Category: New Launch

Reach New Heights of Reliability and Efficiency in Pulp and Paper Mills with BTG

October 2024 – BTG, the multinational provider of highly specialized process solutions for the global tissue, pulp, and paper industry, has launched the MEK STRATUS Consistency Transmitter, offering exceptional levels of reliability, efficiency, and product uniformity for the pulp and paper-making industry.

Following on from the highly successful fifth-generation MEK-3000 Consistency Transmitter​, the MEK STRATUS is the first instrument to seamlessly connect with the new BTG STRATUS platform.

This rotating inline transmitter measures fiber consistency in pulp suspensions in the range of 1-18%. With twice the torque, stronger motors and no need for sealing water, the MEK STRATUS offers highly accurate consistency measurements and reduced maintenance. Tests worldwide have demonstrated it can handle hot and humid work environments, which makes it ideal for a wide range of applications.

Digitally integrated and with cloud connection, the MEK STRATUS delivers real-time insights and capabilities as needed. Access to the intuitive user interface is done via the BTG STRATUS App for mobile devices, or diagnostics can be viewed with the full-screen BTG STRATUS Field Interface. Status checking of the MEK STRATUS is done via the LED BTG Status Ring, allowing users to check that the system is working correctly.

With cloud connectivity, advanced diagnostics allow for greater control through remote technical support troubleshooting and calibration in real-time, minimizing any potential mill downtime.

The sensor is compact and lightweight, and its highly durable design ensures excellent performance at all stages of pulp and paper production.

Sunny Cui, BTG’s CEO & President said; “As the market leader in consistency solutions, BTG delivers products and technology that transform process performance and increase accuracy across the mill. With its high performance and reliability, the MEK STRATUS reflects our commitment to delivering best-in-class application solutions for the entire pulp and paper process.”

BTG’s products are backed up by outstanding expert service and application support worldwide to minimize any issues and increase mill efficiency.

BTG Group is a multinational provider of integrated, highly specialized process solutions for the global pulp and paper industry. With offices around the globe, BTG delivers on-time, flawless products and world-class services to the pulp and paper industry, including pulp, tissue, packaging, graphic paper and other related applications.

Since its beginnings in 1921 when Dr. Torsten Källe founded the Källe Regulator Company in Säffle, Sweden, the company has invented, developed and applied a broad range of pulp consistency and processing transmitters.

BTG was acquired by the Voith company in 2019, opening up new opportunities in the pulp and paper industry.

Winning sustainability start ups earn chance to pilot their innovations with the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator

Eleven innovative businesses receive funding to tackle complex environmental challenges.

Start-ups tackling some of the world’s biggest sustainability challenges will trial technology with Amazon across Europe after winning funding in this year’s Amazon Sustainability Accelerator (ASA). Eleven start-ups from across Europe (as well as from the US and Canada) have been awarded the opportunity to test their pioneering innovations within Amazon operations, with a potential investment of up to €2 million.

The start-ups will work with Amazon in the UK, Denmark, France, Germany, and Spain to test new ways to recycle electronic waste, innovative packaging methods, ground-breaking building materials, and using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve energy efficiency. The pilots will vary in both duration and scope depending on the challenge that is being addressed, with the opportunity for wider partnerships on completion.

Representation of Cheesecake Energy’s pilot, which will help Amazon optimise its solar energy utilisation at specific locations.

Cheesecake Energy from the UK will deploy its compressed air and thermal technology to provide safe, reliable energy storage within Amazon’s European operations, reducing emissions from electricity usage. Cheesecake Energy was founded at the University of Nottingham and uses energy storage systems to capture electricity generated by solar power during the day to provide additional energy during peak hours, or at night when the sun doesn’t shine. The technology will be used in selected Amazon fulfilment centres (FC) in Europe.

“Storing energy for longer periods is vital as we accelerate towards net zero,” said Michael Simpson, Chief Commercial Officer at Cheesecake Energy. “We are excited to test our innovative technology with Amazon. This will help the company store excess solar energy and use it when needed. It’s great that Amazon shares our belief in the potential of the Cheesecake Energy technology, to reduce the cost of energy storage as well as ensuring renewable energy is used efficiently.”

To support our packaging reduction efforts, start-ups Re-Zip and Hipli will launch pilots to ship close to 100,000 orders across France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria using unique, reusable packaging.

“We are delighted with the opportunity to test our model on a large scale with Amazon and thus contribute to a more sustainable future for e-commerce,” said Anne-Sophie Raoult, co-founder of Hipli. “Collaborating with a player of the size of Amazon gives us the unique opportunity to demonstrate the full potential of our approach to drastically reduce the use of disposable packaging at the industry level.”

Circu Li-Ion from Luxembourg will help extend the life of Amazon’s batteries, using robots to disassemble and support batteries upcycling, giving them a second life, reducing lithium-ion waste, and decreasing carbon-intensive material extraction.

Throughout the pilots, Amazon’s subject matter experts will work closely with the start-ups, offering feedback, troubleshooting assistance, and opportunities to refine their technologies to ensure they work smoothly in their respective placements. Upon completion, we will assess the environmental impact, financial viability, and overall effectiveness of the pilots to determine whether any can be scaled across other Amazon sites as part of a long-term partnership.

“This trailblazing programme is a testament to Amazon’s commitment to supporting innovation and driving positive change,” said Amazon’s Sustainability Director Justine Mahler. “By providing a real-world testing ground for unique and cutting-edge technologies, we’re not only reducing our environmental impact but also creating a blueprint for more sustainable practices across industry.”

Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, launches its new recyclable Protective Mailers made entirely of paper. The innovative mailers, developed in collaboration with Amazon, enable eCommerce companies to securely ship goods without the need for plastic bubble wrap, while remaining fully recyclable in conventional paper waste streams.

• Protective Mailers complement Mondi’s extensive portfolio of eCommerce paper and packaging solutions addressing an industry driving towards a more sustainable future.
• This latest eCommerce packaging solution is fully paper-based, made from renewable resources, recyclable in the paper waste stream, and featuring a unique design that eliminates the need for plastic bubble inlays.
• The mailers, created in collaboration with Amazon, prevent goods from shifting inside, ensuring products can arrive at their destination in perfect condition.

The Protective Mailers are made from Mondi’s strong but lightweight kraft paper and open-flute material, offering a unique combination. The flexible design offers the possibility of customising the open fluting to the needs of the product, ensuring resilience and product protection to prevent goods from shifting inside the mailer and safeguard products in transit. The good printability of Mondi’s kraft paper enables customers to add effective branding and distinctive designs to each mailer.

The Protective Mailers are available in standard and customisable sizes – their height can be adjusted to best suit the size of their contents, thereby reducing average parcel dimensions, optimising material usage and facilitating lower shipping costs.

“eCommerce customers are constantly looking for protective, sustainable packaging in which their products are safely delivered to their consumers,” says Nedim Nisic, Mondi Group eCommerce Director. “We have risen to this customer challenge with our new fully paper-based solution – the Protective Mailer. This solution can handle any product, both fragile and bulky, from small electronics to books to fashion accessories and much more.”

Amazon stopped using traditional bubble-wrap padded envelopes in Europe several years ago, which presented a challenge to develop light, flexible and fully recyclable paper packaging that provides the same protection. Achieving both low weight and maximum protection with a 100% recyclable paper envelope was not an easy task, but these envelopes are easy to pack, simple for customers to recycle at home, and enable damage-free deliveries Thais Blumer, European Head of Sustainable Packaging for Amazon.

Protective Mailers, which have also been rewarded with the bronze award at this year’s Eurosac Grand Prix, are user-friendly—quick and easy to use.

Options available include a tear-tape for easy opening and an additional hot-melt strip for easy closure when returning the shipment.

“The Protective Mailers address a real need. In the recently released fifth annual Mondi eCommerce report – which covers eCommerce trends, analysis and attitudes – we found that 88% of consumers value protective packaging as their top need. In addition, more than half (58%) of survey respondents said they expect nearly all of their parcels to be delivered in compostable or recyclable packaging. With the new Protective Mailer, made with fully recyclable paper, we cater to these consumer requests while ensuring the solution is easy to handle within fulfillment and logistics for our customers.”, Nisic added.

The partnership aims to facilitate the industrialization of complex products such as coffee capsules and blister packaging, supporting PulPac’s and PA Consulting’s Blister Pack Collective and other initiatives for advanced Dry Molded Fiber packaging.

The partnership aims to facilitate the industrialization of complex products such as coffee capsules and blister packaging. By integrating PulPac’s pioneering Dry Molded Fiber technology with PA Consulting’s product development expertise and Optima’s renowned bespoke machine building capabilities, the collaboration will drive the scalability and high-throughput production of commercially viable, advanced Dry Molded Fiber applications, supporting PulPac’s and PA Consulting’s Blister Pack Collective and other initiatives for advanced Dry Molded Fiber packaging.

“Through this collaboration, we enable brands to adopt more sustainable practices at scale Viktor Börjesson, Chief Operations Officer, PulPac”

There is a substantial market demand for eco-friendly alternatives in categories like coffee capsules and blister packaging. The new bespoke machinery will offer significant advantages for brands within those segments, providing them with the ability to integrate cost-efficient sustainable packaging solutions at scale. By expanding the range of what is possible with Dry Molded Fiber on an industrial scale, the collaboration will help brands enhance their sustainability efforts and meet evolving consumer expectations as well as legislative demands.

“To make progress in developing products like coffee capsules and blister packs, they must be manufacturable at scale,” said Keith Thornley, Commercial Lead for Dry Molded Fiber Collectives at PA Consulting. “We’re excited to work with PulPac and Optima to develop specialized machinery that will enable the high-volume production of complex Dry Molded Fiber products, driving significant advancements in the industry.”

Optima’s Director of Fiber Solutions, Dominik Bröllochs, added, “As a one-stop-shop partner for fiber-based packaging, we not only bring our expertise in customized machines to this collaboration, but also our curiosity to push the boundaries of what is possible in the field of sustainable packaging. By integrating optimized solutions for specific Dry Molded Fiber applications, such as the right barrier, we are setting new standards for sustainable products, meeting the demand of brand owners and converters.”

PulPac’s Chief Operations Officer, Viktor Börjesson, concluded, “We have proven that Dry Molded Fiber can be used for making advanced products, but turning that potential into real-world impact requires scaling production to an industrial level. Through this collaboration, we enable brands to adopt more sustainable practices at scale — making a tangible difference in reducing reliance on non-renewable materials and promoting a circular economy.”

Koehler Paper has added “Koehler NexPlus® Seal WVB” to its portfolio of innovative flexible packaging paper in the NexPlus® product line. “Koehler NexPlus® Seal WVB” is a heat-sealable paper which boasts a vapor barrier as its functional layer, thereby offering optimal product protection. The barrier paper is used as primary and secondary packaging and is suitable for a variety of food and non-food products.

These include household items like dishwasher tabs, washing powder and bath tabs. Koehler Paper will be showcasing the product to the public for the first time at the Fachpack trade fair in Nuremberg from September 24–26, 2024 at booth 310 in Hall 3a.

The Switch to NexPlus® Barrier Paper Is Easy and Saves Resources

“Koehler NexPlus® Seal WVB” is produced with a grammage of 75 gsm. Thanks to its outstanding strength properties, excellent sealability, and optimal runnability “Koehler NexPlus® Seal WVB” is ideally suited for processing on all conventional converting and packaging machines—particularly for gravure and flexographic printing. The barrier paper is made from 100-percent certified virgin fiber pulp, which means it is equally suitable for direct contact with food. “Our goal is to provide the best possible protection for the product while minimizing the use of resources,” explains Christoph Wachter, Director of Flexible Packaging Paper at Koehler Paper. “As we are already focusing on making our NexPlus® barrier paper recyclable and compatible with systems, we are now offering packaging alternatives, which can meet the requirements of the EU Green Deal and the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.” What’s more, paper-based packaging also has the highest recycling rate out of all materials in Europe.

As part of Nestlé’s continuous efforts towards more sustainable packaging solutions, the company is launching paper-based innovations across major brands.

Recently Nestle introduced paperboard canisters for its Vital Proteins brand in the United States. This packaging material and design change results in a 90% plastic reduction from previous packaging. Developed by experts at the R&D center for Nestlé Health Science in Bridgewater, New Jersey, in collaboration with external partners, the new canister has a proprietary coverlid that is rigid and tight. It allows for easy opening and closing of the canisters, while being leak and spill-proof, as well as durable for everyday usage.

Additionally, Nestle’s global R&D network is working alongside external partners and suppliers to develop the next generation of high barrier paper packaging solutions across product categories.

Gerhard Niederreiter, Head of Nestle’s Institute of Packaging Sciences, explains: “When developing paper packaging, we consider each product’s sensitivity to external elements such as oxygen, temperature and moisture. Starting with less sensitive products, Nestle’s paper packaging journey started in confectionery including Smarties and KitKat and is now advancing to product categories such as coffee which require higher barrier protection.”

In the United Kingdom, Nestle recently introduced a high-barrier paper refill pack for Nescafe. This refill paper packaging solution allows consumers to replenish their glass Nescafe jars at home without having to compromise on product freshness or quality. This reduces packaging weight by 97 percent and the paper packaging can be recycled in the local paper waste stream.

In addition, the Nescafe Cappuccino range in Europe now has new packaging featuring a paper-body instead of the previous plastic can. It is fully recyclable in the paper waste stream across Europe, where this packaging format is available in different product varieties.

Axel Touzet, Head of the Coffee Business Unit for Nestle, says “Coffee is particularly sensitive to oxygen and humidity. This is why redesigning packaging for this product category requires additional efforts to ensure we can safeguard product freshness and quality with science-based and sustainable solutions.”

These cross-category packaging innovations build on Nestle’s unique expertise and company-wide efforts to reach its 2025 packaging sustainability aim of designing 95% of its plastic packaging for recycling and reducing the use of virgin plastic by one third.

Lecta is pleased to announce the launch of its new ​Termax range of high substance thermal papers, designed specifically for ticketing applications. This new product offering is designed to meet the growing demands for quality and durability for a wide range of applications in admission and access control ticketing for events, transportation tickets, boarding passes, parking lot tickets, data carrier tags for product identification and tracking in the supply chain and logistics and supermarket shelf labels, among others.

The new Termax products include Termax TFX (phenol-free) and Termax TFS (BPA-free) papers, available from 105 to 130 g/m2, and the top coated Termax TC30X (phenol-free) paper, available from 115 to 135 g/m2. These papers are characterized by their excellent pre-printing on both sides, and their high thermal image stability and durability.

With the new range from 105g to 135g m2, the Termax line is even more adaptable to different market needs, making it the ideal choice for a wide range of applications requiring high substance and high caliper.. The unprotected options, Termax TFX and Termax TFS, offer an effective and versatile solution, while the Termax TC30X paper, with its protective top layer, provides additional resistance against environmental factors, thereby maximizing the product’s properties.

The entire Termax range is manufactured in accordance with the ISO 14001 and EMAS environmental standards, the ISO 50001 energy management standard, the ISO 9001 quality standard, and the ISO 45001 occupational health and safety standard. They are also available upon request with PEFC or FSC® C011032 Chain of Custody forestry certifications.

With this new thermal paper range, Lecta reiterates its commitment to innovation and quality, providing solutions that meet the specific needs of its customers in the thermal printing sector, to evolve along with their business.

Leading sustainable packaging company Coveris, has launched an innovative new range of fibre based hot-to-go packs, targeting growing demands for hot eats, as well as reducing waste through their recyclable ‘heat in pack, eat in pack’ offer. 

The UK food-to-go sector is now bigger than ever, and it’s about to get even hotter. Bouncing back from the slump of COVID-19 which drove a 66% year-on-year drop in sales, when the UK was six weeks into its first lockdown [MealTrak], volumes were up 20.8% last year (Kantar), and according to IGD, the UK food-to-go market is now set to reach £29.1bn by 2028. 

Driven by consumer trends towards food-to-go premiumisation, experimentation, convenience, increased missions and a greater need for value, the hot-eat segment presents one of the biggest opportunities for food-to-go, with retailers like Pret a Manger, Greggs and Morrisons having all invested heavily in hot infrastructure.  

Supporting these consumer trends alongside market demands for sustainability, efficiency and waste reduction, Coveris’ HEAT packs utilise an innovative fibre-composite, dual-ovenable printed board to enable hot-to-go products like pastries, wraps, potato wedges, goujons, pastas and pizzas to be cooked in-pack, merchandised in-pack, and then eaten in-pack as a hot-hold solution. 

Delivering a simpler, faster, no-touch process instore, the new packs provide an unrivalled convenience solution for both retailer and consumer. Aligning with Coveris’ vision of No Waste, the recyclable HEAT packs support waste reduction targets with advanced heat retention and protection to provide a fully-enclosed fold-up board solution, with no requirement for additional wrapping. 

Having recently launched the innovative new snack packs for Rollover chicken nuggets and jalapeño cheese poppers, packs are currently available at hot-food counters in convenience retail and forecourts nationwide. 

Commenting on Coveris’ new range, Paul Robertson, Food-on-the-move Sales Director said “HEAT is a game-changer for the food-to-go sector. Providing the packaging of the future, our hot-to-go packs allows for a whole new category of products to be made available to consumers in a sustainable, convenient and added-value way. Enabling the food-to-go fixture to also be extended beyond traditional lunch time occasions to support increased breakfast and dinner offerings also provide endless opportunities for NPD within the category.” 

With its silky top surface, enhanced stiffness, boosted bulk, bright white finish, and outstanding printing and finishing properties, Algro Volume combines strength, functionality and printability, all in a single package.

Sappi Europe, a leading producer of packaging, speciality and graphic papers, is pleased to announce the launch of Algro Volume, the latest addition to Sappi’s Algro paperboard family. Produced at Sappi Europe’s Maastricht Mill, The Netherlands, Algro Volume is a premium paperboard, ideal for demanding and durable packaging and graphic solutions.

Director of Packaging & Dye Sublimation Luis Mata emphasizes the unlimited potential of the new product: “Algro Volume is an outstanding board that delivers against every challenge, expertly designed to fulfill the rigorous physical demands typically reserved for solid bleached boards (SBB). The multiform base composition optimises stiffness and bulk, and together with Sappi’s unrivalled coating capability ensures exceptional printing and finishing performance for your applications.”

Versatile and resilient, Algro Volume carries all the compliance features you would expect, including odour neutrality, purity of toy safety (heavy metal content), and suitability for direct food contact as per BfR XXXVI, FDA, and Austrian food legislation. Made of 100% virgin fibres, it is fully recyclable and can be supplied as FSC Mix Credit (FSC™-C015022) or 100% PEFC (PEFC/07-32-76) certified upon request.

Available in both sheets and reels, Algro Volume is ideal for premium packaging and demanding graphic applications. It supports a variety of finishing techniques, including embossing, varnishing, and foil lamination. End uses include promotional material, covers, cards, tags and tickets, and packaging for pharmaceutical, confectionary, food and beverage, as well as beauty and personal care products.

Algro Volume is available in multiple grammages ranging from 220g/m² to 380g/m² and is suitable for offset, flexo and screen printing processes.