Welcome to this week's PlastikMedia Newsletter, where we bring you the latest and most impactful updates in the plastics industry.
Edition 395
24 October 2024
Hi , welcome to this week's PlastikMedia Newsletter, where we bring you the latest and most impactful updates in the plastics industry.
This week, our headline story celebrates our sister company, PlastikCity, as it marks 12 years of transforming the sector by connecting UK and Irish suppliers with buyers!
In leadership news, ARBURG’s Dr Thomas Walther has been appointed to the VDI Plastics Technology Strategy Group, while Wittmann Battenfeld UK supports TML’s expansion into medical moulding.
ICS Cool Energy’s FLEX Hire scheme is boosting efficiency, and ENGEL looks back on its success at Fakuma 2024. Meanwhile, Equity Energies sparks important conversations with its Carbon Admissions initiative, and finally, RECOUP pushes for a more effective Plastic Packaging Tax.
Becca Watt
Managing Manager
This week's newsletter also features news from the BPF, PREA, and LATI, with blogs from Boston Matthews and Bausano.
PlastikCity Celebrates 12 Years of Transforming the Plastics Industry
October 2024 marks the 12th company anniversary for online procurement hub PlastikCity – a milestone that highlights a journey of dedication to the British and Irish plastics sector. Founded in 2012, PlastikCity has grown from a concept into an essential resource, reshaping and modernising how companies within the industry source, connect, and thrive.
The idea for PlastikCity emerged from Founder Carl Futcher's deep understanding of the challenges facing the plastics industry. After a career spanning several decades, including roles such as Managing Director of Negri Bossi UK, Carl took the bold step of launching PlastikCity from his home office.
ARBURG’s Dr Thomas Walther Appointed to the VDI Plastics Technology Strategy Group
The VDI (Association of German Engineers) has appointed Dr Thomas Walther, Director of Process Development at ARBURG GmbH + Co KG, to the Plastics Technology Strategy Group.
Dr Thomas Walther is the 50th “Plastics Knight” to be appointed to the VDI Plastics Technology Strategy Group. In his commendation, Chairman of the Board Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Hopmann paid tribute to the achievements of the renowned injection moulding expert.
Wittmann Battenfeld UK Helps TML’s Medical Moulding Growth
A new machine order for Wittmann Battenfeld UK has been helping ISO 13485 qualified injection-moulder Thornbury Manufacturing Limited (TML) make further advances in its medical sector markets.
TML's founder-owner Dick Walsh requires the same qualities of fail-safe detail, repeatability and consistency in all the company’s suppliers and business partners. This has been a key factor in TML’s sourcing of Wittmann injection moulding machines throughout the company's history.
ICS Cool Energy’s FLEX Hire Scheme Maximises Energy and Operational Efficiency
ICS Cool Energy delivered an energy-efficient cooling solution to a plastics manufacturer’s 5,000 sq ft facility, helping them reduce energy costs and optimise performance.
The company, which specialises in producing small and large production runs using single or multi-impression mould tools, installed a reliable cooling system benefiting from ICS Cool Energy’s FLEX membership.
Equity Energies Introduces Carbon Admissions: Inspiring Honest Net Zero Conversations
Equity Energies has launched Carbon Admissions with one goal in mind – to spark open, honest conversations about what it knows, and more importantly, what it doesn’t know about reaching Net Zero.
As one of the most complex sectors when it comes to decarbonisation, where balancing production efficiency with environmental responsibility is critical, Net Zero discussions within the plastics industry are more important than ever.
Vossloh Schwabe Chooses LATICONTHER for Street Lighting
Vossloh Schwabe has selected LATICONTHER by LATI for its new line of replacement kits designed for street lighting, marking a significant step towards innovation in the LED artificial lighting sector.
LATI’s modern plastic materials and design expertise have enabled the creation of thermally conductive housings and heat exchangers for LED lamps, effectively addressing market needs.
ENGEL Leads with Innovative Solutions and Customer Focus at Fakuma 2024
The 29th Fakuma, held from October 15th to 19th, 2024 in Friedrichshafen, once again affirmed its position as one of the most important trade fairs for plastics processing in Europe.
This year, ENGEL, one of the leading manufacturers in the field of injection moulding technologies, stood out as a central exhibitor, successfully showcasing its latest innovations to a wide audience of industry professionals.
An entirely new edition of the British Plastics Federation’s Recycling Roadmap has just been published, which presents the latest UK data for plastic recycling and up-to-date forecasts of what the UK can achieve over the next ten years.
It also identifies key areas that need to change for this to happen. The report was produced in collaboration with RECOUP.
RECOUP Calls for a More Effective Plastic Packaging Tax
Plastics resource efficiency and recycling charity, RECOUP, has called for a more effective Plastic Packaging Tax in its new position statement.
As of April 2024, the tax is applied at a cost of £217.85 per tonne for plastic packaging placed on the UK market that is not claimed to contain 30% recycled content. However, there have been a number of issues identified during the two years the tax has been in place.
PREA Actively Seeking Acquisitions in the Polymer and Manufacturing Sectors
PREA, a UK-based consultancy firm with a global presence, is expanding its acquisition efforts both nationally and internationally.
The firm is particularly focused on acquiring companies across key sectors within the manufacturing and polymer industries, as it continues to support businesses looking to grow, restructure, or exit their markets.
Boston Matthews Blog // More Than Just Energy Savings: Transform Your Production Efficiency
One common pitfall for many organisations is the false economy of relying on outdated machinery that utilises older technology. While an investment in the latest production technology may seem difficult to justify, the potential savings across the entire production operation can be significant — not only in energy efficiency but also in achieving higher product quality.
In this blog, Boston Matthews explains the features and benefits of the latest extrusion technology.
Bausano Blog // Five Reasons to Choose Counter-Rotating Twin-Screw Extruders
Have you ever wondered which type of extruder can really make a difference in your production? The choice between counter-rotating and co-rotating twin-screw extruders is crucial. Thanks to their unique configuration with screws rotating in opposite directions, counter-rotating twin-screw extruders ensure deep mixing and impeccable distribution of additives and pigments.
In this blog, Bausano & Intelicare share with you why counter-rotating ones could be the ideal solution for your business.
