PFFC - October 2007 - (Page 22)

NEWS CLIPS Industry Strong In Italy MILAN, ITALY | ACIMGA (the Italian Mfrs. Assn. of Machinery for the Graphic, Converting and Paper Industry) celebrated its 60th anniversary with two announcements: Ugo Barzanò is reappointed president for the next two years; and figures are showing growth in this industry in Italy despite negative figures in other mechanical production sectors. The association reports the graphic, converting, and paper industry has grown 12% from 2004 to 2006, exports have more than doubled, and the percentage of revenues generated by foreign markets was approximately 80% of the total.  TALK Extrusion Coating—It’s a Game-Changer in European Packaging By Corey M. Reardon, AWA Alexander Watson Assoc. I The in-house exhibition at IST Metz’s third UV Days provided a platform for a total of 27 industry partners. NÜRTINGEN, GERMANY | IST Metz held its third UV Days at group headquarters in Nürtingen July 18–22, welcoming 697 visitors, more than double the number attending the first event in 2002. Included was an inhouse exhibition, two workshops, and a facility tour. The exhibition featured 27 companies that IST Metz calls its industry partners. These included companies supplying substrates, inks, varnishes, adhesives, blankets, and chemicals. Ancillary areas such as static neutralization, inspection, die-cutting, temperature control, and anilox rollers were also covered in the exhibit. 22 | OCTOBER 2007 UV is the Star n Europe barrier coatings for gable-top and aseptic packaging have become a major area of focus, with extrusion coating the popular choice for many high-volume applications today. Our company recently published a new study of this key converting technology, which has become a gamechanger in European packaging. The markets where extrusion-coated materials are used are diverse, ranging from liquid packaging and flexible packaging for both foods and non-foods. In western Europe as in North America, the “traditional” commercial markets for extrusion-coated/ laminated materials—photographic/graphic applications, industrial and commercial applications in building, medical/hygiene, and envelopes—have been eclipsed in terms of volume by applications in flexible packaging and liquid packaging. These two key markets are driving the continuing growth of extrusion coating, as environmental concerns encourage the use of packaging that is lightweight, user-friendly, and recyclable. Extrusion-coated packaging meets all these criteria. Today, liquid packaging represents the largest market for extrusion-coated materials, not just in Europe but across the globe, with an emphasis on two-sided extrusion coatings for milk cartons and aseptic packaging for UHT milk and juices. Extrusion-coated/laminated materials also account for an estimated 20%–30% of all flexible packaging structures in Europe today—most of them complex laminates employing films and aluminum foils. Growth is highest in applications such as stand-up pouches and high-barrier laminates, and major end-use opportunities include fresh foods, pharmaceuticals, and personal care product packaging. We estimate the current total European market for extrusion-coated and/or laminated materials is approximately 23 billion sq m, mostly for flexible and liquid packaging applications. And we have identified some 145 companies—both specialists in extrusion coating and commercial converters—involved in the industry in Europe, many with multiple units and producing a variety of products for the different market applications. Demand is forecast to continue to rise by an average 2%/annum, but there are differences between the end-use market segments. Flexible packaging shows the highest growth opportunity at 2.5%/ annum as the liquid packaging market matures to grow at just 1%/annum. Even extrusion coating technology is affected by the macro pressures on the European packaging industry. The value chain is complex, involving a variety of supply sources—raw materials and chemicals, coating and lamination, conversion—and end-users. LDPE was the original extrusion coating polymer, and it remains the most widely used component today by virtue of its cost and performance in terms of heat seal, moisture barrier, and grease resistance. However, as Europe’s share of the global manufacturing capacity in PE resins decreases, imports—from the Middle East in particular—add further price pressures. We estimate more than 50% of all Europe’s PE imports will come from the Middle East by 2011. Whatever the future holds, however, extrusion coating’s versatility has changed the face of packaging in Europe and continues to offer many opportunities for converters, both specialists in extrusion coating and commercial converters that wish to add new volume capabilities to their portfolios. AWA Alexander Watson Assoc. is an international market research consultant company for the converting and packaging industries. Visit www.awa-bv.com Anilox Roller Agreement SPARTANBURG, SC | Interf lex Laser Engravers and Kurt Zecher, Paderborn, Germany, both manufacturers of anilox rollers, report a strategic partnership in which Interf lex will support all service activities on Zecher rollers in North American markets. The partnership will give Interflex the opportunity to service the European embossing and graphic coating markets with on-site support from Zecher. WWW.PFFC-ONLINE.COM http://www.awa-bv.com http://WWW.PFFC-ONLINE.COM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of PFFC - October 2007

PFFC - October 2007 Contents First Glance From the Editor Calendar of Events Web Lines Process Management Package Converting News Clips Narrow Web & Label Reporter Narrow Web & Label What’s New Products Bagmaking Slitting/Rewinding Digital Printing EB Flexo Web Handling Paperboard Packaging Security Packaging Business Transactions What’s New Products Focus: Unwinds & Rewinds Trade Show in Print Services Directory Classified Marketplace Equipment Buyers & Sellers Advertisers Index thePLACE Experience Speaks

PFFC - October 2007

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