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We make lids, why can’t we make margarine tubs?’ So formed margarine tubs sends an important message. “The
of course, they immediately said great, and let’s see fact that we started out at a very high standard, we were
what you can do. And proceeded to give me a 25-page able to keep that standard for everything we did. And it
specification for margarine tubs and lids. Which, of course, became a way of life for us,” Strachan said. “And I’m a very
nearly gave me an early heart attack at the time,” he said. firm believer in that approach to thermoforming, because
Nampak’s engineers thought he was crazy. But Strachan I do believe if you want to make it the cheapest way, then
said it turned out to be the best thing that could happen. you’ve got to make it with the best quality. Otherwise you
won’t achieve that.”
“We were able to start with these exceptionally high
standards that Unilever set for their stuff in Europe. It’s Later, in the mid-1980s, Strachan developed thermoformed
the best quality at the lowest price. No debate. That’s in-mold labeling and other technologies for Unilever.
what you’ve got to achieve,” Strachan said. Strachan first entered the thermoforming sector in 1971,
when he became general manager of the Elvinco Group of
Three months later, Nampak was meeting the tough Cos., after earlier jobs in specialty metals and at the South
standards. The industry veteran — still active as a consultant African Mint. At Elvinco, he worked in thermoforming,
and owner of Toolvu LLC, a provider of real-time process injection molding, blow molding and extrusion.
management for thermoforming — said his experience with
Innovation a key trend for growth in rigid transparent plastics
The global market for rigid transparent plastics is likely to nearly US$21.4 billion by 2021, reflecting
a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3%
Innovation in raw material technology is spurring growth accepted as transparent. This report also includes a small
in the global markets for rigid transparent plastics volume of plastics with light transmission percentages of
outside North America. BCC Research reveals in its just below 80%.
new report that breakthroughs in resin or raw material
technologies are helping PS manufacturers to thwart the The global market for rigid transparent plastics will grow
from US$16.5 billion in 2016 to nearly US$21.4 billion
by 2021, reflecting a five-year compound annual growth
rate (CAGR) of 5.3%. As the largest and fastest-growing
segment, polycarbonate (PC) should grow from US$6.3
billion in 2016 to US$8.7 billion by 2021, demonstrating
a five-year CAGR of 6.6%. Poly-methyl methacrylate
(PMMA) as a segment is expected to reach US$2.5 billion
and US$3.1 billion in 2016 and 2021, respectively, on a
five-year CAGR of 4.4%.
challenges of other resins and regain their market shares. Significant trends include increased merger and
Rigid transparent plastics are made from transparent- restructuring activities, expansion of oil and chemical
grade PC, PMMA, PS, ABS, PVC, PP, PET and other resins. In producers through the industrial chain, alternatives from
this report, light transmission percentages above 80% are low oil price, improved production efficiency, innovative
resin or raw material technologies, stricter emission laws,
and solutions for environmental constraints.
Emission laws and regulations in Europe and Asia will
inhibit the growth of some kinds of rigid transparent
plastics. On the other hand, emission laws also require
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