Plastics Technology

APR 2017

Plastics Technology - Dedicated to improving Plastics Processing.

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Europe, where Greiner Packaging is widely recognized as a leading supplier of rigid plastics packaging, primarily for dairy products. But the firm recognized the opportunities offered by a footprint in North America: It first opened a plant in Mexico in 2010, and then the Pittston plant for its U.S. operation. "We are one of the top suppliers of packaging solutions in Europe for decades," notes Jörg Sabo, marketing director. "But as growth rates in Europe start to slow, it's important that we look into expanding into new regions." Plastics Technology first toured the Greiner facility about two years ago (see June '15 Close-Up). Greiner didn't select the location on a random basis; company officials said central Pennsylvania was chosen because the region offers an excellent economic envi- ronment, qualified workers, and good transportation access to the U.S. market. At the time, the company said in a prepared state- ment, "We satisfy increasing needs for new and innovative pack- aging opportunities with our strategic step towards expansion. We therefore provide companies of the dairy industry a clear market edge. Moreover, many of our most important customers already have U.S. presence, so we can now continue to strengthen these good customer relations in the American market." Worldwide, the company employs about 4000. In 2015, its sales were roughly €561 million ($594 million U.S.) and are expected to be higher when Greiner Packaging closes the books on 2016. Globally, Greiner Packaging brings to the marketplace capabili- ties in injection molding (with a particular emphasis on IML), sheet extrusion, thermoforming, blow molding, and more. Its product offerings are as vast as its global reach: hundreds and hundreds of different bottles, cans, lids, tubs, cups, closures, etc. Its biggest market is yogurt. Across its product line, Greiner Packaging has a strong emphasis on sustainability—what it calls Blue Packaging— and is producing products from both PLA and D-PET, which is a process developed by Octal in Oman (U.S. office in Plano, Tex.; octal. com) in which PET sheet is produced directly from the reactor. In Europe, plants are set up to replicate essentially the same technology platform, including production and decorating, says Sabo. Globally, manufacturing is supported by what Greiner calls DesPro, which is its Design and Prototyping team (despro-gpi.com). Greiner has established innovation teams worldwide from several of its manufacturing plants that meet four to six times a year and ensure that developments originated in one facility are shared throughout the organization. Says Sabo, "We are very well connected internally for process, R&D;, and new-product development." NEW U.S. CAPABILITIES Greiner's U.S. operation was originally focused primarily on K3, a PP-cardboard combination specified by Stoneyfield Farms and others for yogurt. The idea behind the K3 package is to combine the feel of cardboard with the functionality of plastic, notes David Kirkland, a 13-year Greiner Packaging veteran who took over as president of the U.S. operation in January. The combination of the two materials gives the package more topload strength than an all-plastic container, and greater shelf life than an all-cardboard structure. The cardboard package is designed with a zipper so that it can be easily peeled off and separated from the plastic cup inside. It also reportedly permits a 50% reduction in resin vs. an all-plastic cup. Kirkland reports that the K3 container has been well-accepted in the U.S. market and that business has increased quarter-to- quarter since the Pennsylvania plant opened. But realizing that K3 might not be the solution for every application, Greiner Packaging is exploring options and expanding its technology portfolio in Pennsylvania. Currently it is examining HDPE as an alternative to PP for its innovative cup, owing to the fact that HDPE is more readily available and more well-established from a recycling point of view. HDPE-based K3 containers are in their initial testing phase. Greiner Packaging has also upgraded its dry-offset printing capabilities with a proprietary process it calls Ultra Brilliance that the company says achieves higher resolution and an improved Visit the Packaging Zone. Learn more at PTonline.com QUESTIONS ABOUT PACKAGING? Since it opened in 2014, Greiner has run sheet inline with thermoforming for cups and containers. @plastechmag 43 Plastics Technology On-Site Greiner Packaging

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