Page 45 - Plastics News December 2021

PRoDUCT NEwS

Smurfit Kappa Launches Thermo-Laminated Fimic Goes Gearless

Film For Bag Production With Screw Pump

rish packaging company Smurfit a range of markets and supply chain screw pump that can transport
IKappa has introduced a sustainable, necessities. It will also complement the A plastics melt from the extruder to
thermo-laminated metallised film for company’s range of flexible materials, the filter without the use of gears has
manufacturing bags as part of its Bag- including the E-Compact ethylene been introduced by filtration specialist
vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film and Vitop Fimic. Operating with a single screw,
Compact tap.Smurfit Kappa Ibi general the SPA screw pump is described by
manager Pascual Martinez said: “Today, the Italian company as being ideal for
Smurfit Kappa Bag-in-Box cannot those seeking to achieve the highest
imagine a single product development possible quality while significantly
that does not involve reducing the carbon lowering management costs. Standard
footprint of the lifecycle of our bags. gear pumps used to recycle plastic
“Our integrated production model, big material are very sensitive because the
investment in advanced technologies and contamination contained therein can
research and development have already damage them easily. For this reason,
enabled us to make significant progress not only is constant maintenance
towards our environmental goals.” required, but often also the installation
Last month, Smurfit Kappa purchased of a safety filter to protect the pump,
in-Box range. The M-Compact 77 film Verzuolo, a recycled containerboard with a significant economic outlay,
is being produced at the company’s Ibi mill located near Italy’s Savona port. both for the purchase of the machinery
facility in Spain. Smurfit Kappa said that The 600,000t mill is intended to aid and the interventions required for
thermo-lamination technology is more the company’s existing operations and
environmentally friendly and resource- provide additional supply security for
efficient compared with alternative its customer base. Pascual Martinez,
lamination methods. The technology General Manager of Smurfit Kappa
bonds separate films together through Ibi, added: “Sustainability is embedded
exposure to heat without using the into all our business operations. Today,
adhesives typically used for lamination.By Smurfit Kappa Bag-in-Box cannot
using the film, the company claims to have imagine a single product development
reduced the weight of its bags by 12% and that does not involve reducing the
their carbon dioxide emissions by 7%. carbon footprint of the lifecycle of our
Smurfit Kappa Ibi film manager Victor bags.“Our integrated production model,
Juan said: “We have been developing this big investment in advanced technologies
film for more than two years; challenging and research and development have
our suppliers, analysing our own film already enabled us to make significant
structures and applying our strictest progress towards our environmental its operation. Not forgetting that
testing protocols. “Having full control of goals.” M-Compact 77 will broaden gears must be periodically replaced
the manufacturing processes on all steps, the vast portfolio of films offered by by the operator, a further operating
we can guarantee excellent performance Smurfit Kappa Bag-in-Box for different disadvantage. Choosing the innovative
of our new metal bags on production market applications and supply chain SPA screw pump, on the other hand,
lines, supply security and efficient requirements. ensures significant savings, because the
traceability for our customers, and good It also complements the company’s management costs are greatly reduced –
product preservation during transport, range of flexible materials with reduced there is no need for maintenance, nor is
on shelf and at home.” M-Compact 77 plastic weight alongside the previously it necessary to buy a second protective
expands the company’s Bag-in-Box film introduced EVOH films E-Compact and filter or expensive replacement gears
portfolio, which contains offerings for that the operator needs to have on hand
Vitop® Compact tap.
for replacement.

44 PLASTICS NEWS DECEMBER 2021 45 PLASTICS NEWS DECEMBER 2021