Packaging is gaining importance in the marketing of commercial products as living standards in many parts of the world are growing. With this in mind, many exhibitors have brought material and machines that aim to meet such demand as flexibility of processing, low cost, high transparency, light weight, wear resistance, environmentally friendly.


ExxonMobil Chemical focuses on weight reduction

David P. Dillemuth, Polyethylene Regional Sales Manager - Asia Pacific, Polyethylene Global Business Unit, ExxonMobil Chemical Services (Shanghai) Company Limited	On ExxonMobil Chemical's booth, customers enquire the functions of Enable products

For the plastics packaging industry, ExxonMobil Chemical's new Enable mPE products are recyclable and help make strong but significantly thinner films that use fewer raw materials and less energy than conventional films. These new lighter, thinner plastics are used to shrink-wrap shipping pallets and food packaging, cover greenhouses and produce heavy packaging.

With innovation in heavy-duty bags, ExxonMobil Chemical helps customers produce 125 micron heavy-duty bag films by using a special blend of Enable mPE and Exceed mPE resin. The heavy-duty bag films provide a balance of high stiffness, creep resistance and toughness. The long chain branching in Enable mPE improves bubble stability during the film blowing process, improving film line output by more than 10 percent with gauge control.

For food packaging, ExxonMobil Chemical's Metallyte OPP films combine the advantages of biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP) with metallization technologies. Some Metallyte OPP films also allow laminated structures to change from three-ply to two-ply without compromising performance. This reduces environmental impact by enabling simpler converting processes and reducing raw materials. In addition, ExxonMobil Chemical has introduced Metallyte UBW-ES, a new white OPP film made with the company's UHBtechnology. It offers high sealing strength and exceptional barrier capability in place of aluminum foil and PE sealants. It reduces package weight by employing a two-layer lamination, as opposed to the typical three-layer laminate, reducing weight of up to 30 percent.


BASF optimizes the use of bioplastics

BASF has added a new member to its existing Ecovio product line. The new biodegradable plastic called Ecovio FS is based on the renewable raw material. BASF has optimized this new plastic for two specific applications: for coating paper, such as paper cups and cardboard boxes, and for manufacturing so-called shrink films, which serve to easily wrap packaged goods. Sample material has been made available to customers and introduction into the market is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2010.


Fu Chun Shin launches A-PACK IML turnkey solution

Jerry Wang, General Manager, Fu Chun Shin (Ningbo) Machinery Manufacture Co Ltd

Focusing on energy saving and high efficiency, Fu Chun Shin Machinery Manufacturer Co Ltd has brought A-PACK IML turnkey solution, a new IML system developed by FCS and was first shown in March in Taipei. At CHINAPLAS, the machine demonstrates the making of beverage cup. Compare with the previous models, the new system features a multi-function label supply module for both vacuum and static label absorbing and can be applied to all kinds of beverage cups. The full AF series is consisted of a hi-speed hybrid close loop injection moulding machine, hot-runner mould, product stacking system and label inserting system. According to the company, to produce 200cc round cup with four cavities, the cycle time can be as short as five seconds, and the throughput of one machine can reach two million cups per month.

According to the company's General Manager Jerry Wang, the demand for energy-saving general-type machines and two-plate-injection-moulding heavy-duty machines will continue to grow. Meanwhile, customers will also look for specialized machines that serve a particular industry such as food, medical and so on.

"To meet the demand of various industries, we have already set up a research team since 2001 to identify the emerging markets and to develop specialized machines that feature high efficiency," he adds.


Husky demonstrates beverage packaging solutions

Husky HyPET system

On the fairground, Husky demonstrates its solutions for the beverage packaging market, including a HyPET system specifically optimized for PET preform manufacturing, as well as a HyCAP system for beverage closure manufacturing. Husky offers a complete beverage packaging work cell so that all elements, including neck finish, bottle and closure, work together as a complete package. Shotscope NX, Husky's process and production monitoring software, demonstrates live on the trade show floor using data from the show systems.


PTT's new capacity to meet new demands

PTT, one of the biggest petrochemical producers in South East Asia with more than three million ton/year combined capacity, introduces to the visitors its three newly launched production plants. The new capacities include 400,000 ton/year LLDPE, 300,000 ton/year LDPE and 300,000 ton/year HDPE.

Narongchai Pisutpunya, Assistant Managing Director, PTT Polymer Marketing Company Limited

Among these, InnoPlus LLDPE, produced by low pressure polymerization using Gas Phase of Unipol process under the license of Univation Technology, can be applied on food packaging.

"With the new capacity of 1.3 million ton/year, customers can be ensured not only on consistency supply but also on premium quality as these plants are built with the latest state of the art technology," says Narongchai Pisutpunya, Assistant Managing Director of PTT Polymer Marketing Co Ltd.

He adds that, HMC, a joint venture company with LyondellBasell, is starting its new 300,000 ton/year PP line in April. Meanwhile, IRPC, another company under PTT group, has recently launched several new specialties including "Green ABS" which is produced with natural rubber.

Plastic growth in Asia is forecasted to grow at 7-10% per year during the next three to four years. Utilizing our own indigenous natural gas, our cost to produce polymers will be a bit lower than others especially when crude oil prices are increasing," explains Narongchai Pisutpunya, adding that the company will continue research on bio-polymer following the launching of "Green ABS".


Plastic construction material market predicted to continue growth

Although the global economic situation is still bleak, China's plastic building material industry has not suffered from its effect. The rebuilding of Sichuan and investment of key infrastructures have fueled the demand for plastic structures. Statistics show that the popularity of such plastic structural parts as boards, pipes and windows have surpassed 50 percent. Exhibitors offer numerous options that serve for various purposes. Visitors should be able to find what they need.


Battenfeld China upgrades control system

Battenfeld China displays the 90mm single-crew extruder equipped with an upgraded BMCtouch control system

The interface of BMCtouch

Battenfeld (Foshan), the Chinese subsidiary of German Battenfeld Extrusionstechnik GmbH, has upgraded the automation control system of a vast number of its pipe and profile extrusion lines. The 90mm single-screw extruder is showcased with the versatile BMCtouch control system.

The BMCtouch control system has been the main control system of extrusion lines from Battenfeld Extrusionstechnik. BMCtouch is available in 19 operating languages, equipped with an industrial 15" touch screen in high resolution, USB ports, and the embedded Windows XP operation systems. It enables customers to establish intuitive navigation screens matching to production lines' configuration and quick access to any control points of the line.

For pipe manufacturers, it offers another benefit of integrating the control of gravimetric system and ultrasonic wall thickness measurement system into one console. As the central control of complete line, the BMCtouch integrates the control of downstream equipments and co-extruders via CANopen DS420 or Euro-Map 27.

Battenfeld China is also simultaneously upgrading the control system of its downstream equipment. Earlier this year the BMCsmart has been introduced as the standard control system for haul-off units and the new PTA series cutters built for pipes.


SABIC focuses on pressure pipe market

Paul Hong, Regional Manager (third left), Polymers, SABIC Asia Pacific Ptd Ltd, and his teammates

SABIC displays products for construction applications

For the building industry, SABIC continues its commitment to the pressure pipe market this year, with the introduction of its Bimodal HDPE pipe grades, ideal for safe transport of natural gas and drinking water to consumers.

According to the company, the ability of SABIC's Bimodal HDPE pipe grades to facilitate the safe transmission of gas and water are two great contributions to China's overall urbanization plan. Meanwhile, SABIC's combination of local production site in China and world-scale petrochemical plants located in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Europe provide a broad range of PE and PP product choices.

Forecasting the trend ahead, SABIC estimates that an average growth of 7-8% in China is achievable in the plastics and rubber industry, and the demand for engineering thermoplastics is solid.

Tackling with future challenges, the company says that it is actively working with the Asian and global customers to co-develop high-end materials solutions in a broad range of industries and, in the process, helping them to increase productivity in their manufacturing processes and supporting them with more cost-effective designs and greater product differentiation.

It adds that SABIC has invested a lot of resources like more manpower, offices and warehousing facilities within the region to shorten the lead time, as well as joint venture with local partners.

Packaging is gaining importance in the marketing of commercial products as living standards in many parts of the world are growing. With this in mind, many exhibitors have brought material and machines that aim to meet such demand as flexibility of processing, low cost, high transparency, light weight, wear resistance, environmentally friendly.


ExxonMobil Chemical focuses on weight reduction

David P. Dillemuth, Polyethylene Regional Sales Manager - Asia Pacific, Polyethylene Global Business Unit, ExxonMobil Chemical Services (Shanghai) Company Limited	On ExxonMobil Chemical's booth, customers enquire the functions of Enable products

For the plastics packaging industry, ExxonMobil Chemical's new Enable mPE products are recyclable and help make strong but significantly thinner films that use fewer raw materials and less energy than conventional films. These new lighter, thinner plastics are used to shrink-wrap shipping pallets and food packaging, cover greenhouses and produce heavy packaging.

With innovation in heavy-duty bags, ExxonMobil Chemical helps customers produce 125 micron heavy-duty bag films by using a special blend of Enable mPE and Exceed mPE resin. The heavy-duty bag films provide a balance of high stiffness, creep resistance and toughness. The long chain branching in Enable mPE improves bubble stability during the film blowing process, improving film line output by more than 10 percent with gauge control.

For food packaging, ExxonMobil Chemical's Metallyte OPP films combine the advantages of biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP) with metallization technologies. Some Metallyte OPP films also allow laminated structures to change from three-ply to two-ply without compromising performance. This reduces environmental impact by enabling simpler converting processes and reducing raw materials. In addition, ExxonMobil Chemical has introduced Metallyte UBW-ES, a new white OPP film made with the company's UHBtechnology. It offers high sealing strength and exceptional barrier capability in place of aluminum foil and PE sealants. It reduces package weight by employing a two-layer lamination, as opposed to the typical three-layer laminate, reducing weight of up to 30 percent.


BASF optimizes the use of bioplastics

BASF has added a new member to its existing Ecovio product line. The new biodegradable plastic called Ecovio FS is based on the renewable raw material. BASF has optimized this new plastic for two specific applications: for coating paper, such as paper cups and cardboard boxes, and for manufacturing so-called shrink films, which serve to easily wrap packaged goods. Sample material has been made available to customers and introduction into the market is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2010.


Fu Chun Shin launches A-PACK IML turnkey solution

Jerry Wang, General Manager, Fu Chun Shin (Ningbo) Machinery Manufacture Co Ltd

Focusing on energy saving and high efficiency, Fu Chun Shin Machinery Manufacturer Co Ltd has brought A-PACK IML turnkey solution, a new IML system developed by FCS and was first shown in March in Taipei. At CHINAPLAS, the machine demonstrates the making of beverage cup. Compare with the previous models, the new system features a multi-function label supply module for both vacuum and static label absorbing and can be applied to all kinds of beverage cups. The full AF series is consisted of a hi-speed hybrid close loop injection moulding machine, hot-runner mould, product stacking system and label inserting system. According to the company, to produce 200cc round cup with four cavities, the cycle time can be as short as five seconds, and the throughput of one machine can reach two million cups per month.

According to the company's General Manager Jerry Wang, the demand for energy-saving general-type machines and two-plate-injection-moulding heavy-duty machines will continue to grow. Meanwhile, customers will also look for specialized machines that serve a particular industry such as food, medical and so on.

"To meet the demand of various industries, we have already set up a research team since 2001 to identify the emerging markets and to develop specialized machines that feature high efficiency," he adds.


Husky demonstrates beverage packaging solutions

Husky HyPET system

On the fairground, Husky demonstrates its solutions for the beverage packaging market, including a HyPET system specifically optimized for PET preform manufacturing, as well as a HyCAP system for beverage closure manufacturing. Husky offers a complete beverage packaging work cell so that all elements, including neck finish, bottle and closure, work together as a complete package. Shotscope NX, Husky's process and production monitoring software, demonstrates live on the trade show floor using data from the show systems.


PTT's new capacity to meet new demands

PTT, one of the biggest petrochemical producers in South East Asia with more than three million ton/year combined capacity, introduces to the visitors its three newly launched production plants. The new capacities include 400,000 ton/year LLDPE, 300,000 ton/year LDPE and 300,000 ton/year HDPE.

Narongchai Pisutpunya, Assistant Managing Director, PTT Polymer Marketing Company Limited

Among these, InnoPlus LLDPE, produced by low pressure polymerization using Gas Phase of Unipol process under the license of Univation Technology, can be applied on food packaging.

"With the new capacity of 1.3 million ton/year, customers can be ensured not only on consistency supply but also on premium quality as these plants are built with the latest state of the art technology," says Narongchai Pisutpunya, Assistant Managing Director of PTT Polymer Marketing Co Ltd.

He adds that, HMC, a joint venture company with LyondellBasell, is starting its new 300,000 ton/year PP line in April. Meanwhile, IRPC, another company under PTT group, has recently launched several new specialties including "Green ABS" which is produced with natural rubber.

Plastic growth in Asia is forecasted to grow at 7-10% per year during the next three to four years. Utilizing our own indigenous natural gas, our cost to produce polymers will be a bit lower than others especially when crude oil prices are increasing," explains Narongchai Pisutpunya, adding that the company will continue research on bio-polymer following the launching of "Green ABS".


Plastic construction material market predicted to continue growth

Although the global economic situation is still bleak, China's plastic building material industry has not suffered from its effect. The rebuilding of Sichuan and investment of key infrastructures have fueled the demand for plastic structures. Statistics show that the popularity of such plastic structural parts as boards, pipes and windows have surpassed 50 percent. Exhibitors offer numerous options that serve for various purposes. Visitors should be able to find what they need.


Battenfeld China upgrades control system

Battenfeld China displays the 90mm single-crew extruder equipped with an upgraded BMCtouch control system

The interface of BMCtouch

Battenfeld (Foshan), the Chinese subsidiary of German Battenfeld Extrusionstechnik GmbH, has upgraded the automation control system of a vast number of its pipe and profile extrusion lines. The 90mm single-screw extruder is showcased with the versatile BMCtouch control system.

The BMCtouch control system has been the main control system of extrusion lines from Battenfeld Extrusionstechnik. BMCtouch is available in 19 operating languages, equipped with an industrial 15" touch screen in high resolution, USB ports, and the embedded Windows XP operation systems. It enables customers to establish intuitive navigation screens matching to production lines' configuration and quick access to any control points of the line.

For pipe manufacturers, it offers another benefit of integrating the control of gravimetric system and ultrasonic wall thickness measurement system into one console. As the central control of complete line, the BMCtouch integrates the control of downstream equipments and co-extruders via CANopen DS420 or Euro-Map 27.

Battenfeld China is also simultaneously upgrading the control system of its downstream equipment. Earlier this year the BMCsmart has been introduced as the standard control system for haul-off units and the new PTA series cutters built for pipes.


SABIC focuses on pressure pipe market

Paul Hong, Regional Manager (third left), Polymers, SABIC Asia Pacific Ptd Ltd, and his teammates

SABIC displays products for construction applications

For the building industry, SABIC continues its commitment to the pressure pipe market this year, with the introduction of its Bimodal HDPE pipe grades, ideal for safe transport of natural gas and drinking water to consumers.

According to the company, the ability of SABIC's Bimodal HDPE pipe grades to facilitate the safe transmission of gas and water are two great contributions to China's overall urbanization plan. Meanwhile, SABIC's combination of local production site in China and world-scale petrochemical plants located in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Europe provide a broad range of PE and PP product choices.

Forecasting the trend ahead, SABIC estimates that an average growth of 7-8% in China is achievable in the plastics and rubber industry, and the demand for engineering thermoplastics is solid.

Tackling with future challenges, the company says that it is actively working with the Asian and global customers to co-develop high-end materials solutions in a broad range of industries and, in the process, helping them to increase productivity in their manufacturing processes and supporting them with more cost-effective designs and greater product differentiation.

It adds that SABIC has invested a lot of resources like more manpower, offices and warehousing facilities within the region to shorten the lead time, as well as joint venture with local partners.