Amut Group Amut Group,
Amut Group Amut Group, Novara, Italy, carries on with the motto “Go Green” firstly launched in spring 2019 and offers several solutions to support the circular economy. One of them is their in-line thermoforming machine for PLA cups. The Amut technology, both extrusion and thermoforming units, can easily switch production from PP to PLA. At the fair Amut showed its ACF820 thermoforming machine with three separate stations for forming, cutting and stacking, with a mould size of 820 x 650 mm that includes the options of: an additional chain rails spreading point between the oven and the forming mould, an 800 kN forming press for integrated forming and cutting, an 800 kN cutting press, real time monitoring of the clamping force for the forming and cutting station, a pick and place stacking robot model ER3X, and a vision system for quality control. www.amutgroup.com Wacker By using innovative additives it is possible to significantly improve the properties and processability of bioplastics so that they are able to replace many traditional plastics. With the VINNEX ® product range, Wacker, the Munich-based chemical group, provides a variety of versatile additives for biopolyester or blends of biopolyesters, organic and inorganic fillers, and starch (cf pp 19). The additive system based on polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) makes it possible to combine various biopolyesters to selectively influencing the properties of the created polymer blend. This opens up a broad, customizable product range for biobased plastic blends. The biopolyesters that are currently readily available and can replace petro-plastics include polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene succinate (PBS). Key applications for Wacker’s additives include plastic packaging or combinations of plastics and paper such as cardboard box coatings, the moisture-barrier lining in paper cups or impact modifiers for injection moulded parts (photo). www.wacker.com Floreon “Floreon was pleased to give a presentation at the Bioplastics Business Breakfast (B³) hosted by bioplastics MAGAZINE which highlighted the growing demand and significant interest in biomaterials. It was an important event for us as it allowed us to interact with a number of global players on a face-to-face basis which lead to some exciting new partnerships,“ said Caine Folkes-Miller of Floreon, based in Sheffield, UK. Floreon is pleased to announce that Addiplast Group (St-Pal-de-Mons, France) is now an official licensee covering mainland Europe. Floreon’s globally patented PLA enhancement technology closes the performance gap between renewables and fossil based polymers. Addiplast Group are a well established compounder with expertise across Packaging, Cosmetics, Automotive & Electronics. Another partner of Floreon is Silvergate Plastics (Wrexham), UK's largest independent custom colour masterbatch manufacturer. Silvergate has been keen to lead the way in the development and use of new bioplastic technologies. Commenting on the decision to join forces with Floreon TP, Silvergate's Managing Director Sandy Bergeson said: "As a plastic compound made from a sustainable plant-based raw material, Floreon offers processors a high performance alternative to oil-based plastics. It can be easily blended, moulded, shaped and embossed, making it an incredibly versatile material for the plastics industry. As the first official licensee of Floreon's patented PLA enhancement technology, we are proud to market this innovative product as a credible solution for many processors responding to the ongoing plastics debate." Finally, Floreon is in the final phases of agreeing a licensee partnership for the China region which will give them a truly global footprint. www.floreon.com Mitsubishi Chemical At K 2019, Mitsubishi Chemical brought its motto “KAITEKI Value for Tomorrow” to real life. KAITEKI, an original concept of the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation Group, promotes “the sustainable well-being of people, society and our planet Earth.” Materials contributing to a sustainable future, among them biodegradable materials as well as materials from renewable sources, have been in the centre of interest of the trade show. Some trendsetting examples from Mitsubishi Chemical are: BioPBS is the first and only biobased polybutylene succinate that exhibits superior biodegradability and performance. BioPBS is already commercialized for various applications, as for coffee capsules or flexible packaging. Design for recycling is a key element for Nichigo G-Polymer, a butanediol-vinyl alcohol copolymer (BVOH). Besides excellent barrier properties and proven compostability, it can be easily dissolved and washed away from multi-layer structures in a recycling process to reuse varietal polymers. Durabio is a biobased polycarbonate resin derived from plant-based isosorbide, providing high transparency and optical properties, chemical and scratch resistance, for a great fit in automotive, electronics or cosmetic packaging. A paperclip / bookmark made of Durabio was injection moulded at the joint booth of bioplastics MAGAZINE and European Bioplastics as a giveaway for the visitors. www.mcpp-global.com 24 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/19] Vol. 14
K‘2019 Review Kaneka Amid growing calls to cut back on plastic waste and deliver circular economy solutions, Kaneka showcased its Biodegradable Polymer PHBH technology at K 2019, following recent food contact material approval in the EU, Japan and the US. The leading technology-driven company has developed the biobased and biodegradable polymer PHBH, which is not only compostable, but is also biodegradable in natural environments, including marine waters. It received TÜV Austria Belgium’s OK Biodegradable Marine certification that guarantees biodegradability in sea water. Kaneka’s new solution may help to reduce marine pollution. Other certified labels for Biodegradable Polymer PHBH are OK Biobased, OK biodegradable Soil, OK Compost Home, and OK Compost Industrial. Kaneka has been piloting the production of PHBH at its Takasago headquarters in Japan since 2011. Current production is running at capacity of 1,000 tonnes per year to be. However, pilot production capacity will be upscaled to 5,000 tonnes per year by December 2019. PHBH particle foam can be moulded with existing equipment into food and non-food packaging without sacrificing the key features of polyolefin foams. The development will allow for the production of innovative packaging that is fully in-line with the circular economy. Furthermore, the added value of compostability at end of life means new perspectives in waste management systems. www.kaneka.be Karl Finke Masterbatch supplier Karl Finke (Wuppertal, Germany) focused on sustainability this year. Core topics included innovative solutions for colouring PCR polyolefins and biopolymers as well as laser marking as a sustainable alternative to printed labels. Colourants for bioplastics have to fulfil special requirements. Masterbatch and colourant formulations have to take into account the bioplastics’ special properties and their processability. Attention must also be paid to the properties of each of the recipe’s components which have to be biodegradable or derived from renewable resources as well, depending on the specification of the final product. At K 2019 Finke presened its range of Fibaplast masterbatches for colouring bioplastics. The Fibaplast biomasterbatch developed at Finke is biodegradable according to EN 13432. All components of the recipe, from pigments and colorants to fillers and additives, have been assessed, tested and approved for this application. www.finke-colors.eu Braskem Since its launch in 2010, Braskem's (São Paulo, Brasil) sustainable I’m green portfolio has grown and includes several bio-plastic solutions made from sugarcane. Now it includes products with a Circular Economy approach, including PCR resins. In addition, this year Braskem has set up a partnership with Embalixo, the leading Brazilian producer of trash bags, to produce the first mosquito repellent trash bag called Embalixo Repelente. It is made from a combination of industrial sacks previously used by Braskem to deliver its resins to clients. This non-toxic mixed biobased and recycled plastic incorporates a mixture of citronella, mint, lemon and clove that neutralizes waste odor and repels mosquitoes. Braskem has also developed a Carbon neutral Shrink Film, made from PCR resins and biobased resins. Combining these two types of resins is a relatively new technique of combining sustainability and the Circular Economy, towards a view of neutral CO 2 emissions balance in the plastic production cycle. It enables CO 2 emissions from the recycling process to be offset by the sequestration of CO 2 during the entire green polyethylene production cycle. Another product example made from sugarcane is EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer) developed in partnership with Allbirds, a company based in San Francisco, California, and which has been used since last year in the SugarFoam footwear line, combining comfort, design and sustainability. In addition to the footwear industry, the solution can also be used in the automotive and transport sectors, among others. www.braskem.com bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/19] Vol. 14 25
