Weekly Roundup: SIG invests €12M in new Tech Center Europe, Aimplas reports 10% revenue increase

10 Sep 2021 --- In packaging news this week, SIG invested €12 million (US$14.2 million) in a pilot plant of its new Tech Center Europe to help expedite product and packaging development. Meanwhile, Aimplas reported nearly €15 million (US$17.7 million) in revenue for last year, and Danimer Scientific received a grant to continue its research in bioplastics.

In brief: Business news
SIG’s pilot plant of its Tech Center Europe will be located close to SIG’s packaging plants in Linnich, Germany. Existing R&D test field & prototype and combiLab facilities will be complemented with a new pilot plant, which will host state-of-the-art extrusion, finishing technology and testing equipment. This aims to significantly increase serial production processability, system validation and future digital technology capacities. The pilot plant is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2022. 

Aimplas closed the 2020 financial year with a 10 percent revenue increase to €14.6 million (US$17.3 million) after opening new facilities for research on polymer synthesis. Seventy-three percent of this revenue was generated by 218 R&D&I projects (159 national and 59 international), which generated €40.1 million (US$47.5 million) in direct aid for companies. Meanwhile, Aimplas’ new facility performed research on using CO2 as a renewable raw material, as well as developing new chemical recycling processes. 

The limited-edition Nerds packaging welcomes consumers to interact with the candy brand, both on-pack and digitally.Sidel is implementing a commodity-induced price adjustment on its equipment by an average of 5 percent. The company notes the global pandemic has led to a significant price increase and shortage of raw materials and components used in packaging equipment. The price hike is necessary to compensate for the rising costs and continue to provide the highest quality solutions. Deficiency of raw materials and components may impact equipment delivery time as well.

In brief: Packaging design
GSK Consumer Healthcare (GSKCH) developed a carbon-neutral toothbrush, made from cellulose and tall oil, a wood-based bioplastic derived from pine, spruce and birch trees in sustainable forests. It is a byproduct of paper production and would otherwise be thrown away. The product’s fully plastic-free packaging includes GSKCH’s window, made with renewable cellulose. The packaging can be completely disposed of through a wide range of municipal recycling schemes.

Emballator pre-launched a plastic-free aluminum monotube prototype with a fully metal cap as well. Both tub and cap have the same design as before, but their 100 percent aluminum use ensures full recyclability of the packaging. Currently, Emballator is working with a pilot case but is looking for new partners to commercialize the product and fully go to market.

Mondi won an award for its recyclable EcoVantage paper shopping bag, which combines recycled and fresh fibers.Candy brand Nerds is set to launch limited-edition Gummy Clusters and Rainbow Nerds Theater Box packaging, featuring a team of new Dungeons & Dragons-inspired characters. As of next month, consumers can upload their receipt to the Nerds website to receive one of seven PDF adventure and character sheets that can be run in under an hour by a dungeon master and one player. The new boxes also give fans the chance to win prizes, such as starter sets, essentials kits and player handbooks.

In brief: Grants and awards
Danimer Scientific, a bioplastics company, received a US$400,000 grant from the United Soybean Board to expand the company’s evaluation of high-oleic soybean oil (HOSO) as a feedstock in the production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), a sustainable biopolymer that serves as a biodegradable alternative to traditional plastic. “The first year of our research has produced excellent results that show HOSO is a viable feedstock in the manufacture of Nodax,” says Dr. Carol Leggett, director of microbiology at Danimer. “As we continue to expand the commercial production of Nodax, HOSO is expected to serve as a valuable tool to strengthen our supply chain and bottom line.” 

Paper packaging company Mondi won three awards for sustainable packaging at the Austrian Green Packaging Star Awards, which recognize environmentally-friendly packaging and recycling solutions, as well as packaging-related improvements in operational processes in production, logistics and distribution. The three winners are EcoVantage paper for Tesco shopping bags, WalletPack Recyclable for German deli meats and Mondi’s own branded functional barrier papers substituting plastic packaging.

By Anni Schleicher