[AMI, BRISTOL, UK 1 March 2021] AMI, leading provider of market intelligence and events for the global plastics industry, has recently released the agenda for the Specialty Packaging Films Virtual Summit, taking place on 23-25 March 2021 from 1.30pm ICT. 

This three-day virtual programme will offer attendees the chance to update their technical and market knowledge from anywhere in the world, addressing key issues such as sustainability, enhancement of barrier properties in multilayer structures and food packaging safety.

With increasing public awareness and support of sustainable packaging initiatives in Asia, the pace of new developments is accelerating. The 2021 conference will explore sustainable pack design and end of life options, including the latest mono-material solutions and compostable films. The enhancement of barrier properties in multilayer structures is also seeing significant development, helping boost shelf life and prevent product waste. Leading plastics processing experts will share new innovations in high barrier film solutions, including advances in polyolefins, additives and films. Food packaging safety is of critical importance, but it can be complicated to navigate and keep abreast of changing rules. The conference will look at current regulations for food contact materials and other key considerations such as reduction of VOCs.

Key sessions include:

• 'New and innovative mono-material packaging' presented by Dai Nippon Printing

• ‘Update on Food Contact Materials in the ASEAN’ presented by Thai Packaging Association

• ‘High barrier films – sustainable solutions’ presented by Max Specialty Films Ltd.

• ‘Accelerating sustainability goals with green films’ presented by UFlex Limited

• ‘Flexible packaging industry trends in South East Asia’ presented by Rabobank

In addition to a full programme of industry presentations, the summit will offer interactive Q&A sessions, access to a virtual exhibition and networking opportunities for attendees to meet with flexible packaging material specifiers, technical specialists and marketing experts from the Asian and international flexible packaging markets.

The full agenda is available to view on the summit’s website: www.ami.ltd/event-films-asia

About Specialty Packaging Films Virtual Summit

The summit provides a virtual forum where the latest market insights and developments can be explored in depth, enabling attendees to lead the debate on how the flexible packaging industry should innovate to support product optimisation and sustainability initiatives. Hear from local and international experts in film packaging and access a global audience of buyers, converters, manufacturers researchers and industry suppliers no matter where you are in the world.

AMI Consulting, Bristol, 10/02/2021 – According to an authoritative report published in January 2021 by industry consultants, AMI Consulting, the fastest growing application for twin-screw compounding machines is in upgrading and recycling post-consumer plastic waste.

The report looks at the market for twin-screw corotating compounding machines as used commonly for compounding Engineering Plastics, Styrenics, Polypropylene, TPEs and masterbatches. These machines range from outputs of about 100 kg per hour up to 10 tonnes per hour with smaller machines being used to compound some of the highest performance polymers and the biggest machines used where compounders want to make batches of 200-500 tonnes at a time. While the largest machines are often used on lower margin compounds, the scale at which they operate often justifies investment in the highest standards of technical performance and automation.

The best-known producers of these machines include Coperion, JSW, KraussMaffei Berstorff and Leistritz, but there are many more. A key success factor for many is strong local demand. In recent years strongest demand has been in China where there are now a large number of twin-screw compounding machinery producers, some of which have started to export internationally.

The fastest growing application is recycling which is expected to see demand more than double between 2020 and 2024. In this segment more than 50% of machines sold globally in 2020 were sold into China reflecting the opportunity within China to upcycle low value waste. Measured by the value of machinery sales, Europe however is the largest market due to investors’ preference for buying higher output machines.

The report segments the market by geography, application and machinery size. Demand data is supported by AMI Consulting’s well-developed understanding of compounding markets. Profiles of the suppliers include detailed market share data.

While Covid-19 slowed the market in 2020 recovery is expected to be rapid because of the emergence of new markets, geographical shifts in demand and pressure on compounders to invest in higher performance machinery in order to remain competitive.

This report is aimed at assisting industry participants and investors understand the size, structure and growth of the market, anticipate change, direct resources, and proactively manage threats and opportunities.

For further information please contact Cristina de Santos E/ cristina.desantos@ami.international or T/ +44 (0)117 924 9442

With the circular economy proving an increasingly important topic for the FR supply chain, just what is the industry doing to face the global challenge of sustainability? A driver for development in the plastics industry as a whole, industry presentations at the Fire Resistance in Plastics Virtual Summit will show flame retardants have a role to play in this international consumer trend.

Ahead of their presentations on 23 – 25 February, we were delighted to interview three of our expert speakers who will each share their take on the challenges involved in achieving sustainability.

Marc Leifer, Global Technical Marketing Support Manager, ICL-IP

Marc has held the position of Global TMS Manager at ICL-IP FR SBU since 2011, with over 30 years' experience in the field of thermoplastic and thermoset polymers' formulation, transformation processes, analysis and properties assessment.

Together with Lein Tange, Sustainability Director at ICL-Europe, Marc will present on how plastics with FRs can form part of a circular economy, with a look at some of the technical and economic challenges involved.

Read the full interview here

Adrian Beard, Chairman (Europe), PINFA

Adrian is a senior expert in fire safety and environmental properties of phosphorus-based flame retardants. Since 2017, he has chaired the association for non-halogenated phosphorus, inorganic and nitrogen flame retardants (pinfa), a sector group of Cefic.

His presentation will offer a second industry perspective on the sustainability of flame retardants and the challenges they will face in the coming decade.

Read the full interview here

Kevin Bradley, Secretary General, BSEF

Kevin is currently Secretary General of BSEF, the International Bromine Council who support and promote the role of bromine and bromine technologies as enablers for society and economy globally.

He will be sharing the outcomes and implications of the SOFIES study for polymer producers and the FR industry in terms of the circular economy and the push for sustainable FRs.

Read the full interview here

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About the Fire Resistance in Plastics Virtual Summit

This fully online event will replace the live conference which was unable to take place as scheduled in December 2020. The summit runs with the support of Headline Sponsor ICL-IP, Gold Sponsors Clariant Plastics & Coatings GmbH, Funzionano AS and PINFA, and Silver Sponsor Thor GmbH and Georg H. Luh.

Click here find out more

AMI, Bristol, 05/01/21 – A new report from AMI Consulting published in December 2020 quantifies and analyses the global palletisation films market and examines the most recent industry dynamics.

In the last thirty years palletisation films have been one of the success stories of the global plastics and packaging industry. Strong demand from a wide range of customer industries, combined with a real competitive advantage against other forms of pallet stabilisation, has resulted in sustained growth in the developed, more mature markets and accelerating growth in other regions.

The 2020 edition of AMI’s Palletisation Films – The global market report is the result of an extensive research programme, providing a detailed independent assessment of this industry in times of uncertainty as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The report quantifies demand and production of pallet stretch wrap, shrink hoods and stretch hoods in each world region with a five-year forecast. It examines polymer demand and inter-material competition as well as the industry structure and latest developments of major global palletisation film producers.

The market has matured in Western Europe and North America (USA in particular), resulting in lower growth rates and a strong focus on customised technical innovation. Higher growth rates are projected for the markets of Asia & Australasia, Africa, and even Central & South America despite the economic struggle the key countries like Argentina and Brazil have been enduring. These promising growth rates mean great opportunities to all industry players in these regions. What is required are robust and sustainable strategies to exploit the growing market potential.

Most recently, the dynamics characterising the pallet stretch wrap trade arena have been influenced by a boost in polymer production capacity in the United States, a surge in local consumption in developing nations driven by investments in the retail, infrastructure and construction sectors, as well as fluctuations in exchange rates which have been affecting the competitiveness and cost structures of some regions.

The adoption of stretch hoods is becoming increasingly attractive for a wider range of transported goods at the expense of shrink hoods. As the cost of wrapping machinery decreases because of higher competition from new entrants, and the wrap cost per pallet reduces as a result of thinner and stronger films, it is expected that stretch hoods will continue penetrating more than the spiral pallet wrap applications used by major customers.

This comprehensive study builds on and expands AMI's successful reports related to the palletisation industry and aims to help industry players:

• Evaluate growth dynamics
• Identify emerging opportunities
• Understand market constraints and competitive pressures
• Assess latest development in resin formulation
• Appreciate the degree of penetration of recycled and bio-material innovations
• Formulate coherent and robust business plans.

For further information:
Elena Mozzato, Senior Research Analyst
AMI Consulting
+44 (0)117 924 9442
elena.mozzato@ami.international

AMI has announced dates for the first Fire Resistance in Plastics Virtual Summit, taking place on the mornings of 23-25 February 2021. This fully online event will replace the live conference which, due to Covid-19 restrictions, was unable to take place as scheduled on 30 November – 2 December 2020 at the Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel in Düsseldorf, Germany. The summit launches with the support of Headline Sponsor ICL-IP, Gold Sponsors Clariant Plastics & Coatings GmbH, Funzionano AS and PINFA, and Silver Sponsor Thor GmbH.

Confirmed speakers include:

Dr. Gunter Beyer | CEO | Fire and Polymers
Topic: What is new in FR research in 2019 and 2020? New FR systems and concepts

Mr. Peter Kornas | Director - Product Development and Technical Application |
BÜFA Composite Systems GmbH & Co. KG
Topic: Modifying customer tailored FR-solutions for different branches. Development and application of fire retardant unsaturated polyester resins

Dr. Abdullah Al-Mamun | Corporate R&D, Material and Process Development | Adler Pelzer Group
Topic: Extending the service life of highly-filled automotive parts: understanding the influence of fire retardants and stabilizers

Mrs. Buket Turan | R&D Project Manager |Eurotec Engineering Plastics
Topic: Tailoring material solutions to comply with stringent fire safety standards for public transportation application

In addition to a full programme of presentations and an interactive Q&A panel discussion, the online event gives attendees access to a virtual exhibition area where they can explore and interact with the FR industry. Attendees will also be able to dip in and out of presentations and watch on-demand for 30 days after the event. 

For more information on attending the Fire Resistance in Plastics Virtual Summit, or becoming a speaker or sponsor, please visit www.ami.ltd/event-fire

About Fire Resistance in Plastics
Well established as one of the leading global conferences on the latest developments in flame retardants and flame-retardant plastics, the 2021 Virtual Summit will be an essential opportunity to engage and learn from leading industry experts whilst networking with customers, suppliers, associations and academics.

For further information please contact:

Emily Nicholson
Conference Organiser | AMI
T / +44 (0) 117 314 8111
E/ ​​​emily.nicholson@ami.international

AMI has announced an exciting move online for its popular Specialty Packaging Films Asia conference, which was postponed back in March 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions. The new Specialty Packaging Films Virtual Summit will now take place on 23-25 March 2021 as a fully online event. It offers a full programme of industry presentations, interactive Q&A sessions and access to a virtual exhibition and networking area where attendees can meet with flexible packaging material specifiers, technical specialists and marketing experts in the Asian and international flexible packaging markets.

For more information on attending the Specialty Packaging Films Virtual Summit, or becoming a speaker or sponsor, please visit www.ami.ltd/event-films-asia

About Specialty Packaging Films Virtual Summit

The summit provides a virtual forum where the latest market insights and developments can be explored in depth, enabling attendees to lead the debate on how the flexible packaging industry should innovate to support product optimisation and sustainability initiatives. Hear from local and international experts in film packaging and access a global audience of buyers, converters, manufacturers researchers and industry suppliers no matter where you are in the world.

For more information please contact:

Rebecca Weir | Senior Conference Organiser | AMI
T / +44 (0) 117 924 9442
E / Rebecca.weir@ami.international