owned label converter in the US, Ohio-based Omni Systems. Here in Australia and in New Zealand, A B Graphic is represented by APPMA member Currie Group.
A B Graphic began manufacturing turret rewinders in 1995 with the entry level Vectra ECTR4 in 330mm, 430mm or 530mm web widths, becoming the rewinder of choice for many self-adhesive label manufacturers.
COCA-COLA RECYCLING PET IN SOUTH AFRICA WITH KHS
As a long-standing customer of A B Graphic, Omni was initially looking for a turret rewinder that had the capability of running wound-in rolls along with eliminating tail tie gluing. The company made its first order in March 2013 and currently owns 16 Vectra ECTR rewinders.
Dave Lawson, director of A B Graphic’s turret rewinder production site, said reaching 2000 Vectra orders is a significant achievement within 25 years.
“The landmark reflects our global reach, and the excellent professional relationships we have developed with key customers,” he said.
“Without our loyal and dedicated team at ABG we would not be celebrating this milestone.”
SYNTEGON LAUNCHES NEW BRAND IDENTITY
Bosch Packaging Technology was purchased by Syntegon in January 2020 and the company now has a new brand identity. Syntegon’s business focus is on intelligent and sustainable technologies for the pharmaceutical and food industries which is why their purchase of Bosch’s packaging division was a logical one to provide Syntegon an extension to its already significant service range.
Syntegon employs 6100 people at more than 30 locations worldwide and posted €1.3bn in sales in 2019.
The creation of the new brand identity, which was established to catapult this business’s performance in January 2020 and its mission statement of “processing and packaging technology for a better life”, is embodied by Syntegon’s name, which stands for synergy, technology, and focus on the future. The corporate colour green underscores the importance of sustainability and health. The square O in the newly designed logo symbolises a package as well as packaging technology’s ability to protect products, according to the company.
APPMA member Nupac Industries has been Bosch’s Australian and New Zealand distributor and service partner since 1983 and now is Syntegon’s partner, working closely to provide the solutions and service outcomes required by its Australian and New Zealand customers.
Coca-Cola Peninsula Beverages (CCPB) is tackling the water crisis in South Africa by recycling returned PET bottles on a low-resource KHS InnoPET Blomax V stretch blow moulder that was put into operation last year.
KHS says it scores with resource savings and a production process with a significantly smaller carbon footprint.
As large water consumers, beverage bottlers such as CCPB are under public scrutiny, particularly in South Africa. The country’s largest city, Cape Town, experienced a water crisis in 2017 and 2018.
Thanks to its optimised near-infrared (NIR) heater, this machine from the latest generation of KHS stretch blow moulders consumes up to 10 per cent less energy. The AirBack air recovery system also included in the returnable bottle blowing process uses up to 40 per cent less high-pressure air.
The new technology also saves on resources when it comes to material consumption. The improved material distribution of the stretch blow moulding process now uses the PET located below the neck ring that to date has remained unstretched, enabling lighter preforms to be used.
CCPB’s sustainability strategy also includes using more returnable bottles made of both glass and plastic than some of its competitors: the share of the product range is currently around 20 per cent and should double by 2025. This helps to prevent waste and achieve ecological sustainability, and is also viable from an economic standpoint. If a refillable PET bottle is returned, the product is sold for about 30 per cent less – benefiting not only price-sensitive consumers, but also the company itself, enabling it to reach wider groups of buyers.
4 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021 MACHINERY MATTERS