With the acquisition of GEM Plastics Limited, Schütz is expanding its product portfolio in the field of industrial packaging and further increasing its performance for customers in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Schütz GmbH & Co KGaA, a leading manufacturer of high-quality transport packaging, has signed a purchase agreement for 100 % of the shares in GEM Plastics Limited of Ireland end of last week. The company, based in Cavan, Republic of Ireland, has been manufacturing plastic industrial packaging for over 30 years. It supplies in particular the chemical, lubricant, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. In addition to established plastic drums and jerrycans, the extensive product range also includes specific packaging solutions for individual customer requirements.
Schütz has been represented in the United Kingdom (Worksop) since 1992 and in Ireland (Killala) since 2000. From these two locations, customers are supplied promptly and effectively with IBCs and plastic drums. With the acquisition of GEM Plastics Limited, the globally operating company in the industrial packaging sector is once again significantly expanding its product range for customers in Ireland, the United Kingdom and beyond. In addition to the established IBC and plastic drum product groups, they will now also benefit from a wide range of jerrycans.
Refresco Europe was awarded the first-ever European Lean & Green Star for their transport operations in their European business. Refresco earned the Star for having transport emissions that are 20 % lower than the industry benchmark. This was achieved by implementing a range of optimization programs in their European operations.
Since 2018, Refresco implemented a number of projects and initiatives, including:
- driving with fully loaded trucks as much as possible, including cross-border traffic,
- entering into strategic partnerships with transport companies and suppliers to optimize transport efficiency,
- and optimizing the production footprint, thus reducing the distance from production location to customer sites.
All of these initiatives were aimed at increasing transport efficiency and reducing transport emissions. Case in point: Refresco Italy introduced a longer lightweight truck with 8 % more loading capacity, and two new external warehouses located closer to the plants. Both initiatives contribute to a permanent and sizable reduction of transport emissions.
Ms. Minna Lyijynen, Refresco Group Sustainability Manager: “We are excited to have received this first-ever European Lean&Green Star. While there are many other elements involved, the way we handle transportation has a large impact on the sustainability of our business. Thanks to our pan-European manufacturing footprint we are able to supply with short transport lines and provide our customers the proximity they need. Our aim is, together with our carriers and suppliers, optimal transport efficiency and minimum impact on the environment. The Lean & Green program is a valuable tool to help us to realize this ambition and improve as we go. ”
Adds Nico Anten, Executive Chairman Lean&Green Europe: “New technologies might help facilitate more sustainable transport, but the most important element in success is a company’s dedication to making it happen. This first-ever European Lean & Green Star is well-deserved and reflects the emphasis Refresco places on making transport more sustainable.”
Downgauging innovations yield thinner, more sustainable BIB films
One word, more than any other, is guiding Bag-in-Box (BIB) film purchasing decisions today: sustainability. Whether for wine, fruit juice or dairy products, the people in the buyer center – product and packaging managers, technical engineers and purchasing agents – are tasked with finding sustainable packaging solutions.
Fortunately for them, the Mondi Styria plant in Austria, has racked up more than 60 years of experience as market leader and technology innovator. When it comes to multilayer technical films that are thinner, lighter and more sustainable – and do not sacrifice any performance properties – the Mondi experts are always extending the boundaries of technological advancement. Now, they are launching a pair of next-generation films developed for multilayer BIB products used to package liquid food products and more.
Introducing … Styria Form Bar 50
“We have now determined it is possible to replace the usual 66- or 70-micron polyethylene film with a 50-micron film, and we are the first company to be able to offer such a product,” explains Günter Leitner, Managing Director at Mondi Styria. “Downgauging in this manner results in the use of about 25 % less material while also reducing transport weight and hence the overall carbon footprint.”
A current customer is already running trials of this new product, and says it has experienced no negative impact on machine performance and that no equipment changes have been needed to successfully run the film, Leitner notes.
… and Styria Form Bar 90 DW
Separately, Mondi now has also found a way to combine what is the industry-standard, two-ply film comprising a 70-micron polyethylene layer plus a 40-micron barrier layer into a mono-layer film that measures only 90 microns thick –– a reduction of nearly 20 %. Currently, Mondi provides its 70-micron film to customers who combine it with a barrier layer provided by another supplier to get the desired end result.
“Mondi, once again, is the first and only supplier of technical BIB films able to offer this type of mono-layer product,” says Leitner. “Since this thinner film also yields more running metres per reel this leads to enhanced efficiency and productivity for our customers.”
In addition to the previously noted sustainability advantages, this latest innovation greatly simplifies matters for customers, eliminating a step from the converting process, and allowing users to buy and store only one type of film instead of two.
Customers also will benefit from reduced machine setup time due to having to change out only two reels instead of four, and having to change two reels less frequently. All of this translates into greater productivity for the converter.
Additionally, both new films are suitable for both hot-fill (up to 85 ºC) and cold-fill applications, again offering increased convenience and flexibility to the users.
