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GBIG NEWS | 79 Stories and Links on the Internet 03/22/2023

GBIG News

Get links to the latest news, events, stories, and interviews from our 5P news sponsors. Our goal is to remind the decision-makers in Wisconsin of the importance of our industry both historically, and more importantly, into the future.

Read the latest 79 Stories and Links on the Internet below.

Plastics

March 22nd, 2023 Newsletter

Read the March 22nd, 2023 Green Bay Innovation Group Newsletter here.

George Huber CUWP Introduction

George Huber UW Madison Chemical Engineering and Director of CUWP (www.cuwp.org) will be our GUEST Speaker on April 12, 2023, introducing STRAP to the Flexible Packaging, Plastics, Printing and Converting Industries. One of the largest sectors for plastic waste is the packaging industry which accounted for more than 35% of the plastics produced. These plastic packaging materials come in the form of multilayer films, which are composites of distinct polymers that are combined to achieve specific properties that cannot be provided by single plastic layers and impossible to recycle through mechanical recycling ending up in landfills!

To register, go to: www.greenbayinnovationgroup.com EVENTS. The cost is $40.00 including a tour of Convergen Energy, lunch at Johnsonville Tailgate Village followed by 4 guest speakers!

The Center for Chemical Upcycling of Waste Plastics (www.cuwp.org) is developing a technology that allows the recycling of flexible and rigid multilayer and mixed plastic wastes.

This technology is called solvent-targeted recovery and precipitation or STRAP. STRAP uses non-toxic solvents to produce food-grade resins from previously unrecyclable materials. STRAP has been demonstrated in the laboratory and is now being scaled up. A larger 25 kg/hr pilot system is being built at Michigan Tech University and will be complete at the end of 2023. We are working with several Wisconsin plastic converters (Amcor, CNG, ePac, Placon and others) to convert their plastic wastes into high quality resins. The pilot system will provide enough material to plastic converters to qualify them in several applications. After we successfully operate the pilot system we hope to design the first commercial facility in Green Bay, WI. This facility will produce high-quality PE and PP resins from plastic wastes and sell them back to plastic converters.

Bio of George Willis Huber

George Willis Huber is the Richard Antoine Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research focus is the design of disruptive technologies for the recycling of waste plastics and working to bring these technologies to market. He is the director of the $12.5 million Center on Chemical Upcycling of Waste Plastics (CUWP). He is co-founder of two companies that are commercializing technology he developed: Anellotech (www.anellotech.com) and Pyran (www.pyranco.com). He has been named a “highly-cited researcher” in the area of Chemistry, an award given to the top 1% most cited chemists. He has published over 230 papers, more than 20 patent applications, and received over 40,000 citations Professor Huber has received visiting professorships from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2015 (at Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics), from the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2019-20 and the ExxonMobil Visiting Chair Professor at National University of Singapore in 2019. He obtained his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2005). He obtained his B.S. (1999) and M.S.(2000) degrees in Chemical Engineering from Brigham Young University.

GBIG PRESENTS: THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF PLASTIC RECYCLING on April 12, 2023 with 5 Outstanding Speakers!

The EVENT will be held at the JOHNSONVILLE TAILGATE VILLAGE BY LAMBEAU FIELD and a morning Tour of CONVERGEN ENERGY 600 Liberty St. Green Bay, WI.

DATE: April 12, 2022

SCHEDULE OF KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

  • 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. – Tour Convergen Energy in Green Bay hosted by Ted Hansen – President
  • 11:00 a.m. – Registration and Check In at Johnsonville Tailgate Village by Lambeau Field
  • 12:00 -1:15 p.m. – Lunch with Doug Peckenpaugh BNP Group Publisher of Packaging Strategies and Flexible Packaging. He is the Manager of Converters Expo 2023.
  • 1:15 p.m. Introduction – Marty Ochs the Executive Director of the Green Bay Innovation Group
  • 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. – George Huber at UW Madison Engineering & (CUWP) Chemical Upcycling of Waste Plastics Director.
  • 2:30 – 2:45 p.m. Break
  • 2:45 – 3:30 p.m. John Elliot and Justin Bowers from PRI – Plastics Recycling Systems
  • 3:45 – 4:15 p.m. – Ted Hansen President of Convergen Energy, Inc. in Green Bay
  • 4:15 – 4:45 p.m. – Evan Arnold Vice President Business Development of Glenroy, Inc.
  • 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. – Networking
  • 6:00 pm.: Kick Off of Converting Expo at Lambeau Field.

To register, go to: www.greenbayinnovationgroup.com EVENTS and sign up. The cost is: $40.00 which includes lunch and the tour.

Quad Plus: Pulp & Paper Line Optimization

Pulp & Paper Line Optimization

Inefficient actions throughout the papermaking process can result in a shorter life for your equipment, increase changeover times, and decrease speed, capacity, and productivity.

Addressing these inefficiencies by optimizing your line can help lower operating costs, reduce waste, shorten lead times, and improve your operation’s safety and working conditions.

Common Challenges in Pulp & Paper

Web handling and paper defects can lead to emergency stops and off-spec product rolls. Web tension and speed differentials in the winder and the paper machine can help identify flaws, while live measurements ensure moisture, basis weight, and thickness are within range.

Bottlenecks can limit the paper machine’s and winder’s overall production capacity. Slowdowns and limitations must be identified through analyzing machine data and managed with automation technology, innovative design, and replacement of legacy equipment where necessary.

Mitigating hazards by implementing changes that meet industry standards, automating hazardous functions, and adding safety features like guarding, fencing, and safety controls can minimize personnel risks and reduce exposure to liability issues while improving production capacity.

Paper Mill – Pulping department

Automated Controls for Better Efficiency

A paper manufacturer wanted to upgrade its process to include automation technology. Their machine required maintenance personnel to adjust the valves manually, and the customer wanted to reduce worker interaction and improve the consistency of their production lines.

The first step was to audit the existing controls. Then, we designed an automated control system and acquired the instrumentation and control devices. Lastly, we developed the control software and provided a SCADA system. The customer can now have a single operator control the paper machine through the visualization system and reduce their raw material consumption by ensuring a more consistent paper grade.

75-Year-Old Equipment Gets an Upgrade

A paper mill in the midwest specializes in limited runs that require frequent grade changes. The original paper machine is more than 75 years old, and market demands meant searching for more viable methods for controlling the speed of the machine and its various sections.

Quad Plus engineers started by thoroughly analyzing existing equipment and carefully considering the paper mill’s customers. Our solution included sectionalizing the drives and installing an AC-coordinated drive lineup. We then provided a system to regulate the speed of the entire machine and its various sections. For additional safety, we added safety-rated VFDs, safety processors, and an additional I/O.

Automating the line allows the current crew to focus on value-added areas rather than operations. The younger, less experienced workforce can come on board as automation helps with the overall burden of training. Lastly, the new line shaft and DC motor will need less maintenance so the mill can enjoy less downtime.

Meeting Market Demands

For most manufacturers, the market determines how to manage operations. When the customer demands outpace the capabilities of your equipment, it’s time for a change. Automation technology is the answer to a more efficient production process, no matter your industry.

To learn more about using automation technology for safer, more efficient operations, please get in touch with Jim Woulf at (920) 515-4155 or via email at jwoulf@quadplus.com.

5 Ways Pouch Converting Technology Can Protect Your Materials Investment

Thanks to dazzling artwork and the latest in science and technology – from the extruder to the printer to the laminator, today’s packaging film is eye-catching and durable.

It’s stunningly beautiful. And expensive.

In fact, by the time the parent roll gets to the converting machine to be made into pre-made pouches, it is at the most expensive point in the ‘film-making’ process.

colorful packages laying flat

As much of that valuable film as possible needs to end up as a successful package -and as little as possible in the scrap bin.

“Pouch converting technology has come a long way to preserve the investment that brand owners make in the materials which ultimately must protect and promote their products,” says Scott Fuller, Pouch Equipment Product Line Manager for CMD.

Here are 5 suggestions to utilize that technology to get the best overall efficiency and least amount of waste in your pre-made pouch converting process.

1.) Choose machines that utilize a shorter footprint and reduced web path – this results in less material needed at thread-up, better web control and less waste.
“Pouch machines have historically been very long,” says Fuller “Threading up the entire length of a 50 or 60 foot machine uses a lot of film, and when adjustments are made at the back of the machine, a lot of material can be wasted waiting for the adjustment to work its way to the front”.
Reducing the machine length and shortening the web path, allows for better web control and more efficient adjustments. “This makes so much sense that CMD reduced the overall length of our 760-SUP machine by 11 feet, and the web-path by over 20 feet” adds Fuller.

2.) Insist that the pouch system your pouches are converted on is easy to use so operators can competently dial in recipes for fewer mistakes, waste and downtime.

man touching touch screen

“After years of consulting with customers, partnering in SMED events and collecting data, it became very clear that the amount of waste associated with difficult-to dial-in-systems was much higher than originally estimated,” says Fuller.

Today’s machines offer sophisticated controls systems that are capable of automating much of the process. “The unresolved step was not the capability of the machinery; rather, it was a matter of refining why, and how the operator needed to interact with the machine.” notes Fuller, adding that simplifying the process and incorporating ease-of-use concepts were critical to closing this gap.

“The updated design of our stand-up pouch system focused on simple, fool-proof adjustments throughout the machine, and intuitive touch screen controls with data-rich reports to predict and prevent downtime,” says Fuller. He notes that the system includes an on-board standard operating condition (SOC) worksheet that can be used to pre-set the machine so very little film is wasted at changeover.

3.) Your system should have robust sealing technology with a wide operating window and a methodology to confirm that the pouches you produce are not only beautiful, but strong, with no leakers.
“With today’s technology, there is no reason you can’t have verifiable data on your pouch quality, and with the price of the film being converted, it makes good sense to expect it,” says Fuller. Data acquisition and IoT has evolved to produce real-time reporting, and powerful KPI dashboards that can be accessed on the machine or remotely.

4.) A reliable system will consistently produce the same quality on each pouch in your production run – resulting in less waste and fewer complaints on final package quality.
“The reliability factor is huge,” says Fuller. “Your pouch machine should consistently produce the same results, without the need for constant minding or excessive readjustment.” Relying on the system to produce the same quality, pouch after pouch, means you can also rely on fewer adjustments and less waste.

5.) A system designed with flexibility in mind is helpful to add the finishes and function that today’s convenience-conscious consumers demand – easy open/close, sturdy stand up properties for shelf appeal, etc… The pouch converting system should be designed to easily add the tooling needed for these extras.

cash on a conveyor belt

“While most pouch systems are designed to add these capabilities, finding one with a design that flexibly moves tooling in and out while retaining robust process stability, is the best choice for consistent quality and less waste.

Much is invested in producing the perfect aesthetics for your packaging. Utilizing ever-improving converting technologies to ensure the most efficient use of that investment is a wise strategy for growth and success.

About CMD

CMD is a technology-driven innovator of converting machinery and automation for plastic bags and pouch packaging for the medical, food and shipping industries. CMD also designs and manufactures quality fueling equipment for the CNG (compressed natural gas) industry. Custom and stock machinery, parts, upgrade kits, and engineering services are offered in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East.

CMD is known for advancing technology that offers real value to customers. The firm’s inventions include: high-speed, continuous-motion bag sealing and drawtape trash bag converting; overlap bag winding for one-at-a-time dispensing of bags-on-a-roll; and Intelligent Sealing for verifiable pouch quality. All equipment is built in the U.S; and designed for durability and ease of operation. CMD employs 200 dedicated professionals and operates from a 126,000 sq. ft. campus focused on technology development and manufacturing in Appleton, Wisconsin USA.

www.cmd-corp.com

GBIG NEWS | 75 Stories and Links on the Internet 03/08/2023

GBIG News

Get links to the latest news, events, stories, and interviews from our 5P news sponsors. Our goal is to remind the decision-makers in Wisconsin of the importance of our industry both historically, and more importantly, into the future.

Read the latest 75 Stories and Links on the Internet below.

March 8th, 2023 Newsletter

Read the March 8th, 2023 Green Bay Innovation Group Newsletter here.

Reynolds to Speak at Leadership Webinar

Women in the 5P presents the Women Leaders in Industry Series. Lisa Reynolds, CEO of Reynolds Packaging, will be the featured presenter in a webinar from 1-2pm Monday, April 24. Reynolds Packaging specializes in flexible packaging solutions and eco-friendly packaging. Reynold Packaging was named 2020 Wisconsin Woman-Owned Business of the Year by Marketplace Governor’s Awards.

Kate Burgess of Elevate97 Joins New North Board of Directors

Possesses more than two decades of knowledge, leadership within the region’s creative space

NEW NORTH, February 13, 2023 – Kate Burgess, a dynamic leader within the creative space for more than two decades, has joined the board of directors of New North Inc., the regional economic development corporation for the 18 counties of Northeast Wisconsin. She was advanced by New North’s board development committee and approved by the Board.

“Kate is an inspirational leader who has a passion for bringing out diverse perspectives, leading to bold ideas and innovative concepts,” says Barb LaMue, president and CEO of New North Inc. “At the start of the pandemic, Kate’s team launched Keep on Wisconsin to cultivate connections in new ways, inspire communities to help their neighbors and to navigate through the unprecedented times. We are excited to add her deep community involvement, along with her business and inspirational leadership, to our Board.”

Burgess is CEO of Elevate97, a Green Bay-based brand house that creates, produces and distributes marketing solutions for worldwide brands. She co-founded the company as FulfillNet in 1997 and became its full-time CEO in 2004. The company transitioned to its current brand in 2014 and is 100-percent women-owned.

Kate Burgess

She began her professional career by working for more than a decade in sales & marketing and human resources positions, primarily in the food-production industry.

Burgess holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Marquette University.

She is active in the Northeast Wisconsin community, serving on the board of directors of the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center and the Green Bay Packers.

New North, Inc., is a 501(c)3 non-profit, regional economic development corporation fostering collaboration among private and public sector leaders throughout the 18 counties of Northeast Wisconsin, known as the New North region. The New North brand unites the region both internally and externally around talent development, brand promotion and business development, signifying the collective economic power behind the 18 counties. The counties include Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet, Waupaca, Brown, Shawano, Oconto, Marinette, Door, Kewaunee, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Florence, Menominee and Waushara. www.thenewnorth.com

Media Contact: Jeff Blumb, 920.328.5454 or media@blumbcc.com

Green Bay Innovation Group

Bringing Green Bay Companies Together. Green Bay Innovation Group is committed to building an authentic networking experience where innovation can thrive.

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