What were the main challenges and opportunities for blown film extrusion machinery suppliers and users in South Africa during 2021?
With increase in demand for packaging materials and hygiene products, 2021 was a year of growth for blown film producers as plastic materials have proven to be a saviour in this pandemic. Furthermore, with increased shipping costs of finished packaging material from other parts of the world, demand for local material suppliers increased. However, there were challenges in terms of availability of raw materials, material price fluctuations and the increase in shipping costs.
How do you expect this to change in 2022?
We see the same trend continuing with respect to demand for packaging materials. Thus, demand for blown film lines with advanced technology and reliability in terms of production, performance and after-sales service support will continue.
What are the biggest demands facing South African flexible packaging converters?
Demand for flexible packaging has increased drastically. Thus, demand for laminates and lamination film along with barrier film for FMCG products, shrink film for the beverage industry and industrial packaging film has increased exponentially in 2021 and will continue doing so during 2022.
Last year, packaging converters weren’t able to cope with the unexpected demands and as a result lead times increased. However, they were quick to adapt by debottlenecking their production capacities in addition to evolving new production formats.
What are their current preferences for the number of layers for flexible packaging applications?
Demand for high-output fully loaded three- and five-layer blown film extrusion lines has increased to cater for flexible packaging material requirements. Barrier blown film lines with five- and seven-layer configurations are the latest trend. A reduction in the number of processing steps to produce flexible packaging laminates by using high-barrier co-ex film by converting three- and four-ply laminates to two- or three-ply laminates to achieve same barrier properties has also become popular.
What are the latest trends in terms of machinery design and construction as well as after-sales service and support?
In terms of machine design, trends include energy efficient equipment, while for after-sales service, remote support is now being widely accepted with the help of effective communication platforms. In fact, we have installed and commissioned several machines through remote support with strong backup from India.
What benefits do these trends represent for Rajoo?
This trend represents a positive outlook for plastic industries across the globe where processors are already working on sustainable packaging solutions to contribute to the circular economy with PE/PE laminates for efficient recycling and reusability of packaging materials. And, Rajoo offers value-for-money solutions for the processors.
Please, describe new product ranges launched or innovations implemented to help reduce costs, improve efficiencies, recyclability, etc.
Rajoo Engineers has always pioneered in bringing innovations to the doorstep of processors at affordable investment levels. For flexible packaging converters, we have upgraded our technology by offering fully loaded high-output, high-width three-, five- and seven-layer blown film lines.
Energy efficiency is the mantra for today’s best in class technologies. We established our technology leadership with the Lamex series of extrusion coating and lamination lines. Our twin-screw-based rPET sheet extrusion lines and multi-station thermoformers are also well accepted in the market.
How do your customers benefit from these innovations?
Our single-stop shop offering benefits customers tremendously as they can choose from a wide range of machines to produce flexible packaging materials and only have to deal with a single supplier with vast plastics processing experience.
Rajoo always strives to offer the best value proposition to our customers against their investment in producing high-quality end products with flexibility to run various polymers optimally. We make this possible via continuous R&D and upgrades to our extruder design and die technology that optimise energy efficiency. Proof of this is the state-of-the-art five-layer blown film installed at Gauteng-based Nylopack (fourth repeat order) for stretch hood film applications.
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