Tech Can INTERNATIONAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

Asia CanTech Supplier Inks & Coatings Profile Fish Can Focus 2010

CT COVER SEP10B.indd 1 21/9/10 12:33:20 IFC-GOLDEN EAGLE.indd 1 21/9/10 09:59:46 Editorial Comment

Editorial Director Sarah McRitchie [email protected]

Managing Editor Suzanne Christiansen [email protected]

Deputy Editor Alec Peachey A new era [email protected] By Alec Peachey, Deputy Editor

Art Editor Sue Burke [email protected] t is an honour and a privilege to be asked to take over you can read Evert van de Weg’s interesting report Advertisement Manager editorial responsibility for CanTech International. about an employee-owned company on page 18. Victoria Deakins I Having previously worked as assistant editor on On page 16, Patrick Savoure, the head of Impress’s [email protected] the magazine, I have already met a number of people seafood division, gives his views on how the fish can in the industry and have been impressed by the pas- market is holding up. sion with which they speak about metal packaging. This year’s Supplier Profile is a major part of this Accounts Sally Capon Going forward, I will be looking to develop the maga- bumper issue and starts on page 31. It provides a [email protected] zine in my own way. If anyone has any ideas on how chance to see the offerings from a whole variety of it could be improved then I am open to suggestions. industry suppliers and is a valuable reference tool to be If you want to get in touch then please email me at kept on hand for the whole year. Publisher Neil McRitchie [email protected] or call (+44) 1474 532202. Last but by no means least is Asia CanTech 2010. The [email protected] In this issue, David Smith, technical manager at the annual conference and meeting point for can makers Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association takes a and fillers in the Asia Pacific region is now in its fourth closer look at Bisphenol A (BPA). The use of BPA in year. It is once again being held at the beautiful Royal packaging materials is one of the hottest topics in the Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers in Bangkok. industry at the moment. Read David’s insightful report This year’s lineup of keynote speakers is arguably the Taiwan Sales Agent on page 28. strongest we’ve ever had. It includes Jay Gouliard, who Worldwide Services Co Ltd Jack Knight, senior international technical service is the vice president of global packaging for Unilever, PO Box 44-100 manager for INX International Ink Co, writes his first and Simon Jennings, previously managing director of Taichung Taiwan regular column for CanTech on page 21. In his first Rexam Asia, who now runs his own consultancy firm. Tel: +886 4 2325 1784 contribution, he looks at the inks side of the metal For a full show preview see page 12. Fax: +886 4 2325 2967 decorating industry. This forms part of an update on ink I look forward to seeing you all there. Please be sure [email protected] and coatings which features AkzoNobel. to come and say hello – it will be a good opportunity Also on the agenda is tooling developments and to put some more faces to names. Japan Sales Agent Yukari Media Incorporated. YMI bldg. 3-3-4, Uchihirano-machi, Chuo-ku, COVER STORIES Osaka 540-0037 Japan Tel: +81-6-4790-2222

Editorial & Sales Office The Maltings, 57 Bath Street, Gravesend Kent DA11 0DF, UK Tel: +44 1474 532 202 16 Fish Can Focus 20 Ink and Coatings Update 31 Supplier Profile Fax: +44 1474 532 203

CanTech International September/October 2010 3

P.3 INTROCOMMENT√.indd 1 21/9/10 09:38:44

September/October 2010 Contents

CanTech Contents 18 INTERNATIONAL September/October 2010 Volume 18, Number 1

24

Cover photo courtesy of Ball Packaging Europe

Subscription Information

DON’T MISS IT! An annual subscrip- tion to CanTech International includes direct personal delivery of seven issues per year, weekly email REGULARS 22 newsletter and password access to Bell Publishing’s online archive 3 Comment of news and articles covering the 18 More than just tooling metal packaging market. 6 World News Neue Maschinenfabrik is an employee-owned A one year subscription is just US$185/€133/£102, or subscribe for 26 Equipment News German company that two years for only US$320/€234/£177. The latest machinery and specialises in two-piece can and end tooling. Evert van To subscribe please email equipment for the can line [email protected] or de Weg spoke to managing go to www.cantechonline.com and 30 New Products director Heiko Fieser click Subscribe. New cans and ends in the market place 20 An ink revolution AkzoNobel is a leading 114 Diary supplier of internal and external coatings and inks for 115 Candid the metal packaging 27 A hidden gem Send address changes to: Gregor Spengler, secretary industry. Alec Peachey After spending 15 years CanTech International, working for Carnaud The Maltings, 57 Bath Street, Gravesend, general, European Tube speaks to Ashok Joshi about Kent DA11 0DF, UK. Published by Bell Manufacturers Association the company’s key growth Metalbox, the owner of UK Publishing Ltd. No part of this publication markets based T&G Engineering may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval knows a thing or two about system or transmitted in any form or by FEATURES can tooling. Alec Peachey any means without the prior written 22 A taste of India permission of Bell Publishing Ltd. reports 12 Asia CanTech 2010 Preview India’s two-piece can Printed in the UK by Williams Press, What’s coming up at the market continues to grow in 28 An update on BPA Maidenhead, Berkshire. double-digit figures. David ISSN: 1466-7851 conference and meeting David Smith, technical point for can makers and Hayes talks to Naval Pandole manager of the UK’s Metal fillers in Asia Pacific of Rexam HTW Beverage Can Packaging Manufacturers Association, takes an 16 No drain, no pain 24 Hoffmann, traditional yet in-depth look at the issue of Impress has been working modern Bisphenol A (BPA) with the UK’s leading canned Swiss can maker Hoffmann fish brand on a new develop- Neopac has recently put 31 Supplier Profiles 2010 ment which will help improve more focus on packaging for can convenience for tobacco. Evert van de Weg consumers discovers the reasons why 99 Buyers Guide

CanTech International September/October 2010 5

P.5 CONTENTS*.indd 5 22/9/10 14:33:07 World News World News

NEWS IN BRIEF Report shows drinks cans travel best through supply chain

A new study has found that drinks and offer additional future oppor- The fifth edition of the Aerosol cans are the most environmental- tunities as other initiatives such Forum, an exhibition dedicated to ly efficient package transported as lightweighting begin to offer aerosol packaging and dispensing through the supply chain. diminishing returns. technology, will be held in March The study was conducted by “The study clearly reveals that next year. Incept in an effort to understand tangible cost and CO² savings The event is taking place in Paris the impact of packaging choices can be achieved when trans- at the Cité des Sciences et de on both cost and CO² emissions porting beer multipacks through l’Industrie on March 8 and 9. More in the take home beer supply the supply chain, compared to than 800 participants representing chain. Incept is an independent equivalent packs of glass bottles. leading international brands and consulting and research com- But is this something that con- their aerosol suppliers are expect- pany. sumers are really worried about? ed to attend. The year-long study, which “There was some extensive Can Makers chairman Vince Major For further information visit www. found that tangible cost and CO² research carried out by the The advantages we’ve seen aerosol-forum.com savings can be made when trans- Institute of Grocery Distribution come out from this research are porting beer multipacks through which shows that consumers are due to the considerable weight Ball is aiming to enter new markets the supply chain compared to concerned about it and that and cube efficiency of drinks with the acquisition of Neuman Al- equivalent packs of glass bot- it does influence their decision cans compared with taller glass uminium, a North American manu- tles, comes at a time when fill- making,” adds Gazzard. bottles. facturer of aluminium slugs used to ers, retailers and consumers alike make extruded aerosol cans, bev- seek to address the cost and erage bottles, aluminium collaps- Product savings Cost CO2 environmental impact of their ible tubes and technical impact Four pack 440ml cans v glass 6 x 330ml 4.9 pence 10g packaging choices. extrusions. Four pack 440ml cans v glass 6 x 275ml 5.6 pence 6.4g Neuman Aluminium operates Commenting on the research 15 x 440ml cans v glass 18 x 275ml 7.16 pence 14g plants in Verona, Virginia, and Sher- findings, Nick Gazzard, CEO of brooke, Quebec, which produce Incept, said: “The potential CO² aluminium disks, or slugs, that are and cost reductions identified in converted into premium packag- the study are significant at an He notes that retailers “This report addresses some ing for personal care, household, industry level, can be achieved should be reaching a certain concerns about CO² emissions beverage and other products. with standard can packaging level of corporate and social but it is coming from a different “This strategic acquisition is an in- responsibility care. angle.” Commenting on previ- vestment by Ball in a business that “Consumers do care but they ous claims that packaging like has technology to access new are just not clear about which Tetra Pak cartons can cut down markets and opportunities to grow piece of information to believe or a product’s packaging weight Ball’s packaging platform,” says what it means,” he says. and help reduce carbon emis- Raymond Seabrook, executive Vince Major, chairman of the sions, Major says: “We need to vice president and chief operating Can Makers, a group that works make our own case. I’m not sure officer, global packaging opera- to promote the benefits of the there is a great deal of mileage tions. drinks can, added: “Current eco- from product bashing. We know nomic conditions and ongoing Crown Bevcan Europe and that metals are the most recycled Middle East, is installing a second environmental concerns over package out there. Every pack- beverage can production line transport emissions are driving age type has got its pluses and in its recently opened facility in a focus on reducing both costs minuses and this is one more for Kechnec, Slovakia. Incept’s CEO Nick Gazzard and CO² in the supply chain. metal.” The new line, which will have an initial annual production capacity of approximately 850 Costa switches to cans million two-piece aluminium Costa Coffee has switched to of coffee in its stores rather than for beverage cans, is expected to metal cans from plastic pouches at home consumption, so it decid- be operational early in 2011. “We in an effort to increase sales of the ed to move from a bag product are extremely pleased with strong brand in the at home market. to a tin product to help grow its customer demand throughout Following various consumer distribution into supermarkets like the central and eastern European research exercises, the company Waitrose and Tesco. region. The plant is well located to supply customers in Slovakia discovered that coffee tins were “The decision to move to tins was and neighbouring Austria, Czech the preferred option for a premium made after a number of rounds of coffee brand. customer research with our cus- Research has shown that consumers prefer Republic, Hungary, Poland, premium coffee brands in cans. Romania and Ukraine,” says The cans are made by Impress tomers and with the customers of Chris Homfray, president Crown and measure 99x130mm. They are many major multiples,” comments tomers in their own homes to keep Europe. supplied with a full-aperture easy- Melissa Mace, Costa PR manager. the product for longer with the use open aluminium end and a poly- “The key benefits of the tin over of the re-sealable lid, rather than ethylene overcap. the previous bag is quality, life and have to decant the coffee into Costa is known more for the retail convenience. The tin allows cus- another item.”

6 September/October 2010 CanTech International

P.6,7,8,9,10 NEWS√.indd 6 20/9/10 16:52:20 World News

AkzoNobel acquires Impress invests in Merthyr Tydfil site assets of Lindgens Can maker Impress has upgrad- AkzoNobel has agreed to ed the materials handling equip- acquire the worldwide assets ment at its aerosol factory in of Sweden-based company Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, with Lindgens Metal Decorating the acquisition of a fleet of 15 Coatings and Inks, including counterbalanced forklift trucks its majority stake in the Server and one pedestrian stacker. Boya joint venture in Turkey. The company took delivery The deal will add technology from Jungheinrich at a special and expertise to AkzoNobel’s hand over ceremony, followed own packaging coatings activi- by a forklift truck demonstration, ties, particularly in the market on site, at Merthyr Tydfill recently. for inks printed on the outside of The trucks are finished in the cor- two-piece metal packaging. porate colours of Impress and “This is an excellent acquisi- have replaced a mixed fleet tion which boosts our capabil- that had reached the end of its Pictured from left to right: Russ Palmer (Jungheinrich), Dai Havard (Labour MP - Merthyr Tydfil ity and is perfectly in line with contract. and Rhymney) and Paul Fox (plant manager - Impress Merthyr Tydfil). The trio are flanked by our growth strategy,” explains two new forklift trucks which have been purchased by Impress. The counterbalanced trucks Leif Darner, the AkzoNobel are a mix of LPG and electric The new truck fleet is part of emphasis on continuous invest- board member responsible powered models. The LPG trucks Impress Group’s ongoing pro- ment to develop the business, for performance coatings. “It feature a hydrostatic drive, which gramme of investment to upgrade at the Merthyr Tydfil site. “We will strengthen our position in makes them manoeuvrable. The the Merthyr Tydfil facility. firmly believe that the acquisition metal packaging decoration three wheel electric models, with It follows investment in health, of this fleet of forklift trucks from and enhance our presence fourth generation AC technol- safety and well being at work and Jungheinrich will improve efficien- in important markets such as ogy, offer leading performance the installation of a new autow- cy and enable a safer working Russia, Turkey and Australia.” and the lowest running costs. rapper, which takes components environment to benefit both the Conrad Keijzer, managing Each of the new models is fitted off the press, wraps and palletises staff and the business.” director of AkzoNobel’s industri- with Jungheinrich’s ISM manage- them, automatically. Local dignitaries and sen- al coatings business, added: “As ment system to enable a range Paul Fox, plant manager at ior personnel, from Impress and well as reinforcing our position in of truck performance indicators the Merthyr Tydfil site, said: “The Jungheinrich attended the launch metal packaging, this transac- to be monitored remotely. company places considerable ceremony and demonstration. tion will also enable us to offer a number of unique technolo- gies and support our customers AMA launches aerosol recycling campaign with a comprehensive inks and The Aerosol Manufacturers’ of Reckitt Benckiser, who heads up discarded aerosol cans and bring coatings portfolio.” Association of South Africa (AMA) the sustainability sub-committee. them in to the recycling companies, Consultations with employee has teamed up with Collect-a-Can “We’re focusing on encourag- as well as to assist in uplifting them representatives will be held as to initiate a countrywide campaign ing the end user to dispose of their as a community, the AMA recently and when appropriate. to recycle used aerosol cans. aerosol cans in an environmentally handed over safety equipment to Peter Koivula, chairman of This follows the recent formation friendly manner. It is a common representatives of the pickers (pic- Lindgens Group, said: “With of an AMA sustainability sub-com- myth that aerosol cans cannot be tured) who earn a living at the the continuing globalisation of mittee to focus on accountability in recycled. The reality is that aero- Goudkoppies Municipal landfill site our marketplace, this strategic the areas of aerosol manufacturing, sol packaging is fully recyclable, in Devland, south of Johannesburg. deal will help to ensure that marketplace, social and environ- just like any other metal container, The donation included specialised all Lindgens and Server Boya mental responsibility. and represents a valuable source of collection bags, face masks and customers around the world “The objective of the greater sus- metal for the manufacturing indus- rubber gloves and will be distribut- continue to benefit from the tainability initiative is to promote best try.” ed to the estimated 2000 recycling right products, technologies practice in the production and dis- Since most South African house- collectors who are working on the and services both now and in tribution of aerosol cans to achieve holds do not separate and recycle landfill site. The equipment will pro- the future.” the lowest possible environmental waste, most used aerosols in this tect the pickers from the potential Established in 2005, Lindgens impact,” says Mattia De Dominicis country can end up in landfills. It has health and safety risks of working – which achieved 2009 sales become a common among the 32,000 tons of waste of approximately €25 million sight to see “pickers” processed at the Goudkoppies ($31.9m) – manufactures and sorting through waste landfill site every month. markets complete system solu- on landfill sites, as well “We believe the collaboration tions of coatings and inks for the as in suburban areas, to with Collect-a-Can will help us in metal packaging industry. separate out recyclable our efforts to minimise the impact For an interview with Ashok items which are then of aerosol cans on the environment, Joshi, director sBU AkzoNobel sold to recycling com- by ensuring that as many aerosol Packaging Coatings, see the panies such as Collect- cans as possible are reclaimed after ink and coatings update on Members of AMA hand over safety equipment to a-Can. To encourage they have been used and that they page 20. representatives of pickers in South Africa. these pickers to collect are recycled,” adds De Dominicis.

CanTech International September/October 2010 7

P.6,7,8,9,10 NEWS√.indd 7 20/9/10 16:52:22 World News

Ball introduces digital printing at German plant Ball Packaging Europe is now potential. “Our customers want using digital printing on bever- creative, attention-grabbing age cans. At its Hassloch plant in design. This helps them stand out Germany, Ball can now produce at events, product launches and beverage cans printed either the the like, and in successfully mar- conventional way or with photo- keting their products,” he adds. realistic custom designs. “Digital printing gives the drinks A first group of customers is can even greater potential as an already using the new technol- ideal marketing tool.” ogy to market small special- Ball developed the digital print- edition production runs. ing process jointly with its British A digital print head applies cooperation partner, Tonejet. images straight onto the can tional method can handle at most designs for the event concerned. Tonejet contributed a new print surface at resolutions of up to six or eight different ink colours and Another possibility is that sponsors head for precise printing of drinks 600 dpi. The images pass directly cannot compete with digital print- are visibly present with specially cans, while Ball fine-tuned its pro- from computer to production line ing for realism. designed cans at regional sporting duction machinery for the new without any need to make up a “Our new technology gives cus- events or cultural occasions. Digital process. Ball incorporated a printing plate. tomers completely new opportuni- printing can also be a useful tool in prototype of the digital printing Digital printing applies inks wet ties in terms of marketing, secur- promotion campaigns, for example press into its standard produc- on wet, one on top of the other, ing customer loyalty and gaining the launch of a new brand or a tion line at the Hassloch plant in to match every possible shade new customer segments,” explains celebration. spring 2009. Ball can now print and hue. The result is sharp, Robert Jansen, director innovation The new printing technique nota- in parallel on this production line photorealistic imagery that at Ball Packaging Europe. bly permits small production runs using both the conventional relief catches the eye on the kiosk or Digital printing can serve as at low cost. Initial customers are method and digitally, without supermarket shelf. This contrasts a positioning tool for premium already making use of this facil- halting or even slowing produc- with the traditional relief proc- brands. For example, for exclusive ity, and digitally printed cans were tion. The digital prototype cur- ess which involves determining events in major cities like London, presented at an event recently for rently has an output of 120 cans in advance which ink to apply to Berlin or Paris, beverage cans can the first time. It is here that Jansen a minute, set to rise to 200 cans a which printing plate. The conven- be printed just in time with topical sees the new technology’s true minute in the future.

Hoffmann wins coveted IPA award Alupro calls for changes to Swiss can making company Hoffmann minute are produced on these lines. Neopac has won the coveted Hoffmann also offers printing and recycling rates in UK International Packaging Association varnishing. With its six-colour printing The Aluminium Packaging infrastructure changes.” (IPA) Innovation Award for its premium machines and special varnish effects Recycling Organisation Aluminium drinks cans are cigarette tin. as well as embossing, the company (Alupro) says more can be the most widely collected The company was presented with can satisfy the most stringent decora- done to improve recycling form of aluminium packaging, the award at the general assembly of tive demands for all metal packag- rates in the UK. Speaking at which is why the figure of 55% the IPA in Mexico City in June. ing. Hoffmann has been a member of the organisation’s 2010 confer- is higher than the 42% for alu- The cigarette tin, which is the IPA for more than 20 years. ence titled ‘Stepping up to the minium in general. called Smooth The International Packaging challenge’, executive director “Aluminium for recycling tin, was pro- Association brings togeth- Rick Hindley said the increase comes almost entirely from the duced in col- er 16 major independ- from 51% in 2008 is a major domestic waste stream which laboration with ent manufacturers of achievement but that more is expensive and difficult to Philip Morris for metal packaging on needs to be done to grow access. In the last 21 years the the tobacco brand all continents. IPA’s recycling rates further. industry has invested in excess Marlboro. vision is the world- “We have a long term ambi- of £50 million to stimulate col- It is the first square wide exchange of information tion to grow our recycling rate lection and drive recycling pocket pack with a flush-fitting lid and between member companies and further, but this will require sig- performance. No other indus- an external hinge. This means that the the strengthening of technical, com- nificant changes to the recy- try has done more to access tin is significantly more airtight. mercial and environment-oriented cling infrastructure and the its material and achieve its In recent years, Hoffmann has knowledge of every member. creation of even more effec- targets,” adds Hindley. become the leading supplier of pre- The award especially delighted Dr tive partnerships with every- “The future for aluminium mium tinplate pocket packs for the Hans Jordi, CEO and delegate of one involved in aluminium recycling is positive. Demand tobacco industry in Europe and the the board of directors of Hoffmann recycling,” he says. “Our work for scrap is only going to US. Neopac. “Innovations represent an shows that with the current continue to grow and we The sophisticated design of this new important part of the Hoffmann strat- infrastructure a 65% recycling are going to continue to pro- pocket pack from Hoffmann calls for egy,” he says. rate can be achieved by 2020. mote the recycling of alumin- complex tools and fully automated For an in-depth interview with To go beyond this will require a ium beverage cans, foils and lines in the manufacturing process. Hoffmann’s chief executive see Evert massive effort and significant aerosols.” More than 100 cigarette packs per van de Weg’s report on page 24.

8 September/October 2010 CanTech International

P.6,7,8,9,10 NEWS√.indd 8 20/9/10 16:52:25 World News USED QUALITY MACHINERY FOR SALE

EFSA calls for BPA levels to remain unchanged COMPLETE LINES The European Food Safety which come into contact with three years old. 2 Piece auto can lines for soft drinks Authority (EFSA) has told the food, such as baby bottles and EFSA has held consultations • 3 Piece can making lines 73, 99 & 153mm European Commission that the lining of tin cans, and has with national experts from • the tolerable daily intake rec- been linked to a number of across Europe, as well as sev- • PAIL Drum Line 10 to 28 Ltr. Sargiani 1995 ommendations for Bisphenol A possible health problems. The eral international risk assessment • 4/5 Ltr. Rectangular auto.cans line +ends line (BPA) should not be changed. current tolerable daily intake authorities, on the subject of Aerosol Can making lines The decision comes after sci- (TDI) is 0.05mg/kg bw per day, Bisphenol A in recent months, • Sacmi Crown Cap lines PVC free entists on the authority’s CEF although there was some sug- including the design of scien- • panel worked on a comprehen- gestion about converting the tific studies on BPA, toxicological • Littell BR3 Coil-Cut-Line sive opinion on Bisphenol A. It TDI to a temporary TDI. aspects and the strengths and • Twist-Off Cap Line tools 38/43/53/58/66/70mm includes an evaluation of the For the literature review, the weaknesses of certain individual Meltog Automatic Irregular Body-Maker(2002) study investigating the neurode- panel retrieved more than 800 studies. • velopmental toxicity of BPA in publications and the screening Similar issues, as well as details • E.O.E Line / Equipment rats (Stump 2009), advice on process took considerably more of new risk assessments and PRINTING & COATING the risk assessment of BPA car- time than anticipated. studies carried out around the MACHINES/LINES ried out by the Danish DTU Food After considering all the infor- world, have also been discussed Institute, a comprehensive litera- mation available to them, scien- with the US Food and Drug • Crabtree 2 col. Mod.1290+F1 Coater+UV 45”x 38” ture review on BPA toxicity, and tists concluded that there was Administration, Health Canada, • Crabtree Marquess 2 col Print+UV oven + 45”x38” overall conclusions. not enough evidence in a study Food Standards Australia New BPA is widely used in the used by Denmark to justify ban- Zealand, the Food Safety WELDING MACHINES manufacture of polycarbonate ning BPA in materials in con- Commission of Japan and the • Soudronic VAA K-100/120 auto.welders plastics, including materials tact with food for children up to World Health Organisation. • Soudronic VEA W 25K+tool 248mm dia Rexam delivers • EARS welding machines auto & semi auto strong results Crown wins Hormel award • Soudronic VEAW-K50 auto. welder “Relentless cost control” has for ninth straight year • Soudronic ABM 250sw, 73+99mm,+ABM 400 83mm helped Rexam turn a pre-tax Crown Food Packaging North Cevolani CBW 2150 Auto welder, 83m loss into profit in the first half • America has received its ninth of the year. ‘Spirit of Excellence’ award The packaging company from Hormel Foods Corporation GENERAL INDIVIDUAL reported a 1% drop in sales for its contributions to enhanc- MACHINERY of £2.5 billion ($3.9 billion) ing the sustainability and effi- Cevolani BNA 489 Can-O-Mat 3 stations 83mm dia for the first six months to 30 • ciency of the company’s Double Slitters of Blema, (1100x1100mm)+Fmi June. But cost cutting meas- • operations. & Continental Can ures have seen Rexam turn Crown and Hormel have a £30 million ($46.8m) pre- Cevolani CG422 Scroll Shear (1100x1100mm) worked together to package • tax loss in 2009 into £144m the iconic Spam family of prod- • Lubeca LW211 auto. one head seamer ($225m) profit. ucts for more than 30 years. MB 560 Beader tools 83mm Rexam’s net profit in the • Crown began supplying Cevolani BQ48 auto Die flanger dia 127+153 mm period was £102m ($159m) • Hormel’s Fremont cannery compared to a £15m ($23m) MB 151 auto Die flanger, tools 99mm dia with 12oz Spam cans in 1970. Regular on-site visits conduct- • loss in the first half of last year. The packaging then went on to ed by Crown’s customer techni- • MB 334 CRS/F auto.seamer dia.52mm Commenting on the 2010 have several incarnations, with cal support (CTS) personnel help CANCO 400 Vacuum Seamers+Clinchers half year results, Graham • the introduction of a two-piece Hormel Foods keep lines running Chipchase, Rexam’s chief • WILCO K15 AE. Tester tool 52+65mm dia.220cpm can with a two-finger easy-open smoothly to deliver products to executive, said: “We are Cevolani AQ 58 auto Rectangular 2 Seamers tab finding favour with consumers market efficiently and quickly. • pleased with our perform- more than 10 years ago. These on-site visits also help • Bliss 821 Dbl.Die stripfeed press+dbl.curler. ance in the first half. There This feature is still in use today Hormel Foods achieve its over- Strapper-Robo pack+Wrapper-Expo pack has been some volume • on the 12oz and 7oz containers all sustainability goals by helping recovery as well as pricing • Coil Car & Down Ender (max.10 ton) that Crown continues to supply optimise energy use in its manu- improvement. Our relent- Lanico BF-311 Flanger / Dbl. Seamer Hormel Foods. facturing facilities. • less cost control has driven “Quality and innovation have “Our team approach with •Lanico BF-280 ae Flanger / Dbl. Seamer strong profit growth.” always been at the heart of Hormel Foods allows us to devel- The results show 2% growth achieving strong results at Hormel op effective solutions that have in beverage cans volume Foods,” comments Melanie Faust, a real impact on the company’s CONTACT US FOR DETAILS driven by strong recovery in director of purchasing at Hormel manufacturing operations,” adds speciality cans while plas- Foods. “Having committed part- David Underwood, president, Y P INTERNATIONAL LTD. tic packaging performance ners like Crown provides us with Crown Food Packaging North 1 Basing Hill, London, NW11 8TE. was in line with expecta- ongoing innovation and collabo- America. “ We are proud to be Tel: +44 (0)20 8458 0126 tions. The company said it ration, which has helped support recognised for our consistently Fax: +44 (0)20 8209 0591 is on track to meet its cost our company’s reputation for high level of service and quality Email: [email protected] savings of £45m with £29m excellence.” packaging.” www.ypinternational.co.uk already saved.

CanTech International September/October 2010 9

P.6,7,8,9,10 NEWS√.indd 9 20/9/10 16:52:26 World News

Heinz remains loyal to the can Despite adding a new packag- ibility to use as many beans as they will continue. about the develop- ing format to its iconic Beanz like before resealing the screw-top “We launched ment. He added: range, Heinz has moved quickly and putting the bottle back in the snack pots in “Shoppers can rest to assure consumers that it is not fridge. 2007 and they assured that the abandining the can. The new 1kg pack is the equiva- proved popular, much loved, iconic The company is launching lent of two and a half cans and has but in no way baked beans can is a new ‘Fridge Pack’ in the UK, been shaped so that it will fit in a are we looking to here to stay. which is a re-sealable bottle that shelf in the fridge. replace the can. “Brand extensions has been developed to cater for Despite the move, the compa- It remains popu- do exactly what they consumers who may use more ny’s director of corporate and gov- lar and will con- say on the tin – widen than a can or only part of a can, ernment affairs, Nigel Dickie told tinue to do so. the market – and this when cooking for their families. CanTech International that the We’re not moving clever and innova- They may leave the rest of an company has no plans to scrap away from the tive Fridge Pack will unused can in the fridge which the can. can and remain do just that, but not can then be wasted, according He said: “The can is not going devoted to it.” at the expense of to the company. away. We sold 442 million cans Nick Mullen, the circa 442 million Once opened, the Fridge Pack of Heinz beans last year alone. It director, Metal cans already being will stay fresh in the fridge for five remains the most popular pack for- Packaging Manufacturers sold in supermarkets across the days, allowing consumers flex- mat for a British institution. The can Association is also unconcerned country.” Ball’s results boosted by rising global demand for cans Ball Corporation has reported tions for the first six months of 2010 ond quarter of 2009. For the first in China and Brazil also contributed strong financial results for the first were net earnings of $227 million, six months, comparable segment to better results. half of 2010. Growing worldwide or $2.42 per diluted share, on sales operating earnings were $188.5 mil- It was a similar story in Europe. demand for beverage cans boost- of $3.6 billion, compared to $201.5 lion on sales of $1.8 billion, com- Segment results in the quarter saw ed the results. million, or $2.13 per diluted share, pared to $121 million on sales of operating earnings of $72.5 million The company reported second on sales of $3.2 billion in the first six $1.4 billion during the same period on sales of $479.3 million, com- quarter net earnings from continu- months of 2009. in 2009. pared to $64.8 million on sales of ing operations of $144.6 million, or Sales of metal packaging, The addition of four US metal bev- $490.6 million in 2009. Results for the $1.55 per diluted share, on sales of Americas and Asia, were up. erage packaging plants, acquired first six months saw operating earn- $2 billion, compared to $134.9 mil- Comparable segment operating in October 2009, increased retail ings of $107.5 million on sales of lion, or $1.42 per diluted share, on earnings were $114.5 million in the promotion of carbonated soft drinks $846.8 million, compared to $95.7 sales of $1.7 billion in the second second quarter on sales of $1 bil- and strong demand for specialty million on sales of $834.4 million in quarter of 2009. lion, compared to $74.8 million on can sizes drove volume improve- 2009. These results improved due Results from continuing opera- sales of $749.1 million in the sec- ment. Double-digit volume growth primarily to increased volumes, growth in speciality cans and exceptional operating perform- ance, which were offset slightly by Every Can Counts in Corby unfavourable currency exchange Drinks can recycling programme diverting as much waste from land- rates. Every Can Counts has been fill as possible. Each of the 174 “Executing on our strategic ini- launched to shoppers and retail- units within the shopping centre tiatives has enabled us to refine ers across Willow Place and Corby has been provided with Every Can our company’s product portfolio, Town Centre in the UK. Counts recycling boxes and pro- improve operating performance Every Can Counts is working motional materials for both staff and meet the growing worldwide with owner Land Securities, the and shoppers, whilst four branded demand for metal packaging by UK’s largest commercial property can crushers have been placed in our customers,” says John Hayes, company, to improve drinks can high footfall areas of the town cen- president and chief operating recycling in the centre’s 174 retail tre. Cans are being collected and officer for the company. units and provide on street drinks processed by local community R. David Hoover, the company’s can recycling facilities for shop- recycling enterprise, Cobwebs. chairman and CEO, is confident pers. Willow Place is the UK’s first Rick Hindley of Every Can Counts the second half of the year will be shopping centre to implement the says: “Of the eight billion drink cans nity to comprehensively promote as strong as the first. ‘on the go’ drinks can recycling sold in the UK each year around Every Can Counts to a wide audi- “As demand for our packaging programme. 30% are consumed ‘on the go’. ence.” products increases and we benefit Every Can Counts has been Through the partnership with Land Nyasha Pitt, marketing man- from our previous strategic actions, introduced as part of a focused Securities we will be engaging with ager for Willow Place and Corby we expect the momentum in our green strategy which is being two significant groups of ‘on the Town Centre, adds: “We hope business to continue and our sec- implemented by Land Securities go’ consumers – those who work other sites will follow our lead and ond half performance from con- to demonstrate an environmen- in the town centre and shoppers introduce Every Can Counts for tinuing operations should exceed tal commitment, which includes – so it offers us great opportu- their tenants and visitors.” that of 2009,” he says.

10 September/October 2010 CanTech International

P.6,7,8,9,10 NEWS√.indd 10 20/9/10 16:52:28 IFC-EPIC.indd 24 9/7/10 10:11:47 Conference Preview Asia CanTech 2010 Preview

sia CanTech is the conference and meeting point for can makers and fillers in the Asia Pacific region. Returning for its Afourth year, this event has become a key date on the calendar for can makers and suppliers, and provides a high quality setting that maximises the exchange of ideas between global suppliers and key decision makers in the Asian metal packaging industry. The two-day conference will provide can makers and fillers with the opportunity to exchange ideas in an inti- mate atmosphere. Attendees will also have access to the newest technologies that reduce costs while improv- ing efficiency and production flexibility. There will be overviews of the latest trends and developments from major companies and extensive time for informal networking and discussion. This year also sees the return of the Technical Forum.

Destination on the perpetual relevance of metal packaging The Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers is once after 200 years of evolution and transformation and again the venue for this year’s Asia CanTech confer- how the metal package continues to deliver. ence. The hotel is located in the centre of Bangkok Making a welcome return to Asia CanTech is and is at the heart of Asia’s metal packaging Simon Jennings, previously managing director of industries. Rexam Asia, who will speak about ‘Trends in the This makes life easier when bringing together packaging industry in Asia and its impact on cans’. everyone from the various countries in the region. Jennings took early retirement and set up his own con- Bangkok has emerged from the political troubles it sultancy firm after spending 16 years with Rexam. After experienced earlier this year, and the packaging holding a number of roles at senior management/

Jay Gouliard sector appears to be booming. director level across the group, Jennings is well placed to give an overview of the Asian can market. Keynote Speakers For the first time we welcome the president of There is excellent variety amongst this year’s Keynote ORG Can Making, Wei Qiong, as a Keynote Speaker. Speakers. We are delighted to welcome Jay Gouliard The company was founded in 1994 and is a major of Unilever, who is the company’s vice president of packaging enterprise in China, combining can mak- global packaging. In this role he is responsible ing, metal printing, top and bottom end production, for packaging research, development and design easy open end manufacturing and development across all Unilever food, home care and personal of innovative new products. In the long term, ORG care categories in all regions of the world. has committed to the revitalisation of the domestic Gouliard has previously worked for companies Chinese metal packaging industry by progressively including General Mills, Anheuser-Busch, Dr Pepper/ building the company to produce metal packaging

Simon Jennings Seven-Up and Coca-Cola. His presentation will focus that is fully recognised as international quality.

12 September/October 2010 CanTech International

P.12,13 ASIACAN PREV√.indd 12 22/9/10 15:09:00 Conference Preview

Asia CanTech at a glance three-piece, Decorative/Speciality, Aerosols, Food, two- piece, Food, three-piece, Ends/Caps/Closures, General When: Monday 18 to Wednesday 20 October 2010 Line, Innovation. There will also be a Supreme Award win- Where: Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand ner. Last year this was awarded to Swan Industries Thailand

for its 900g powdered milk three-piece can for Enfagrow. Monday 18 October From 1pm: Registration Table Top Exhibition Technical Forum Welcome Cocktails & Dinner This year’s conference will see the return of the Technical Forum. Back by popular demand the Forum will focus on Tuesday 19 October can line troubleshooting techniques for spoilage reduction, Keynote Speakers and Presentations downtime reduction and productivity improvement. Technical Forum Roger Baker, sales manager for Pressco Technology, has Table Top Exhibition brought together a group that are among the top in their Gala Dinner and Asia CanTech Award Ceremony fields. Baker will chair the panel, which is also made up of Adrian Long, sales manager for CMB Engineering; Chris Wednesday 20 October McKenzie, international director of Chemtool; Andy Pott, Keynote Speakers and Presentations Table Top Exhibition vice president of ARC Pacific; and Jack Knight, senior inter- national technical service manager at INX International.

Tabletop Exhibition Applied Vision, KBA MetalPrint and Stolle Machinery are among the global suppliers who will be showcasing their Welcome from the organiser products at the Tabletop Exhibition, which provides an Welcome to Asia CanTech 2010. Once again we have excellent opportunity to discuss new products and devel- chosen Thailand as the venue, due to its central location opments in an intimate setting, on all three days. The time in Asia and ease of travel. given over to the Tabletop Exhibition has been extended This is a truly international show, with can makers coming from China, India, the Philippines, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, this year due to feedback from previous events. Other Iran and Hong Kong to name just a few. Despite the exhibitors include International Container Supply, Ashworth, continuing global economic difficulties it is great to GEW, CMC-KUHNKE, Heilbronn Container Presses, Minster have such a gathering of can makers and suppliers in Machine Co, Sencon, Stork Prints, PAC International, one place to share knowledge and expertise. Schuler and NDH Group. I’m pleased to welcome our keynote speakers Jay Gouliard, Simon Jennings and Wei Qiong. I’m also Asia CanTech Awards very excited about the reintroduction of the Technical This year we have added an Forum. This will take place at 3pm on the Tuesday afternoon, with dis- Innovation category to the Asia cussion on genuine production issues and how to resolve them. I would like to take CanTech Awards 2010. this opportunity to thank Adrian Long, Chris McKenzie and Roger Baker who are the Winners will be honoured principles, for their time spent putting this Forum together. So don’t miss it! Next year we will be moving to a relatively new country as far as the can making at the Gala Awards dinner on industry is concerned. We have had many requests to hold Asia CanTech in Vietnam, Tuesday night. Judged by a and are delighted to announce that Ho Chi Minh City will be the venue for Asia panel of independent industry CanTech 2011, in October. Final dates to be confirmed soon. experts and open to can makers I hope you all enjoy another successful event. For those of our readers not involved or fillers of cans and ends sold in you can read about the conference and the winners of the Asia CanTech Awards Asia, winners will be announced in the next issue. in the following categories: Neil McRitchie, Publisher, CanTech International Beverage, two-piece, Beverage 2009 Winner

CanTech International September/October 2010 13

P.12,13 ASIACAN PREV√.indd 13 22/9/10 15:09:22 P.14,15 ASIACANTECH 2011 dps.indd 2 22/9/10 09:13:38 Asia CanTech Vietnam 2011 Th e Technical Conference for Can Makers and Fillers in the Asia Pacifi c Region

Organised by Tech Can INTERNATIONAL

[email protected] www.asia-can.com

P.14,15 ASIACANTECH 2011 dps.indd 3 22/9/10 09:13:39 Fish Can Focus No drain, no pain

new two-piece Impress has been steel can, working with the UK’s leading canned fish Awhich has a brand on a new devel- diameter of 83mm and opment which will help a height of 38mm, is improve can conven- set to be used by fish ience for consumers. company John West Alec Peachey talks to across its full range of the head of the com- canned products. The There is no splashing, no waste pany’s seafood division can features patented Patrick Savouré and removing the liquid makes ‘no drain’ can technology, which removes the need for the excess liquid normally used to the can lighter prevent drying out and aid sterilisation. It is being manufac- tured in the Seychelles by Impress. through a strong customer base, distribution and brand The steel can was first used by the company last year leadership. We‘ look forward to welcoming the employees on a small selection of its products known as ‘Delicious No of MW Brands into the Thai Union Group.” Drain Tuna Steaks’. This selection of the ‘No Mess’ range John West, which is based in Liverpool, was founded has so far recorded sales of £20 million ($31.1m). more than 140 years ago by a Scotsman of ’ the same “This particular development is very exciting because it name who set up canning factories in the US. is a very smart idea,” notes Savouré. “There is no splashing, Unilever bought the business in 1963, with branches soon no waste and removing the liquid makes the can lighter.” established in Australia and Africa. Heinz then bought the Impress and John West have been working together for company in 1997, which in turn sold it on to Trilantic in a number of years but more specifically since 1999 in the 2006. Seychelles. Joe Cohen, partner at Trilantic Capital Partners, added: On the company website, John West describes the ‘no “We are proud to have been involved with MW Brands from drain’ technology as “the most ground-breaking new idea its inception as a carve out of various businesses from Heinz since canned fish was invented over 50 years ago”. to becoming the leading European canned seafood com- pany. We believe that TUF represents an excellent buyer of Takeover deal the business and the combined company will be able to John West is the UK’s leading canned fish brand and has generate important synergies through procurement, new recently been sold to Thailand’s biggest producer and product development and global sales. The combination exporter of canned fish for £568 million ($900m). also constitutes a key step in the development of sustain- Private equity firm Trilantic able and economic fishery production.” Capital Partners has agreed The acquisition will add four processing plants in France, to sell the brand’s owner, MW Portugal, Seychelles and Ghana to Thai Union’s five exist- Brands, to Thai Union Frozen ing facilities, and will double its fishing fleet from four to Products (TUF). nine vessels. Once the transaction is com- John West currently employs 67 staff in the UK. plete, TUF’s tuna processing capacity will amount to half a Innovation is key million tonnes making the com- Savouré believes the need to be innovative in the fish can bined group one of the largest category is now more important than ever. “It’s very impor- canned tuna producers in the tant for all packaging to be innovative, not just seafood world. packaging,” he adds. “First and foremost it’s important to “MW Brands represents a trans- promote the brand on shelf, to convince the consumer to formational opportunity for TUF buy and buy again, so innovation is part of the game. Can to consolidate its strength in the manufacturing is a dynamic industry but the benefits of global ambient seafood mar- many innovations are not always visible to the consumer ket,” comments TUF president including reduced weight, more sophisticated lacquers Thiraphong Chansiri. “MWB’s and printing and fine adjustments to improve the con- strong European footprint will venience of opening for consumers and for optimisation also provide us with further busi- throughout the supply chain.” The head of Impress’s seafood division Patrick Savouré ness opportunities in the future Impress meets the needs of a large variety of seafoods

16 September/October 2010 CanTech International

P.16,17 FISH CAN√.indd 16 21/9/10 10:13:00 Fish Can Focus

that are canned around the world, from tuna in the Pacific The equipment side Ocean to herring in the North Sea. Montajes Conserveros De Galicia (MCG) is launching a No drain, no pain The Impress range includes two and three-piece cans, new vacuum seamer for irregular cans. made from steel or aluminium, both printed and unprinted, The new VSF-110 was officially launched at the IFFA, in a variety of profiles and sizes that complement the vari- a meat industry trade fair in Germany, and sales man- ous shapes of fish being canned. ager Alejandro Martinez believes it will quickly become A range of conical cans has also been developed popular with fish canners. The vacuum seamer can by Impress. They enable the company to maximise the reach a maximum speed of 100 cans per minute. number of cans in each load and to deliver special printed MCG is a Spanish company that was created in 1994 with the objective of offering a specialised service to cans economically over long distances. the food canneries, mainly with seaming machines. “Close to a million 120g empty well-adapted conical “Fish and shellfish canneries in Japan, Korea and shaped cans and ends, can be transported in a 40 foot China, which are canning products such as sardines, container,” explains Savouré. tuna, salmon, smoked oysters and mussels, are using The great majority of Impress’s cans are supplied with locally made old-style low speed vacuum seamers,” he easy open ends or Easy Peel systems, in either steel or says. “They are being used on typical rectangular Club aluminium. and Dingley cans as well as for oval 4, 7 and 12oz cans. “Today, everyone expects convenience of opening so This market segment can now get a state-of-the-art easy open and Easy Peel ends on fish cans are very usual,” vacuum seamer with important advantages in terms of says Savouré. “However, the commodity market remains hygienic, ultraclean and safety systems. It is also more where every penny counts. They choose non-printed user-friendly and has a bigger capacity with lower maintenance cost.” bodies and non easy open ends for cost reasons, without Because of this bigger capacity Martinez says the sacrificing the key assets of metal packaging. VSF-110 is useful for fish canners and can makers who are looking at ways of reducing manufacturing costs. Metal is best “Our bigger capacity helps to replace several old The seafood market has seen little challenge from alterna- lines saving a lot of space, machinery and workers, tive packaging and Savouré doesn’t see this changing. reducing significantly the production costs,” he notes. “There’s nothing to beat it,” he notes. “Most fish in cans is in oil and metal is well suited to oily products to travel Looking to the future all over the world. Many fish are seasonal and the can “In Europe, we hope that the vacuum seamer VSF-110 has a good shelf life, without the need for refrigeration. will become popular with fish canneries, when they If you consider fresh fish, at least half is thrown away, realise that this machine will allow them to save most of the oil, sauces and ingredients filled into the cans as well unlike canned fish, where you can eat everything that’s as extend the shelf life and improve the product quality in the can. Seafood cans are attractive and the printing with colour and sensorial attributes that are much more enhances the brand.” acceptable to consumers”, explains Martinez. Impress has a one third share of the fish canning market The company is working with a number of can mak- and consumer demand is greatest in the US and Europe. ers including Impress, Mivisa, Crown Cork & Seal, Royal In terms of the overall can making business at Impress, Can and Toyo Seikan. the fish sector makes up around 20 per cent. The company has a range of seaming machines for “Supplying cans is like an adventure. Impress has close irregular cans including the F-113 with capacity up to partnerships with customers and makes careful decisions 130cpm, the F-425 with capacity up to 250cpm and the on a daily basis. There is a partnership supply chain inte- F-640 with capacity up to 400cpm. gration to manage this complex flow. This is important The VSF-110 shown at IFFA was a prototype that was equipped with a single seaming station and a tooling to because decisions now can have an impact tomorrow,” seam traditional rectangular meat cans. concludes Savouré. ❑ “The feedback was positive from everyone who inspected the machine,” notes Martinez. “We are still working on some points of the machine which need to be finalised and installed in a cannery. We have quoted this machine for different applications including canned fish, canned meat, milk and coffee powder, nuts and ready meals and we are hoping to get some orders within the next six months.”

CanTech International September/October 2010 17

P.16,17 FISH CAN√.indd 17 21/9/10 10:13:02 Tooling Developments More than just tooling

n the former German ‘can making city’ of Neue Maschinenfabrik Brunswick, can maker Schmalbach- GmbH is an employee- Lubeca had its own machine and owned German com- I tooling shop to support its many can pany which specialises making plants. This machine shop sup- in can tooling. Evert van de Weg spoke plied complete can making lines for ends to managing director and two-piece beverage cans. In the Heiko Fieser and quick- 1980s the demand for such a shop ly discovered that the diminished gradually. A Dutch entre- company offers more preneur took it over, and renamed it than just tooling MFB, but it turned out that entrepre- neur was only after the valuable premis- es of the machine shop. At first MFB still had sufficient work due to the construction of some new bever- A new cupping system for the forming of cups in the DWI-process for two-piece cans age can plants in France and Germany, but when the construction of a new beverage can plant in Poland was Focusing on tools delayed, the machine shop had no work and virtually col- From the start of the new company the production of tools lapsed. When the cooperation with German can making and auxiliary equipment for the can making industry was machine suppliers Karges Hammer and Blema-Aue failed, the core business. The expertise of the employees in this 32 of the remaining employees of MFB decided in 1998 to area was the main asset of the company. take fate into their own hands and founded a ‘staff enter- “We do not make tooling for three-piece cans but we prise’ which would be owned by all of them. It was named aim at tooling for the market of two-piece cans and easy- Neue Maschinenfabrik GmbH (NMF). open ends, in steel and aluminium,” explains Fieser. “When Heiko Fieser became managing director and he is still in we started in 1998 we had only limited technical possibili- the position. ties to make tooling for easy open ends, as this requires a Fieser said: “At the time we were quite happy to be able big machine park of sophisticated high-tech machinery. to conserve the huge know-how and machine and tooling These machines must be able to produce tools with experience that our employees had built up during many extremely low tolerances and we did not have the kind of years of service. money to buy such machinery. When we were in better “We work as a normal company would do with man- financial shape, we started to produce tooling again for agement, a board of directors, budgets, balance sheets, easy-open end technology.” profit and loss accounts. The only difference is that we as employees are the shareholders and at least once every Our tools are at the very heart of the lines. year we all sit together in our shareholders meeting to dis- We manufacture all the tool parts in-house cuss results and the plans for the years to come.” to secure constant quality. We have a The company moved into the premises of a former pro- good mix between the decade-long ducer of can making experience of many of our employees and machinery, Clemens & the fresh impulses that our young engineers Vogel, which features ‘ bring to the party big halls that are ideal for the machines and For the last two years the company has been able to complete lines that supply a complete easy-open end making line, which are being produced includes shell making and a conversion press. and tested by Neue “We are one of few companies in the world that are Maschinenfabrik. able to offer these systems,” says Fieser. ’“We tune the type “It was important to of machinery and the whole line configuration closely with have such good premis- the customer. We have our preferences as to the press and es in or near Brunswick in other components, but the customer decides. We see that order to facilitate com- our approach also suits can makers with smaller volumes.” muting for our employ- A look in the workshops reveals some impressive, almost ees to keep them on finished shell and conversion lines for the production of A two-lane conversion tool board,” he adds. beverage can ends. These systems will soon be completed

18 September/October 2010 CanTech International

P.18,19 TOOLING DEVELOPMENTS√.indd 18 21/9/10 10:16:25 Tooling Developments

and then thoroughly tested, in the presence of tools. Although the supply of tools, including the the customer. “These lines will produce more than production of complete turnkey lines for the pro- 5,500 easy open ends per minute and the specifi- duction of easy open ends, accounts for more cations are within small tolerances, as the opening than 50 per cent of the company’s turnover, it is forces of the ends have to be very low on the one busy in other areas. side, but on the other side the ends should not open spontaneously when pressure develops,” Beyond tooling notes Fieser. The company manufactures Larsen ear weld- “Our tools are at the very heart of the lines. We ing and bailing machines which are used for manufacture all the tool parts in-house to secure the welding of ears to can bodies, followed by constant quality. We have a good mix between attaching the handles, either wire or plastic, to the decade-long experience of many of our the ears. Under the established brand name employees and the fresh impulses that our young Larsen, a wide variety of semi and fully automatic engineers bring to the party. We apply the newest machines for attaching handles to cans and 3D design programs as well as the latest IT soft- canisters is available at NMF. It produces different ware. From product design to the processing of welding ears and plugs in its own pressroom. the tool parts on the various machines and up to “In the 1990s we bought the Danish company the quality checks, all our production steps access Larsen, when it was in bad financial shape. The 3D product model data for consistency and high supply of ears and plugs is a steady and welcome quality results. ” source of income for us as our tooling business shows ups and downs from time to time,” Fieser Twist-off closures acknowledges. NMF makes a number of tools for the two-piece Although the technology is well established, can and the easy-open end markets, but also for NMF worked with staff at the Impress paint can a full range of other applications in the can mak- plant in Norwich, UK, to develop ears that are suit- ing process. The company also makes tools for able for the application of plastic handles. coiling and scrolling operations, open top rectan- “We supply these paint can components world- gular and round ends, aerosol cones and domes wide. Big can makers often make the can com- and also for glass closures. One particular heritage ponents themselves but we supply a wide range from the past is the production of tools for twist-off of components to many smaller paint can pro- closure production. ducers worldwide.” Fieser says: “As one of the main twist-off suppli- NMF also offers conveying systems. Systems are ers in Germany used to be a part of our former available for flat conveying, magnetic or vacuum parent company Schmalbach-Lubeca, we have assisted. experience with this kind of tooling.” In addition to this, the company often designs Another striking and new development in the 100 per cent custom made special machinery. An area of tooling is the construction of a new cup- in house electrical department provides full serv- ping system for the forming of cups in the DWI- ice from hardware design via programming up to process for two-piece cans. This has been initiated installation work and start-up assistance. together with Heilbronn Container Presses. “During the past years we’ve been involved NMF does more than just the production of in many projects that added real new value to products for the general line and the can end market. We take pride from being awarded by NMF also supply paint can our customers to share those latest developments components across the world and to help them turn their ideas into reality,” states Fieser. With its mixed portfolio, and the company’s policy of tailoring products to the wishes of poten- tial customers, NMF is doing well. “We generate only 20 per cent of our turnover in Europe and the rest comes from other parts of the world, mainly from Asia and the Middle East. With our 40 experienced and highly trained employ- ees and our broad experience with tooling, conveying, special machinery and line control we can offer can mak- ers new and adequate solutions,” con- cludes Fieser. ❑

CanTech International September/October 2010 19

P.18,19 TOOLING DEVELOPMENTS√.indd 33 21/9/10 10:16:28 Ink & Coatings Update An ink revolution

kzoNobel’s coatings and inks are used on beer AkzoNobel is a leading and beverage cans, food cans, caps and closures supplier of internal and Aand general line cans. external coatings and In fact, the Dutch company’s products can be found in inks for the metal pack- daily use everywhere from the iconic DWI aluminium beer aging industry. can, three-piece steel food cans, to aerosols and paint Alec Peachey speaks to cans. Ashok Joshi about the Headquartered in Amsterdam, AkzoNobel has recent- company’s key growth ly completed the acquisition of the worldwide assets markets of Swedish-based company Lindgens Metal Decorating Coatings and Inks, including its majority stake in the Server Boya joint venture in Turkey. The deal, which was completed on September 1, will strengthen the company’s expertise in this area. Ashok Joshi, director Sub Business Unit AkzoNobel Packaging Coatings, says: “The addition of this business to the AkzoNobel family means that we are able to offer an even more comprehensive range of products and services for metal packaging. It will enable us to offer a number of We were the first to commercialise unique technologies including technology and expertise, the water-borne coatings that now particularly in the market for inks printed on the outside of dominate the sector, and help to make two-piece metal packaging. It will strengthen our position in metal packaging decoration and enhance our pres- the DWI can an environmentally friendly ence in important markets such as Russia, Turkey, Australia, packaging solution New Zealand and Tunisia.” ‘ The Lindgens manufacturing operations will be integrat- headlines recently and AkzoNobel is continuing to monitor ed into the AkzoNobel Packaging Coatings operations in the research and regulatory developments relating to it. Europe. The Lindgens Server-Boya manufacturing in Turkey “We are monitoring the research and regulatory devel- will remain unchanged. opments relating to BPA, and we will continue to take our Joshi, who has more than 30 years experience in the guidance on this issue from national and ’international reg- paints and coatings industry, says innovation is a key ulatory authorities to take whatever steps are necessary, element to the culture at AkzoNobel. based on sound scientific principles, to ensure that any “Tomorrow’s answers, conceived today package technology is safe for the consumer,” notes Joshi. is founded in understanding that what “Nevertheless, we are aware of a growing consumer voice is good for our customers today is not for products free of BPA bases epoxy resins. This demand necessarily good enough for them is exactly aligned with our global values of integrity and tomorrow. This benefits our customers responsibility in our actions. because we sustain their future com- “As such, we are engaged with our customers in a petitiveness and meet their unspoken significant R&D programme to qualify epoxy alternative needs,” he explains. technologies that can deliver equivalent or improved “These unspoken needs require coat- performance and protection to the food supply as our cur- ings solutions that best fit each custom- rent coatings. We are attentive to the need for complete er’s needs. We work hard to understand and thorough evaluations of these alternatives through the practical conditions and critical the performance protocols that have developed over control points in their manufacturing more than 40 years of can making experience. We do not processes. We also understand that our recommend the use of products whose impact is not fully ability to deliver the successful modern understood and strive to ensure that the public clearly day metal packing industry a complete understands this need.” solution is vitally important.” Products Monitoring BPA The company has developed both water and sol- The issue of Bisphenol A (BPA) and its vent based technology for internal protection Ashok Joshi, director Sub Business Unit AkzoNobel Packaging Coatings use in packaging materials has hit the of nearly all kinds of metal packaging as well as UV

20 September/October 2010 CanTech International

P.20,21 INK AND COATING UPDATE√.indd 20 21/9/10 10:21:44 Ink & Coatings Update

curable cationic and free radical technology for metal Knight’s knowledge containers. Jack Knight is senior international techni- “We were the first to commercialise the water-borne An ink revolution cal service manager for INX International coatings that now dominate the sector, and help to make Ink Co. In his first regular column for the DWI can an environmentally friendly packaging solu- CanTech International, he looks at the tion,” explains Joshi. “Today our water-borne products are inks side of the metal decorating industry trusted to coat over half the world’s output of DWI cans.” and invites questions from our readers. Examples of the company’s water-borne products Background: My journey in metal deco- include the Aquaprime 186 and Vitalure 740. rating started over 30 years ago in Seattle, AkzoNobel developed Aquaprime 186, a water based Washington, working for Sun Chemical. overprint varnish for beer and beverage cans, which During my tenure in the industry I have worked for many printers and suppli- enables the manufacturer to select where the varnish is ers. I am currently (and permanently) textured and where it is not. employed by INX International Ink Co. My “This unique differential texturing ensures the bar code job involves travelling all over the world resolution and can making throughput is maintained, whilst bringing UV technology to where it has ensuring that the design of the can makes full use of the never been before and supporting the texturing effect, for example the new Heineken can which ever changing metal decorating industry is now being rolled out worldwide,” notes Joshi. that has become my life. AkzoNobel has recently launched the innovative Vitalure I am currently the vice president of the IMDA (International Metal Decorators 740 Paint Can liner in Brazil. It is enamel that offers greater Association) and have served on the board of directors since 2003. protection for the interior of these cans. It increases the I am happy and proud to have been asked to write a series of articles for CanTech shelf-life (or expiry date) of the packed product up to 50 International. I will be reporting from the field and discussing any issues that come up. I will also be providing trouble-shooting tips in an effort to help the process of cranking per cent. The can liner protects the steel can from corro- out good sheets to make good cans for our industry. sion by the most aggressive water based paints and will Since there is an update on inks and coatings in this issue I wanted to go over a extend the ‘best by’ time limit by two to three years. couple of updates on the ink side. In 2009, the overall revenue for BU AkzoNobel Packaging In the last five years I have visited more than 20 countries promoting three-piece UV Coatings was €322 million ($409.8m). The company is tar- technology. As our market has grown, I am asked more and more if we can supply geting future long-term growth in a number of markets conventional thermal inks. A little over a year ago, our Research and Development including Asia, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Latin team was asked to formulate a system that was not only cost competitive with the local America. suppliers but also LEC (Low Energy Cure). They achieved set targets and in January this AkzoNobel is also focusing its R&D activities in other year we ran our first trials, with excellent results. The next test was to achieve the same areas. “As a result of our research and development drive, results with our international customers. I am happy to say that I have attended several AkzoNobel offers the metal packaging industry top quality successful trials in South East Asia. Earlier I used the term LEC (Low Energy Cure). So how low can we go? Right now specialist and mainstream products ensuring that we can printers around the world cure at 150 to 160°C. The new LE Cure system has been tested always provide the best technology solutions to match all at our trials at 120°C. the customer’s performance needs from a single supplier,” That is a 20% saving on current energy. Running at this temperature will require that adds Joshi. you run new oven cure charts, but the savings make it worthwhile. According to Joshi, it is important that AkzoNobel con- Now lets get to the business of reporting from the field. This year I have spent a lot of tinue to work closely with can makers. time in Vietnam. It is the fastest growing economy I have seen around the world. More “As can makers introduce technology at different rates than one printer is in the process of converting to UV technology. As these printers work and on production lines that are subject to local prefer- through this conversion I will be monitoring the process and going over the challenges ences, our experts support them in all parts of the world. with you as they present themselves (not only in Vietnam but worldwide). I will also be This is where they can draw on AkzoNobel’s extensive taking questions from you the readers like the ones below: applications knowledge to complement their own exper- Why is the ink stiff, or runny? tise,” he concludes. ❑ A. Different pigments have inherent physical properties unique to that pigment; there are limited options available for affecting the body, especially on-site. High heat reduces ink body. Molecules form links to themselves while static. Agitating or moving the inks breaks the molecular bond, reducing ink body (Thixotropic). What is tack, and does it matter? A. Tack is a measurement of the stickiness of the ink. All of our bases and finished inks are manufactured to a specification that allows for proper adhesion under a variety of substrate treatments and characteristics. Can you make the ink stronger? A. The vehicle used to wet and transport the pigment down the ink train to the substrate can only transport so much pigment. To overload the vehicle will cause serious prob- lems throughout the printing process. If you have any questions then please submit them to me at asktheinkman@yahoo. com or to Alec at [email protected]

CanTech International September/October 2010 21

P.20,21 INK AND COATING UPDATE√.indd 17 21/9/10 10:21:46 Regional focus: Asia A taste of India

urrently considered to be premium beverage packaging in India, two-piece cans are used India’s two-piece can Cmainly for beer and carbonated drinks. Due to market continues to grow the relatively high cost of cans, most beverage cans are in double-digit figures. used for beer while carbonated drinks are filled mostly in David Hayes talks to glass and PET bottles. Naval Pandole of Rexam “Business is very good. We are happy,” comments Naval HTW Beverage Can Pandole, vice president sales and marketing for Rexam HTW Beverage Can (India) Ltd, “We have made two-piece cans here since 2007. For 12 years before that we imported two-piece cans, as there was limited supply and service. The two-piece can market took off when we opened our can plant and we are doing well.” Rexam was the first company to produce two-piece beverage cans in India, but is now one of two companies producing them after Can Pack, headquartered in Krakow, Poland, opened a new plant in 2009. Rexam remains the only company to produce two-piece steel beverage cans in India while Can Pack makes aluminium cans. Rexam’s plant is located in Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation’s Taloja Industrial Area in Taluka Panvel, which is about 60km from Mumbai in western India. The plant is equipped with one tin-free steel (TFS) can line capable of producing over 1,000 cpm. Other production facilities include a six-colour printer. Can ends are imported from Saudi Arabia.

When we started producing two-piece cans here there bottles along with on premise fountains so less cans are were more soft drinks in cans than beer but carbonated used,” Pandole remarks, “But Coca-Cola has been more drinks companies have the choice of using PET and glass aggressive during the past year with canned drinks so let’s see how it goes.” bottles along with on premise fountains so less cans are Rexam supplies TFS beverage cans over a wide area used. But Coca-Cola has been more aggressive during the from its Maharashtra State plant. Thunderbolt Brewery ‘ past year with canned drinks so let’s see how it goes located north of the capital, New Delhi, is the compa- ny’s newest customer. Rexam also supplies South African Breweries which owns a brewery close to the capital. Both “We will upgrade this line. We are hoping for 1,500 cpm clients are more than 1,500km from Rexam’s can plant. in the next two years,” Pandole says, “We produce 330ml “We supply by truck. It’s a three to four day average and 500ml cans for the beer market, which are the two journey to supply them,” Pandole says, noting that some predominant sizes here for beer. We also supply our ’330ml customers are located much closer, including United can here for carbonated drinks while the 500ml can is only Breweries which runs a beer canning line at a brewery for beer. In addition we supply 250ml slim line cans from our close to Rexam’s plant. “We can supply further afield as Hanil Can joint venture in South Korea to Pepsi in India.” the customer pays the freight cost. It’s their choice whether they use cans or bottles. We also deliver cans to Bangalore Beer on top which is 700km away.” Beer cans account for about 70 per cent of India’s two- piece can market at present while carbonated drinks Steel over aluminium represent the remaining 30 per cent market share. This situ- Rexam decided to install a steel can line to produce bev- ation could change quickly, however. erage cans after first studying the feasibility of producing “When we started producing two-piece cans here there two-piece aluminium cans in India. Beverage companies were more soft drinks in cans than beer but carbonated started using two-piece cans by importing their require- drinks companies have the choice of using PET and glass ments before local production of the cans began.

22 September/October 2010 CanTech International

P.22,23 REXAM INDIA√.indd 22 21/9/10 10:22:44 Regional focus: Asia

Rexam studied the performance of both steel and alu- for beer. minium cans before making its choice. As most canned According to drinks industry estimates, the A taste of India beer is distributed by road, transport conditions were a proportion of beer now sold in cans is around major consideration in choosing the can type to produce. 10 to 12 per cent of total consumption “We found that there was a problem with leakage from throughout India compared with three per aluminium cans because of the bumpy roads so we decid- cent in cans just three years ago. The propor- ed to go with two-piece steel cans as they are stronger,” tion of carbonated drinks sold in cans is now Pandole explains. “There is less chance of leakage and the around five per cent compared with one to ‘pyramid’ leakage effect affecting other cans. We learned two per cent three years ago. this through studying the use of imported aluminium cans. “Because of state government beer taxes, our brewery Premium and colourful clients are limited mostly to supplying their own state or a “Beverage cans are premium packaging in neighbouring state but not further because of inter-state India as cans look nice, they are trendy and taxes. Leakage can occur from aluminium cans due to they are eco-friendly because they can be bumpy roads; and when glass bottles are used they have recycled which is becoming important here,” to be brought back for refilling. So by using steel cans for Pandole explained. “Our customers are ask- beer there should be no problems and that is what we ing about recycling and we show how our have found.” steel cans go to scrap through street corner The growth in canned beer sales currently is limited by collection.” taxes levied on alcoholic drinks in each state. Each of Indian consumers prefer colourful cans and India’s 29 states is permitted to levy its own excise duty, most of the drinks cans that Rexam supplies including a tax on alcoholic drinks which are transported are printed with six or seven colours. The across the state for sale in a neighbouring state. The taxes company runs a graphic design studio and add substantially to the retail price of beer and other received assistance from Rexam in the UK alcoholic drinks with the result that most breweries are with complicated designs. limited to supplying within their own state or at furthest to “We have not produced embossed can a neighbouring state. designs yet but inquiries are com- “What everyone is hoping is that a uniformity of excise ing. I’m sure embossed cans will tax will be brought in and allow the beer market to oper- happen here sooner or later,” ate smoothly as transport companies have to pay taxes Pandole says. on alcoholic drinks carried at each state border and this Can production costs current- causes delays,” Pandole says. ly limit the size of the canned “This excise issue applies to beer only so most breweries drinks market in India because supply a maximum radius of 600 to 700km. The duties do the cost of using a can causes not apply to soft drinks.” the total beverage retail price to become unaffordable to many Rising demand consumers who consequently In 2009 India’s domestically produced and empty import- prefer cheaper bottled drinks. ed two-piece can market totalled about 400 million cans “Can prices are reasonable for two-piece steel and aluminium cans combined. Local now but their price keeps cans production by Rexam and Can Pack in 2009 was insuf- as premium packaging,” Pandole ficient to meet total demand with the result that drinks fill- observed. “The market for canned ers, in particular breweries, continued to import two-piece drinks is the middle class which is cans for filling. estimated at about 70 to 80 million “There has been substantial growth in two-piece can people living in about 20 cities.” demand this year,” Pandole remarks, “There will definitely Meanwhile, Rexam is preparing be double digit growth in the two-piece can market this to upgrade its can making plant year. Probably over 15 per cent as beer and soft drink con- to handle future growth in orders. sumption is growing.” Future investment will depend on Rexam estimates India’s two-piece beer can market in long term projections for India’s two- 2009 was divided equally 50 per cent for 330ml cans and piece can market development which 50 per cent for 500ml cans. This year, demand for 500ml currently appears very bright. cans has shown signs of strengthening. “Beverage cans have got a good future in India,” “The northern India canned beer market is growing and Pandole comments, “We are optimistic with the domestic they prefer a larger serving. Also, the breweries are pushing economy booming that this will translate into more sales. 500ml beer can sales,” Pandole notes. “Soft drinks in cans The Indian economy is good in spite of the global down- are lagging behind beer but I am sure they will catch up.” turn. We had 7.5 per cent GDP growth in 2009 and over 8.5 The rise in canned drinks consumption is partly due to a per cent GDP growth is expected this year.” ❑ shift in packaging trends from bottles to cans, particularly

CanTech International September/October 2010 23

P.22,23 REXAM INDIA√.indd 23 21/9/10 10:22:47 Tinplate Packaging Hoffmann, traditional yet modern

offmann Neopac is a good example of a compa- Swiss can maker ny which combines a high standard of traditional Hoffmann Neopac has Hcraftsmanship with state-of-the-art technologies. recently put more focus This year Hoffmann is celebrating its 120th anniversary on packaging for and Dr Hans Jordi, CEO of the company, notes: “It is still tobacco. Evert van de owned by the same family from which the founders origi- Weg discovers the nated. The company started off producing sanitary cans reasons why for all kinds of food products, in competition with the former Swiss can maker Sauter. In the 1930s, the Hoffmann family acquired the company Neopac, which produced aluminium tubes.” In 1998, the two companies were merged into Hoffmann Neopac. Dr Jordi became CEO in 2000 and the company started to completely change its metal packaging activi- ties. Hoffmann is seeing the quantities of sweets packed in tinplate “We realised that we do not have the mass market for packs start to diminish cans in Switzerland,” he explains. “Therefore we decided we had to become the best in the niche markets we were Our high productivity is another reason for our success. We already in. We now produce pocket packs and metal tins, have the latest state-of-the-art machinery, our printing lines sometimes with plastic dispenser, for the confectionery, are modern, we use only UV-curing and we are able to tobacco, cosmetic and food industries. Our turnover has apply shaping and embossing in a refined way. Our total doubled and every year we have achieved a double-digit production is as environment-friendly as possible.” growth, except in 2009. In the last year we had a total turn- If there are no suitable machines available on the mar- over of approximately 200 million Swiss Francs ($197m), of ket for a certain operation then the company will construct which 40 per cent is accounted for by metal packaging.” a machine themselves. “In the last four to five years we have invested some Hoffmann’s success 55 million Swiss Francs ($54.2m) in the Hoffmann Neopac The new strategic direction of Hoffmann over the last dec- Group, all from our own financial means. Our vision is to be ade has paid off. The company is the leading supplier of the leading and most innovative supplier of pocket packs new types of metal packages to the tobacco industry in in Europe and the US,” adds Dr Jordi. Europe and the US. It has won a number of awards for its The company has two production locations in Switzerland innovative new metal packages. and Hungary. Notes Jordi: “At the moment we have two “The main reason for our success is our strong focus on projects in the pipeline for possible wall-to-wall productions the needs of customers,” says Dr Jordi. “We have a drive locations on the premises of big customers. We are active for innovation and have a big innovation department, in Europe mainly. We have people in our sales force that but we want these activities to be guided by customer have the nationality of the countries where they service Cigars and cigarettes are both and consumer wishes. Our brain-storming team generates our customers. We also have our own office in the US and packaged in products developed by Hoffmann ideas and we combine these in China’. in workshops with the wishes of our clients. A selective portfolio Over the last 10 years Hoffmann has become more focused on packaging for tobacco. Dr Jordi says: ‘We re-considered the market seg- ments we wanted to focus on. A somewhat traditional market segment is the three-piece can market in Switzerland. We supply cans for dry products only, in particular for milk powder. Our main customer in this segment is Nestlé. We were already printing all the tinplate they processed and supplied certain can types to them. But not so long ago we took over their entire can production.”

24 September/October 2010 CanTech International

P.24,25 HOFFMAN-TINEPLATE√.indd 24 21/9/10 10:24:40 Tinplate Packaging

Hoffmann’s main customer in the The company’s main market is packages for tobacco area of milk powder is Nestlé and the sector now accounts for more than 50 per cent Hoffmann, traditional yet modern of production. “For the international tobacco conglomerates packag- ing has become one of the few ways of differentiation towards consumers,” says Dr Jordi. “They are restricted in their promotion due to international anti-smoking legisla- tion. The metal packs we are developing and selling are rectangular pocket packs for cigarettes and small cigars. “We supply pocket packs to each of the four interna- tional tobacco giants and you will find our packs all over the world.”

Innovation At the beginning of the 20th century, tastefully designed and printed tinplate packs were widely used for premium cigarette brands. Some exclusive brands like Benson & Hedges used beautifully designed tinplate cigarette boxes until the 1970s. “Today our tinplate pocket packs are mostly used for premium brands and special promotions. Designing new pocket packs for this demanding market is not that simple. Our innovation department makes around 1000 proposals per year,” explains Dr Jordi. The company will make between 15 and 20 prototypes

We supply pocket packs to each of the An example of a rectangular pocket pack produced by Hoffmann four international tobacco giants and you will find our packs all over the world The ‘Smooth Tin’ cigarette pack won an award from the International Packaging Association. ‘per year with around two going into mass production. Hoffmann is gradually starting to turn its back on the pro- “We try to protect these new pocket packs by applying duction of metal packs for confectionery products. for patents wherever possible,” adds Dr Jordi. “Just design- “The profit margins we are able to make in that market ing the pack is not enough today. We often go ’ much are so low that we only service existing customers and in further by looking at the consequences of the new pack fact we are no longer trying to acquire new accounts. on the customer’s filling line. If necessary we will support Nevertheless a customer will launch a new type of pocket our customer in the selection of the right filling equipment pack produced by us, but that is an exception. We do not and even help to modify existing equipment to make it take the initiative anymore. We see that the quantities of suitable. That’s how far you have to go and we are happy sweets packed in tinplate packs are diminishing.” that we have all the required know-how to think along with our customer.” Export-led Hoffmann is also selling pocket packs for smokeless prod- With a relatively small home market, Hoffmann is heavily ucts, so-called ‘snus’ or snuff, a moist powder tobacco export-oriented. Around 85 per cent of its production is that is packed in portions and placed under the lip for exported. Another aspect of its international orientation is consumption. its membership of the International Packaging Association Dr Jordi: “These kinds of snus products are already (IPA). The IPA consists of 16 major metal packaging manu- known in Scandinavia and RJR, another tobacco giant, facturers from all over the world and Dr Jordi is currently introduced it in the US in the last few years. It is another president of the organisation. premium tobacco type for which we supply our pocket He says: “We have our own technical office in Leipzig. packs.” There is hardly any competition between the members so Hoffmann added a special type of pocket pack for there is a quite open exchange. We have an important cigarettes to one existing range. Philip Morris, one of the technical committee where we exchange ideas on the four tobacco giants, introduced a new luxury pocket pack latest technologies. In the purchasing committee, we from Hoffmann called ‘Smooth Tin’ on the market for its closely monitor the price developments of our main raw Marlboro brand. “This so-called ‘Smooth Tin’ is the first material, tinplate, but also the price developments of square pocket pack with a flush-fitting lid and an external plastics etc. hinge. That means that the tin is significantly more airtight,” “We are also a member of EMPAC. It is clear we want to explains Dr Jordi. do our bit in the international metal packaging arena.” ❑

CanTech International September/October 2010 25

P.24,25 HOFFMAN-TINEPLATE√.indd 25 21/9/10 10:24:43 New Equipment

Fluid inspection from Mettler Toledo Mettler Toledo Safeline has made beam X-ray systems to inspect a breakthrough in the detection the base area of metal and of contaminants in fluids with the glass containers with raised launch of the FluidCheK X-ray internal bases or domes. inspection system. Since the dome area, Developed primarily for man- which forms part of the X- ufacturers and packers of bev- ray base image, is denser erages and other liquids, the sys- than the rest of the contain- tem ensures accurate detection er, contaminants can be hidden, of dense contaminants including resulting in detection blind spots,” ing the distance glass, metal, stone, plastics and says Niall McRory, new product the X-ray beam must travel to rubbers. It is specially designed development sales manager, the detector. This increases the to inspect metal cans, glass and Mettler Toledo Safeline. quality of the X-ray image and plastic bottles, and is especially By focusing inspection on the improves the sensitivity and effective on containers with a base area rather than on the probability of detection. domed base. entire container, the X-ray gen- For further information please visit “It has been traditionally diffi- erator can be moved much www.mt.com cult for perpendicular horizontal closer to the product, reduc- New stacking system for can ends FleetwoodGoldcoWyard, Synchronizer consists of three a producer and supplier of or four vacuum hoppers, advanced conveyance tech- which stack the ends for nology and product handling delivery into the Synchronizer equipment, is launching the feed screws. Fleetwood End Synchronizer. The The ends are stacked and principle behind the Fleetwood the stack height is control- Synchronizer is to provide a way led by an analogue sensor to efficiently combine multiple in the hopper that controls lanes of ends (aluminium or steel) the drive motor of the feed or nested plastic containers into screws. Each revolution of the or where they are stacked and one single lane, eliminating jams feed screws delivers the ends conveyed to the next operation and reducing conveying. onto a vacuum belt running in the line. Since the ends are The timing of can ends dis- underneath the Synchronizers. not overlapped on the convey- charging from curlers can some- As one set travels past the last or belt, video inspection of the times be sporadic. The ends are pair of feed screws, the next set ends can take place for quality received by the Synchronizers is delivered, generating a con- control of the process. at high speeds from multiple tinuous stream of ends to the curler discharges by way of high-speed stacking hopper at For further information please visit www.fgwa.com curler discharge chutes. Each the end of the vacuum convey- Lacquer detection system from Sencon Sencon’s SC651 Missing Lacquer opposing sensor for complete sheet, even a small area with- Detection system will detect protection where sheets are out coating could result in a uncoated sheet or can stock at coated on both sides. Once fit- large number of faulty crowns. line speed. ted, the SC651 detects uncoat- One customer, Javier Borque The Missing Lacquer Detector ed sheets which are isolated Marcéno of José Combalía SA is a fully self-adjusting and self- with either a warning signal or a Girona, Spain, turned to Sencon calibrating sensor with no need user-defined action. after trying a range of generic for operator intervention. It can The internal coating on the sensors. Once fitted, the SC651 be installed at the entrance to sheet does two jobs. As well as sensor successfully detected the press. It can be fitted singly protecting the metal from cor- sheets with varying degrees of for sheet normally coat- rosion, the coating also acts as missing coating that could eas- ed on one side, or with a glue to bond the plastic seal ily have gone undetected. The a s e c o n d to the crown. If the original flat press was stopped each time sheet is not coated, the plas- before any faulty crowns could tic seal will not bond correctly be produced. and may become detached, rendering the crown useless. As For further information please visit there can be more than 600 www.sencon.com crowns pressed from a single

26 September/October 2010 CanTech International

P.26 NEW EQUIPMENT***.indd 32 21/9/10 13:43:36 Can Tooling

A hidden gem T&G Engineering has recently purchased another Okuma Multus 7 Axis machining centre machine

&G Engineering is a hidden gem in the world of can tooling. Based in West Byfleet, Surrey, UK, the Tcompany’s exterior conceals a large fully equipped workshop which features the latest tooling equipment and technology. Owner Tony Smyth bought T&G Engineering two years ago, but worked for the company for eight years before that. “Prior to that I worked for Carnaud Metalbox and that is where my knowledge of canning comes from,” he says. worth of work in seven days and some of this is not due out After spending 15 years The company was founded in 1975 and is one of until November/December, which is almost unheard of in working for Carnaud Europe’s foremost high precision engineering companies, a sub-contract environment.” Metalbox, the owner serving and supporting a worldwide customer base. of UK based T&G T&G Engineering manufactures a wide-ranging amount Quality not quantity Engineering knows a of equipment for canning and other industries and supplies Smyth’s background has helped him build up a good thing or two about can this throughout Europe and the world. The company has understanding of the canning industry. T&G Engineering tooling. Alec Peachey invested heavily in the area of can tooling, which makes currently employs 41 people and serves a number of reports up around 25 per cent of its overall business. The areas of industries including automotive, Formula One motor rac- tooling met by the company include: aerosol, two-piece, ing, extrusion dies, aerospace, satellite, medical and three-piece and chucks and rolls. pharmaceutical. “We predominantly manufacture bodymaker type “When I was working in the Metalbox tool room 20 to25 parts and canning is probably topping around £75,000 years ago, it was second to none,” says Smyth. “We are to £100,000 ($115,000 to $155,000) per month in sales,” predominantly tool steel suppliers but we have just started explains Smyth. “You’d have to assume that canning is not to manufacture carbide parts as well.” going to stay like this forever. But it is having a positive ride The company has fared well during the recession and at the moment. I still believe we could get more canning Smyth puts that down to the stability of T&G coupled with work, but we need to concentrate on ensuring we main- the changes made since he purchased the company. tain our delivery performance and quality if we are to deal “I think the reason we have been able to come through with more business.” it relatively unscathed is because we are an established That being said, Smyth has recently bought another company which only works on high-end product,” he £250,000 ($385,000) Okuma Multus 7 Axis machining centre notes. “If you want cheap tooling we won’t be competi- machine which will allow him to do this. tive but if you work right at the top end producing the high “One of our customers is seeing a large increase in accuracy parts then you tend to carve a niche at the top orders and they are envisaging this will continue through of the market.” until the end of next year,” he adds. “The technology that T&G provides tooling for most of the major can makers we are using is going to help us compete with the likes of and whilst competition in the sector can be tough, the Taiwan and Japan. “We have recently received a month’s owner of T&G Engineering is bullish about the company’s quality of tooling. “I believe you can tell the difference between our tool- ing and that of our competitors because we work at a far higher standard,” he states. “All of our parts are laser marked and we bought a laser-marking machine so that we can distinguish our parts from everyone else’s.” This attention to quality appears to be paying off, with T&G picking up new customers all the time. “When you make new parts, accurately to drawing tolerance, things don’t generally go wrong. It is only if you start supplying sub-standard parts that you see heavy wear,” explains Smyth. “We are working for one of the larger can makers and the quality of what we’re doing for them is better than what they have ever seen before. T&G serves a number of industries including can tooling, automotive, On the strength of this we have started supplying other Formula One motor racing, extrusion dies, aerospace, satellite, medical and pharmaceutical associated canning plants.” ❑

CanTech International September/October 2010 27

P.27 TG ENGINEERING√.indd 21 21/9/10 11:06:01 Bisphenol A An update on BPA

oncerns continue to litter press reports on the issue of Bisphenol A (BPA) and its use in packag- David Smith has been technical manager of Cing materials. Campaigns have been mounted the Metal Packaging as much on a political platform as on the science. The Manufacturers whole issue has become a major cause célèbre for some Association (MPMA) in environmental lobby groups, scientists and politicians. This the UK since 2000. Here update is set against a constantly changing environment he takes an in-depth look with industry teams working constantly to maintain a fact- at the issue of Bisphenol based balance in the reporting. A (BPA) BPA is just one monomer used in a polymerisation proc- ess which produces a polymeric film or a plastic – it is not, as is often portrayed, sprayed in its own right onto the inside surfaces of metal packaging, nor fused into plastic articles such as polycarbonate baby bottles. BPA is react- ed with other substances to form a polymeric network, and in both of these cases, the focus is on extremely low residu- als of the starting monomers potentially left in the plastic as unreacted material. Cans, ends and metal closures will, in a majority of cases, have epoxy-based lacquers in the David Smith food contact coating layer. Epoxy resins which form the basis of these coatings use BPA as a starting monomer health threat at the miniscule levels that are capable of and retain residual BPA in the formulated and cured coat- passing into food from contact with BPA-based materi- ing able of migrate into foodstuffs at only parts per billion als. In a small number of cases, ‘precautionary’ action to (ppb) levels. limit the exposure of infants and young children has been encouraged either by law or voluntary agreement. Health Canada started the ball rolling in this respect by introduc- Claims have been made, on the basis of ing a ban on polycarbonate baby bottles from March some often non-standard toxicological 2010 (originally announced in 2008 with a transition period). studies, that BPA can cause disorders such Polycarbonate is a strong, shatter-proof plastic used in such other heavy duty applications as safety helmets, tool as cancers, heart disease, diabetes and boxes and CDs, and uses BPA as one of its starting mono- ‘ impaired sexual development mers as previously mentioned. In the meantime, Health Canada has carried out surveillance on all forms of inter- nally coated metal packaging, with a conclusion that “the The controversy centres on these tiny levels of migration. current dietary exposure to BPA through food packaging is They are reported by some researchers to be capable of not expected to pose a health risk to the general popula- disrupting the hormone system, acting in some’ way like tion, including newborns and infants”. the female hormone oestrogen via a so-called ‘low dose’ Whilst there are countless reports published into levels of mechanism. Claims have been made, on the basis of BPA migrating into food, an example appeared in a report some often non-standard toxicological studies, that BPA earlier this year by BUND, the German arm of Friends of can cause disorders such as cancers, heart disease, diabe- the Earth, where products from a range of commercial tes and impaired sexual development. The results of these beverage cans had been analysed for BPA. The highest studies are continually questioned within the scientific level found was 0.0039 parts per million (ppm) in a beer community as there have been a host of other well-con- to be compared against the recommendation of the ducted studies showing no effects. The sector is supporting European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for a Tolerable Daily authorities worldwide to help make purely science-based Intake (TDI) for BPA of 0.05 mg per kg of bodyweight per judgements; the prospect of political intervention, how- day. This in turn is based on a 100-fold safety factor when ever, is ever present. compared to the highest no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) noted from valid toxicological studies. By No threat to health the normal convention used by the European Commission, As of today, major national health authorities world- this would be turned into a permitted migration limit into wide, including the US, Canada, Japan, Australia and food of 3 mg/kg (3 ppm) for an adult consumer. Thus, on the European Union, are of the opinion that BPA is not a the basis of this maximum result, an adult consumer, by

28 September/October 2010 CanTech International

P.28,29 BPA UPDATE√.indd 28 21/9/10 11:07:15 Bisphenol A

convention of 60 kg bodyweight, would need to consume Alternatives more than 1500 50cl cans of that beer every day for life just Evaluation of alternatives is complex and time consuming An update on BPA to reach the TDI. - a complete cycle of coating development, laboratory Food cans may extract slightly higher levels of BPA from evaluation, pack testing then scale-up to full production the internal coating due mainly to the high temperature and use is normally a minimum of five years – even without in-can sterilisation of the product. The illustration (pictured failure points. below) however indicates that in this case too the TDI is With such a wide range of food and beverage prod- impossible to reach. ucts currently relying on epoxy-based coatings, each product group with its unique demands, a lot of ‘tailor- Under review ing’ of alternative technologies is required to achieve the EFSA is currently reviewing the toxicological data and will required combination of properties to meet the demands issue a new opinion, originally scheduled for May this year of the different packed products. For epoxies, perfection but now postponed to September. This authoritative opin- of the technology has taken several decades of continu- ion will shape our approach to coated metal packaging ous improvement, addressing such issues as applicability, in Europe. In the interim, Denmark has introduced a uni- adhesion, damage resistance on fabrication and freedom

Migration of BPA from canned food is extremely low, typically less than 50 ppb (0.05 mg/kg).

Throughout a whole lifetime it is impossible to consume sufficient amounts of canned food to even reach the limit of BPA established as safe by European and international authorities. 60 kg: average adult bodyweight 60 kg of canned food: 120 cans per day

This safe limit (TDI*) has been For example, one would have defined at 0.05mg/kg body- to eat at least 60 kg of canned *Tolerable Daily Intake weight/day. – already inclusive of a 100 food every day in life - only to times safety factor reach the TDI. Clearly impossible!

lateral ban, from 1st July, on polycarbonate baby bottles from taint, and all of this in addition to the primary job and BPA-containing packaging aimed at 0-3 year olds. of the coating – to maintain nutritious, wholesome and This affects cans for powdered infant formula and metal microbiologically safe product over the full shelf life of the closures for glass babyfood jars in addition to the baby package. Time will tell if and when alternatives emerge bottles. As a dry product with no in-can processing, the and their long-term performance ‘in service’ has been powdered formula is relatively straightforward in terms of assessed, but right now our industry continues to defend alternative lacquers, whilst babyfood jars are more chal- epoxies as safe and best in class for the important protec- lenging. Alternatives are being pressed into service, with- tive role a coating must fulfil. ❑ out the benefit of the many years of scrutiny undertaken with epoxy coatings. It is possible that in some ‘cosmetic’ respects these alternatives could show an inferior perform- Background: ance, for example under-film staining. In addition to his position within the MPMA, David Smith In an interim announcement by EFSA noting the delay in is also secretary to the Food Contact Commission of issuing its opinion, it stated that the study primarily used by Empac – the European confederation representing the Denmark to justifying its ban “does not provide evidence manufacturers of light metal packaging. of BPA affecting neurobehavioural endpoints included in He is a technologist with over 40 years experience the study design and would therefore not lead the Panel gained in various roles associated with the packag- to consider changing the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) for ing industry, ranging from technical development of BPA. The Panel in its discussions to date ruled out the pos- cardboard to composite and metal packaging with sibility of a low dose effect on learning ability as expressed a major converter. He then broadened into materials in the Danish DTU Food Institute risk assessment.” The state- and regulatory affairs with a global packaging coat- ings company. ment highlights the capacity for multiple opinions on this subject.

CanTech International September/October 2010 29

P.28,29 BPA UPDATE√.indd 29 21/9/10 11:07:16 New Products

Pepsi Strong Shot Dr Pepper celebrates 125th anniversary with release of collectable cans launched in Japan Dr Pepper is celebrating its 125th Old Corner Drug Store in some of the most memo- Pepsi Japan has launched a high- anniversary with the release of six Waco, Texas, in 1885, rable moments in our his- ly carbonated beverage called collectable cans in the US. The and its introduction at tory.” Pepsi Strong Shot. The energy drink cans have been inspired by the the 1904 World’s Fair, Dr Pepper kicked off is highly flavoured (double the brand’s rich history. to the widely popular its anniversary year on regular cola flavour) with 200mg/l Dr Pepper is the oldest major ‘I’m a Pepper’ adver- the symbolic date of caffeine. soft drink in the US and consum- tisements first released January 25, 2010, when It has a carbonation level of 4.1, ers will be able to enjoy its 23 in 1977. Dr Pepper ad icons which is higher than the level of 3.6 flavours in this new packaging until “Dr Pepper has David Naughton and in regular Pepsi in Japan. September. evolved for 125 years, Gene Simmons rang the The 200ml cans, which are made The company is also using real thanks to its unique closing bell at the New by Takeuchi Press, come with a sugar to sweeten the soda rath- flavour and a fan York Stock Exchange. warning that you should wait 15 er than the high fructose syrup it base that contin- The 125th anniversary seconds before opening the drink. normally uses. ues to grow,” says product is available in The product is sold in vending The anniversary cans feature Dave Fleming, direc- 12oz cans with six col- machines as well as in retail stores. legacy artwork and popular tor of marketing for Dr lectable can designs In testing, the vending machine advertising slogans such as ‘I’m Pepper. “We’re honouring and 20oz bottles at retailers drop shook up the product enough a Pepper’ and ‘10, 2 and 4.’ In the brand’s legacy and thanking in the US. to cause excessive foaming upon addition, 12-pack cases highlight our fans everywhere for their sup- o p e n i n g , key moments from the brand’s his- port by offering something special For further information please visit which could tory from its origin at Morrison’s – commemorative cans depicting www.drpeppersnapplegroup.com be messy for the con- sumer. By Impress extends range of easy-open ends waiting 15 Impress has extended its range of The finger well is designed to intui- seconds, the easy-open ends with OptiLift, a tively guide the finger to the cor- product set- new end with easier finger access rect position for ease of opening. tles enough offering effortless opening for con- “OptiLift is a major step forward to reduce sumers of all ages. in consumer convenience,” com- the risk of OptiLift is compatible with differ- ments Jacqueline Turlings, Impress printed on the end, reinforces the ‘ w e a r i n g ’ ent customer processes and is part business development and mar- message of the ‘ease of open- the product, of a continuous drive by Impress to keting manager, food division. ing’ experience for consumers,” a c c o r d i n g address consumer convenience, OptiLift is the result of extensive explains Turlings. to a spokes- product innovation and reduce testing and consumer research into The new end also features a sig- person from the weight of its products. easy-opening ends. In a survey car- nificant reduction in metal gauge. PepsiCo. Patented by Impress, the new ried out in Germany and France, In fact the new dia 73 version of There are currently no plans to end has a flexible panel which 75% of consumers preferred the OptiLift is around 10% lighter than release the product in any other is convex before seaming and new end. Consumers with longer its predecessor. countries. becomes concave after sterilisa- finger nails and those suffering from tion. This leads to greater finger arthritis were pleased with the new For further information please visit For further information please visit access by increasing the gap design and opening feature. www.pepsico.com www.impress.com between the panel and the tab. “A specially designed logo US brewer moves to cans Tallgrass Brewing Company has out that bottles with paper boxes minium can is the best made a full switch from bottles are just about the most wasteful, choice for a whole lot to cans. The company, which is energy intensive and hard-to-recy- of reasons,” explains based in Kansas, US, brews five cle things that can hold beer. On Gill. “Cans seal better different beers. Founder Jeff Gill top of that, they are not even the and totally block sun- received a call from a Tallgrass best choice for the quality of the light, which keeps our drinker in western Kansas, who beer,” states Gill. beer tasting fresher, had about 20 empty cases of IPA Gill discovered that even if there longer. Last, but not bottles and boxes stacked in his are local recyclers, recycling glass least, the aluminium garage. He wanted to return the has become an increasing issue as can is way better for tle recyclable kegs that can fit in a boxes to the company so they landfills are filling up with glass wait- the environment than bottles.” backpack,” adds Gill. The compa- could be reused, but since he was ing to be processed. Some breweries opted to go ny’s automated and manual can- so far away, picking them up was Gill then looked into the viabil- with cans from the start and oth- ning systems are supplied by Cask not an option. ity of cans and several months ers have decided to offer cans in Brewing Systems. Gill advised him to recycle the later the company started canning addition to bottles. glass and cardboard, but he did Tallgrass Ale, Oasis, Buffalo Sweat, The company is now canning For further information please visit not have a local recycler. Kold and IPA. its products in 16oz cans – one full www.tallgrassbeer.com “After a little research, I found “It turns out that the humble alu- pint in a can. “Think of them as lit-

30 September/October 2010 CanTech International

P.30 NEW PRODS√.indd 32 21/9/10 11:09:00 Supplier Profi les 2010

The CanTech International Supplier Profile is the definitive reference guide to equipment, materials, tools and services for the metal packaging industry. From printers, inks and coatings, tool engineering and replacement parts, through to inspection and testing, full production lines and turnkey projects – everything for today’s can maker can be found within these pages.

Altek 32 Hinterkopf 58 AMJ Industries 33 Ibea 59 Apex Tool 34 ICS 61 Applied Vision 35 Imeta 62 Ashworth 36 InnoScan 63 Bear Products 37 Intercan 64 Belvac 39 INX International 65 Bonfiglioli 40 International Thermal Systems 67 Brookfield 41 KBA MetalPrint 69 Can Making Solutions 43 Kon-Tek Automation 70 Can Man 44 Lacueva Canmaking Machinery 73 Carnaud Metalbox 47 Lieb Precision Tool 71 Chemtool 51 Littell 75 Container Fabrication Machinery 50 Minster Machine Co 77 CMC Kuhnke 52 NDH Group 78 Epic Products International 53 Nordson 79 GEW 54 Ovec 81 Golden Eagle 55 Perm Machine & Tool 84 Heilbronn 56 Pressco 83 Henkel 57 Roeslein & Associates 85 Rosario Can Technology 86 Schuler 88 Soudronic 91 Sprimag 89 Stuurman 92 Swisscan 93 TD Wright 95 Unimaq 96 Wallram 98

Note: All the information included in the Supplier Profiles is provided by the companies themselves and does not represent the views of the publisher.

CanTech International September/October 2010 31 CanTech International September/October 2005 25

P.31 SUPP PROFILE INTRO 2010*.indd 31 22/9/10 14:36:38 TECH PRODUCTS Supplier Profi le

TEST AND INSPECTION EQUIPMENT FOR THE Altek CONTAINER INDUSTRY

The company Altek supplies inspection equipment to the food, beverage Altek Company and aerosol container industries. Since its founding in 1964 by Tom Helms, the TECH® Products 89 Commercial Blvd line of test equipment by Altek Company continues to supply PO Box 1128 Torrington safe, reliable instruments that are used by its customers from CT 06790 the development lab through the manufacturing process. USA

Performance demanding clients such as Anheuser Busch, Tel: +1 860 482 7628 Ball Metal Container, Coca-Cola, Crown Cork & Seal, Metal Fax: +1 860 496 0255 MODEL 9505A Container Corp and Silgan Containers rely on TECH® Testers to Email: [email protected] FEATURED WITH satisfy their requirements for quality control equipment. Web: www.altekcompany.com

FLAT SAMPLE FIXTURE The products TECH® provides its customers with the following categories of equipment: Key Personnel • AXIAL LOAD testers for metal can and plastic bottle side President wall strength Stephen Altschuler • BUCKLE (dome strength) testers for pressure resistance of cans and lids General Manager TECH® Products • DOME GROWTH (seating plane) testers for measuring Brian Mazurkivich growth under pressure • POP & TEAR testers for food and beverage convenience opening lids • HYDROSTATIC testers for deformation and burst testing of aerosol cans MOBILITY / LUBRICITY • MOBILITY/LUBRICITY testers for coefficient of friction testing TESTER of cans, can stock, plastic films and other media • LEAK testers to determine the location and size of leaks in can lids.

TECH® also creates calibrated leaks in can lids and slugs that AXIAL LOAD enable customers to test their high speed leak detection systems. POP & TEAR

END BUCKLE The future TECH® is always willing to partner with new and existing LEAK DETECTION customers to enhance current products or develop test and inspection equipment to meet their latest requirements. PANEL STRENGTH

AEROSOL BURST/FLOW

DOME GROWTH/REVERSAL

Company 89 Commercial Blvd, PO. Box 1128 Torrington, CT 06790, USA Tel: 860/482-7628 Fax: 860/496-0255 www.altekcompany.com e-mail: [email protected]

32 September/October 2010 CanTech International

P.32-ALTEK-SP 2010√.indd 32 17/9/10 12:29:19 Supplier Profile

AMJ Industries

Company Description used machinery, AMJ staffs a complete service AMJ Industries, Inc. is a world leader in the sales, department in our company. AMJ Industries, Inc service and rebuilding of both two- and three- AMJ offers a wide variety of rebuild packages piece can making machinery. Our focus and varying from clean and paint projects all the way 4000 Auburn Street, Rockford dedication to our customers and their complete to labor intensive rebuild projects with warranty. IL 61101, USA Tel: +1 815 654 9000 project needs is what sets us apart from our com- AMJ rebuilds machinery for the largest can makers Fax: +1 815 654 4124 petitors. Not only does AMJ sell used machinery in the world and continues to do so for more than E-mail: [email protected] but offers complete lines, used machinery solu- 15 years, for one very big reason: AMJ does not Web: www.amjindustries.com tions and a variety of rebuild packages on single compromise quality. AMJ also offers technologi- machines all the way to complete lines. cal upgrades which improve the efficiency and longevity of the machines. Key Personnel Sales, Service and Rebuilding President AMJ Industries, Inc’s knowledgeable sales staff assist News Arthur J Lietz customers with the simplest single machine request 2010 has been a banner year for sales, rebuild and Executive VP Sales up to a complete plant project. Even if it means rec- expansion of AMJ’s business. Most notable on the Mark A Lietz ommending that the customer look to another com- sales front was the sale of two complete beverage VP Operations pany for assistance in certain matters, AMJ’s largest end manufacturing facilities. AMJ also completed Jeffrey R Lietz concern is that our customers get the best possible a large sale of several Rutherford decorators and, sales service. Our staff also look beyond customers’ in three-piece, Soudronic welders. AMJ is now Technical Director current needs and have the foresight to consider financing offices in Venezuela and Brazil to provide Robert T Kuczynski potential future needs a customer may have. more access to South American customers. Mechanical Supervisor Whether it be a simple can flanger or a complex On the rebuild side, AMJ recently completed two Ryan Strader machine integration AMJ’s service department Bliss 1103 scroll shears for a major can maker, and Electrical Supervisor has the experience to fulfill most can companies rebuilt and upgraded several Belvac CC 93 trim- David McComb needs. Unlike many other companies dealing in mers as well as an Alcoa RT6 light tester.

CanTech International September/October 2010 33

P.33-AMJ-SP 10.indd 33 17/9/10 16:12:15 Supplier Profi le

Apex Tool Works

Company Description Key Contacts Apex Tool Works, Inc Background 3200 Tollview Drive President Controller Apex Tool Works, Inc. is a leading supplier of precision tool- Rolling Meadows William Collins, PE Dave Thoman ing, machinery, integrated systems, re-manufacturing and Illinois 60008 engineering build/design services used by producers of USA Vice President Engineering Manager Tel: +1 847 394 5810 Michael Collins Edward Racutt cans and container ends and caps, worldwide. Fax: +1 847 394 2739 E-mail: [email protected] Sales Manager Purchasing Agent Statistics Web: www.apextool.com James Hardsouk Inge Ohnona Apex was founded in 1919 to specialise in precision tooling. By 1935 with expanded operations, the company focused on the design and manufacture of tooling and tooling systems for the can and container sector. Today, Apex is located in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago convenient to O’Hare International Airport. The company’s modern facility is equipped with state-of-the-art machining capabilities and includes a large-scale (48in) jig grinding capability. Engineering services utilise the most current 3D modeling software and systems.

Tooling Products The company offers a wide range of tooling, including precision multiple, double and single cavity end dies for beverage and food containers, die cover plates, coil sheeting dies for both straight and scroll cutting applica- tions, secondary (rescroll) dies, curler tooling, flanging rings and dies, beading rings and rolls, special tooling for production of aerosol domes, lugged (twist-off) caps, paint can rings and plugs, 55 and 85 gallon drum covers and bottoms and pail heads.

Apex Swangren Machinery and Systems The Apex Swangren Machine Division offers a wide array of machines for production of lug caps as well as for compound pouring, cut-and-place lining and for speci- ality applications including blanking, trimming, flanging, curling, beading, upsetting and hemming. If you have a library of curler tooling but your curling machine needs replacement, Apex Swangren curling machines can be built-to-order. Apex Swangren machines are of a modular design facili- tating integration into processing lines, either singly or in combination. Design/build services include support of consultants and systems integrators requiring almost any type of precision machined components, machinery or machine systems.

Services A full variety of services are furnished by Apex including: spare parts and stocking programs, die/tooling repair, tooling development, EZO shell development and tooling, overhaul/rebuilding and retooling of machinery and complete engineering services.

34 September/October 2010 CanTech International

P.34-APEX TOOL-SP2010.indd 34 22/9/10 10:54:00 Supplier Profile

Applied Vision Company

Company Description More than 30 years experience, over 6,000 installa- The KromaKing Color Vision System measures Applied Vision Corporation tions and almost 20 global locations allow Applied multiple regions of colour in complex patterns for Vision to serve its customers with unsurpassed flaws including mixed labels, colour shifts, pattern 2020 Vision Lane industry experience and acessibility. defects and print registration errors. Akron The company designs and manufactures VTRAC™ advanced process monitoring Ohio 44223 application-specific machine vision inspection technology is an Applied Vision innovation availa- USA Tel: +1 330 926 2222 systems for food and beverage containers, ble as an integrated enhancement in both Genius Fax: +1 330 926 2250 packaging and colour printing. It is the leading and KromaKing systems. With VTRAC, the system E-mail: [email protected] supplier of machine vision solutions to the food and immediately pinpoints the upstream manufactur- Web: www.appliedvision.com beverage industry, worldwide. Applied Vision’s ing component causing a defect and alerts line engineers and scientists have been developing maintenance personnel to it. This enables faster problem correction than ever before possible, for machine vision products since 1980. They have Key Personnel innovated three generations of inspection tech- unprecedented reductions in spoilage. nology and installed thousands of successful President/CEO solutions. Applied Vision’s systems are sold through Global Support Infrastructure Amir Novini Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Value Applied Vision’s customers are worldwide con- CFO/Vice President of Marketing Added Resellers (VARS), full-service distributors and tainer manufacturers and fillers including Ball Communications company direct. Corporation, Boxal Corporation, Crown Cork and Manijeh Novini Seal, Diawa Can, Exal Corporation, Kian Joo, Vice President Sales Pacific Can, Rexam Corporation, Seneca Foods, Capabilities and Applications Bud Patel Applied Vision’s machine vision systems provide Silgan Containers, Sonoco Phoenix, Swan Industries, 100 per cent inspection at line speeds, automati- Toyo Seikan, United Can and others. cally identifying defects and rejecting them from The company’s solid commitment to its customers’ For global sales, service & support, the production line. Its systems minimise false reject global operations is represented by its network visit: rates and are extremely simple to set up and use of nearly 20 sales, service and support offices. – all of which dramatically reduces spoilage, lost OEMs and full-service distributors in Asia, Australia, www.appliedvision.com/sales.html time and cost for container manufacturers and Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and North fillers. For the following applications, Applied Vision America. leads the industry in machine vision inspection solutions and their integration into existing and new manufacturing lines: • Shell inspection • Inside can inspection (ICI) • Food end & easy open end (EOE) inspection • Mixed label inspection (MLI) • Converted end inspection • Decoration inspection • Bottle can inspection • Cap & closure inspection • Sealing surface inspection.

Products and Technology Applied Vision’s products and technology are the results of its decades of problem-solving focus and success. Its two product lines, Genius® Vision Systems and KromaKing® Color Vision Systems, are currently used in hundreds of facilities worldwide. The Genius Vision System performs 100 per cent automatic inspections with extreme accuracy on high-speed lines in applications including inside can, converted end, food end, easy-open end, three- Applied Vision’s Genius® inspection system can detect critical functional defects in the complex features of re-sealable aluminium bottles. piece can, bottle can, shell and crown cap Please see our advert on the back cover. and closure.

CanTech International September/October 2010 35

P.35-Applied VisionSP 2010√.indd 35 20/9/10 14:02:10 Supplier Profile

Ashworth Bros, Inc

Ashworth Bros, Inc Web Key Personnel 450 Armour Dale, www.ashworth.com Sales Director Marty Tabaka Winchester, VA 22601, USA Asia/Pacific Sales Dale Jeavons E-mail Address General Information Latin America Sales Nick Bottinelli Tel: +1 540 662 3494 or 800 682 4594 [email protected] Inside Sales Manager Lori Kaknis Fax: +1 540 662 3150 or 800 532 1730 Distributors Worldwide

Your Single Supplier Solution for Can Heat Sealers are operator friendly and simplify Making Washer & Oven Mats the process of sealing belt joints. Unlike cum- With over 60 years of customer satisfaction in bersome full width sealers, the compact design the conveyor belting industry, Ashworth Bros, of ToughMat™ Heat Sealers allow technicians Inc. is your one source for high quality can optimum control along with the capability to washing, drying and baking oven conveyor do simple spot repairs. belts. Ashworth Factory Service is available to repair or retrofit your belts on can washers, IBOs, OBOs Cleatrac® Oven Mats are positively driven to and dry-off ovens. On-call 24/7/365, Ashworth eliminate belt wavering and ensure true track- Factory Service Experts provide you peace ing. The woven mesh provides a smooth even of mind with decades of experience, quality surface for improved can stability and tight workmanship, and comprehensive belting sup- transfers. Cleatrac® is half the weight of old port. Let the experts retrofit your equipment style flat-wire belts making it extremely energy with the world’s best belting. efficient. And, unlike Kevlar® belts, Cleatrac® can be spliced quickly with no special expen- Innovating for Efficiency sive tools. At up to 50% less expensive than Ashworth Flat Wire stainless steel belts have Marked by more patents in the industry than Kevlar®, Cleatrac® is an ideal replacement for been the industry standard in can washers any other belting manufacturer, Ashworth Bros, dry off ovens. for more than 50 years. Using high quality 316 Inc continues innovating conveyor belt tech- Stainless Steel, belts are engineered and man- nologies to increase efficiency for processing ufactured to strict tolerances resulting in long industries including can making, food, and belt life. Warehoused around the globe, belts other related markets. Ashworth utilises both are available immediately from stock. metals and plastics to engineer conveyor belts that increase throughput and minimise down- ChemGuard™ is the ultimate solution in critical time for the most demanding applications. washer hold-down applications. Manufactured with PVDF, ChemGuard™ resists hydrofluoric Support for Success acid attack and prevents belt growth and We know how important our product per- New! ToughMat™ PTFE coated Oven Mats are breakage, increasing belt life from months to formance is to your business. That is why we lightweight, energy efficient and feature a years. ChemGuard™ hold down mats feature are dedicated to providing quality, trouble- proprietary design that increases durability. an open grid for maximum drainage and the free products to our customers, backed by ToughMat™ for IBOs and OBOs are made of modules snap together for quick and easy exceptional service and support. Ashworth’s PTFE-coated fiberglass, while dry-off oven mats assembly. experienced engineers assist you in analyzing are made of PTFE-coated Kevlar™, to prevent your conveyor design to help you choose the hydrolysis. All ToughMat™ belts feature edge Advantage Spiral Belts are used in elevators belt that will provide the best results and deliver reinforcement sewn-on with PTFE thread and and accumulators which save floor space and longest life. Our commitment to customer sat- then sealed with a two-ply PTFE film, a proc- energy usage vs. traditional vacuum elevators isfaction is marked by over 60 years of success ess that increases the strength and reliability and accumulation tables. Designed on the in the industry. Maintaining a strong global of the belt. strength of stainless steel rods, Advantage belts presence with manufacturing plants in the USA To ensure optimum belt performance, are guaranteed not to sag and provide an and Europe along with sales teams around the Ashworth offers hand held ToughMat™ Heat even surface for improved can stability. globe, Ashworth is the single source supplier for Sealers and sealing accessories. ToughMat™ your can making washer and oven mats.

36 September/October 2010 CanTech International

P.37-ASHWORTH-SP 10√.indd 36 17/9/10 10:53:29 Supplier Profile

Bear Products

Company Description acquisition of moulds from the Bryant Bear specialises in rubber, Rubber Co, we have many of the old Bear Products neoprene and urethane equipment parts available. Sales & Accounting Office spare parts for the can 8833 Industrial Lane making industry. Services Rancho Cucamonga California 91730 Bear maintains a large inventory of all USA Statistics regular stock items. Orders are shipped Tel: +1 909 484 5924 Bear has successfully served on the same day they are placed. We USA only: 1 800 628 1480 the needs of the can manu- pay all ground freight charges for orders Fax: +1 909 980 8195 facturing industry since 1982. shipped within the continental US, and E-mail: [email protected] Its customers include all of the offer international shipping and on-time Web: www.bearproducts.com leading can manufacturers, OEMs, turnkey operations delivery. No charge samples of parts for testing can and used equipment suppliers and engineers. Bear’s be provided upon request. We welcome all custom Key Personnel technical department has more than 35 years of prac- applications. Knowledgeable sales and engineering Sales Department tical experience in designing and producing parts. staff are always available to help with hard-to-find Mary Anne Evo items and application problems. Bear has added a Mary Arnette Products web page with our full catalogue and the added Ted Kasper

Bear manufactures a wide variety of rubber, advantage of ordering on-line. We will confirm orders Engineering neoprene and urethane parts for can making equip- within 24 hours. Herk Peterson ment: suction cups, light tester seals, Borden testers, Bear Products has added an outside sales engineer Quality Control aerosol pocket seals, pocket unloaders, bumpers and to its team. Ted Kasper brings 25 years of manufactur- Jesus Baquerra pre-spin rings. We offer spare parts for Rutherford, ing and engineering experience in the rubber products Borden/Alcoa, Continental/Cameron, Reynolds, industry. Ted’s is located in Michigan to provide addition- Ragsdale, Standun and Concorde, and with the al support to our customers in central and eastern US.

CanTech International September/October 2010 37

P.37-Bear-SP 2010√.indd 37 17/9/10 14:29:20 P.38-Belvac-AD.indd 39 4/10/10 11:00:17