Central and Eastern European Packaging - Mediaforum

www.ceepackaging.com
Recovery in Central
Europe has begun
Beverage packaging
turning increasingly
to plastic
Novel ideas on
brand awareness for
youngsters
Issue 14 Early Winter 2009
Growth
for
flexible
packaging
forecast
to be
3.5%
per year
News Analysis Opinion Product Developments
Awards Branding Company Information Events

CEE Packaging
Central and Eastern European Packaging
Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080,
www.ceepackaging.com e. mail : alan@ceepackaging.com
Contents
Issue 14, Early Winter 2009
Recovery in Central Europe has begun ............................................................4
Industry winners ......................................................................................6
German Packaging Prizes awarded in Nuremburg at Fach Pack
World Aluminum Aerosol Can Award 2009 marked by innovative applications
Visual impact award for Estee Lauder Ultimate Luxury Set
Technology ..............................................................................................18
Accurate cheese weighing reducing waste
Serbian washing powder manufacturer improves packaging efficiency
Granite based labeling machine introduced at Label Expo
Analysis ...................................................................................................21
Growth for converted flexible packaging forecast to be 3.5 percent per year
PET collection increased in Europe last year
Demand for BOPP films continues in Eastern Europe
Events .....................................................................................................27
Six events in six weeks!
Label industry makes awards at Label Expo in Brussels
Seven CEE companies victorious in Pentawards
Company profile .....................................................................................30
Unterland Flexible Packaging
Supplier Guide.........................................................................................12
Products and Branding .........................................................................14
P&G introduces resealable closure for dishwashing tabs
Novel ideas on brand awareness for youngsters in Central Europe
Nut producer goes biodegradable
Nivea packaging upgraded
Cover photo shows Russian
model Diana Ivleva
admiring the
packaging in her local
supermarket!
CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080
3

CEE Packaging
Recovery in Central Europe has begun
but is likely to be weak
warns World Bank
The EU's newest member states in Eastern and Central Europe have begun the recovery
one year after the breakout of the global financial crisis as the credit crunch has eased,
but most countries undergo large contractions this year, and the recovery is likely to be
feeble and uncertain, the World Bank reported as it launched its new EU10 Regular
Economic Report.
Although the rebound of the global
economy has started, the report
cautions that the recovery in EU10
countries could be weak and growth is
likely to be lower than in pre-crisis years.
EU10 countries are projected to contract
by around 4.2 percent in 2009, and to
grow by around 1 percent in 2010 and
3.6 percent in 2011, down from 3.9 percent
in 2008 and around 6 percent in
2007. Medium-term growth prospects
look weak as the recovery is not yet private-demand
driven and potential
growth is lower than before the crisis.
According to the report, the EU10
countries fall into three groups with
regards to their recent growth performance:
Poland is in the first group as the only
EU country whose economy has expanded
throughout the last three quarters.
Bulgaria, Romania and other Central
Europe countries make the second group
with year-on-year contraction of 5 to 10
percent of GDP.
Third group comprises The Baltic
countries, where the output contraction
started in 2008, with declines of 15 to 20
percent of GDP.
Scale of contraction
'The scale of the contraction is linked to
a number of factors, including the degree
of trade openness, the export composition,
the exchange rate regime and the
magnitude of macroeconomic imbalances.'
said Kaspar Richter, Senior
Economist in the World Bank's Europe
and Central Asia Region and lead author
of the report at the launch in Warsaw
and Thomas Laursen, World Bank
Country Manager for Poland and the
Baltic Countries added 'Poland's performance
during the crisis has been
remarkable due to different factors.
Poland entered the crisis with stronger
macroeconomic balances than other
countries in the region, it has a floating
exchange rate regime and its economy is
more diverse and not as open as others'
in the region. Also, the response of
Polish authorities to the crisis was fast
and adequate.'
Given these prospects, financially
weaker governments in the region will
need to protect poor people while
strengthening institutions and infrastructure
to attract investors. At the same
time, they need to adjust their policy
agenda to support exit strategies and
prevent future crisis.
Unemployment rose in the EU10
countries from 6.1 percent in August
2008 to 8.1 percent in July 2009, or from
about 2.9 million to 3.8 million people.
At the same time, one million workers
The Polish economy is not only
the strongest in the CEE region but
in the entire EU with growth of up to
1.8 percent forecast for this year.
Poland’s success is in no small part
due to the EU funds going into infrastructure
projects, a sound financial
system that was not over exposed
to risk and good government.
Nonetheless there are now signs of
a fall in confidence with some buying
decisions being put off.
Investments however continue to
pour into the country with British tea
producer Twinings announcing in
early November that it is to switch
400 jobs there from the UK.
Photo: Central Warsaw
4 CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080

CEE Packaging
The Czech economy fell into
recession this year but is likely to be
the first CEE economy to return to
growth in 2010.
Photo: Olomouc
who had emigrated from the region to
crisis-hit countries such as the UK,
Ireland, and Spain after 2004 have
returned home, adding to the pressure on
job markets in Eastern and Central
Europe. The economic crisis is affecting
foremost workers with basic education
level and limited work experience, most
of whom are young. Unemployment
rates for workers aged 15 to 24 increased
more than twice as compared to the
overall increase. As a result, almost one
third of the economically active population
below 24 years of age is unemployed
in the Baltic countries, and around one
quarter in Hungary and Slovakia.
'Employment has remained remarkably
high in many EU10 countries, similar
to key countries of the euro area, and
opposite to the trends seen in the US.
However, while employment tends to
hold up better during downturns, it
could take much longer to increase up
during upturns.' said Richter
'Governments' active efforts to alleviate
the impact of economic slowdown on the
labour markets have to be combined
with measures supporting employability
and guiding people towards new jobs,
empowering workers to take advantage
of new opportunities when the economy
recovers.'
According to the EU10 Regular
Economic Report the main challenge for
the EU10 countries now is to adjust the
policy agenda; the economic policy
should balance the support of recovery
with exit strategies to contain risks of
negative public debt dynamics and inflation.
Structural policies, along the lines
of the Lisbon agenda, are crucial to mitigate
the loss in potential output growth
due to weaker capital flows. Social policies
are crucial to mitigate the loss in living
standards for the poor.
'The recovery from the economic crisis
depends foremost on restoring financial
market confidence. To help close some
external financing gaps created by the
crisis and ease the burden of adjustment,
the IMF, EC and World Bank have provided
substantial support. As international
investors take a closer look at the
vulnerabilities of emerging economies,
there is a large premium on strong
domestic policies.' - said Richter,
'Governments face the difficult challenge
of reconciling three objectives: to
protect priority programs for economic
and social development so that growth
prospects are enhanced and social cost of
the economic crisis mitigated; to exit
from anti-crisis policies and ensure fiscal
consolidation once the recovery is under
way to make room for a private sector led
recovery; and to improve policies, regulations
and coordination to prevent such
crises in future.'
We maximize film
producer`s profitability.
group
Brückner at
interplastica
2010
Moscow | 26 –29 January
Forum FD 38
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Have you any opinions on the packaging industry or on
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CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080
5

Industry winners
German Packaging Prizes
awarded in Nuremburg
at Fach Pack
The awards ceremony of the 32nd German Packaging Prize took place at the FachPack
in Nuremberg in September.
This year, the German Packaging
Institute (dvi) awarded twenty
developments from 18 companies and
two student projects in seven categories.
More than 300 guests appeared for
this year's German Packaging Prize
awards ceremony at NürnbergMesse
congress centre. Horst Förther, Mayor of
the City of Nuremberg, greeted the
numerous participants and highlighted
the economic importance of the packaging
industry. Next, the Chief Juror, Prof.
Birgit Weller of the Fachhochschule
Hannover, and Burkhard Lingenberg,
Member of the Board of the dvi, made
the awards.
packaging submissions,' states Burkhard
Lingenberg, Board Member of the dvi
and Supervisory Director of the entire
German Packaging Prize.
The winners of the German Packaging
Prize 2009 work in all areas of the packaging
industry including food, cosmetics,
pharmaceuticals, packaging materials
and packaging material producers,
branded companies, designers, agencies,
and more.
The pieces awarded reach from userfriendly
sealing and dispensing systems,
emotionally designed sales packaging,
efficient and ecological transport packaging
and prototypes to novel machine
technology concepts.
A total of twenty prizes was awarded
in all seven categories: seven prizes for
sales packaging, three for transport packaging,
three for design, features, and finishing,
one for display and promotion,
four prototypes, one for machine technology
and one junior prize.
Cirus won an award for its heating
elements to seal plastic films.
'This current competition shows quite
clearly that the intensive developments
of packaging technicians and the creative
work of packaging designers have
achieved a very high level performance:
From economic efficiency in production
and the optimal use of materials to the
easier application and attractive design
of the products involved. This goes for
each of the 42 nomination that we distinguished
from a total of 271 innovative
Sika click packaging was developed
to increase ease of use and reduce consumption
of Sika's pre-treatment products.
Packaging for such solvent based
products using a plastic stopper and a
screw cap. The snap cap of the Sika
click packaging can be opened and
closed with just one hand and consists
of one part only. The material can be
safely stored in the workshop and kept
fresh for 30 days. In addition the Sika
click packaging reduces consumption
by the integrated restrictor, allowing up
to 20 percent more glass replacement
jobs being done with the same amount
of pre-treatment product.
6 CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080

Industry winners
Linhardt's winning contribution was
the Multiflex tube in the category
'sales packaging'.
The jurors ascertained: 'For the first
time a plastic laminate tube has been
welded in a blunt fashion instead of in
an overlapping one. In doing so, a symmetrical
material composition with
weldable material on the inside and outside
is no longer necessary. This allows
new possibilities in the layer sequence.
The covered weld seam is less conspicuous
and hardly disturbs the print layout
any longer.'
The tube's layered body seam is
joined edge to edge rather than overlapping.The
layered structure can be asymmetrical
- no longer limited to A-B-A,
now it can be A-B-C-D -….
No more irritating seam joins: The
composite film is joined edge-to edge
and the seam is then strengthened with
a wafer-thin plastic tape.
Functional materials of the inner layer
can interact directly with the filling
such as. antibacterial or oxygen consuming.
Functional materials can open completely
new dimensions in packaging,
one idea that springs to mind is integrated
RFIDs. According to the choice
of materials, a tube can be firm or
squashable (definable stability and
bounce-back properties).
The barrier properties of the
Multiflex tube are clearly definable.
According to the choice of materials -
e.g. Aluminium or EVOH - the tube
will protect sensitive filling from environmental
influences.
The Multiflex tube offers a wide
range of decorative options. The composite
film is printed flat, so the variety
of decorations is unlimited: 360° printing,
realistic photographic images,
embossing, iridescent surfaces, tactile
texture variants, holograms, soft touch
layer.
The Unkai Sushi Box produced by Ernst
Schausberger & Co GmbH was also a winner!
The company is part of the Mayr-Melnhof
Group, unites what it considers to be Mayr-
Melnhof carton quality with 350 grams of linoplex
and with an extraordinary design and functionality
to make this carry-box an eye-catcher de luxe.
The company believes that it is not only sushi
that is handed over to the customer but also part
of Japanese lifestyle.
This premium packaging provides the possibility
to pile up to five boxes on top of each other.
Thanks to an innovative flap, the box can be carried
home like a handbag. A PET inlay between
the boxes stops the cartons slipping or sticking to
each other.
Once home, the sushi can be served directly
from the boxes at the table from the individual
parts of the packaging:
CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080
7

Industry winners
World Aluminum Aerosol Can Award 2009
marked by innovative applications
and production technologies
Innovative applications with improved can design and a new production technology with
environmental benefits were the hallmark of this year's 'World Aluminum Aerosol Can
Award' competition organised by the International Organisation of Aluminum Aerosol
Container Manufacturers (AEROBAL).
Boxal Group won the AEROBAL Award in the category 'Can Already on
the Market' for its innovative aerosol can design in combination with the
new application as an olive oil spray. Working closely with French company
Fareva, Boxal developed a sophisticated 59x205 mm aluminium aerosol
can for this innovative application in the food market. The aerosol can features
a customised full-body shaped can with a food grade internal coating
offering a convenient use of the olive oil condiment. The shaped aerosol
container is printed with Boxal's recently launched Hi-Def printing technology
delivering high quality printing results for photo-realistic designs in high
resolution on aluminium aerosols.
Exal North America (part of the Exal Group) won in the 'Prototype' category.
The awarded package which is now available for Bag-on-Valve (BoV)
and other applications is manufactured with Exal's revolutionary Coil-To-
Can (C2C) aluminium container manufacturing technology. This innovative
technology marries the manufacturing speed and light weighting of standard,
drawn & ironed beverage can technology with the dynamic shaping
technology originally available only with heavier walled extruded aluminium
containers. Thanks to their
lighter weight, C2C containers
produce fewer transport-related
carbon dioxide emissions
throughout the logistics chain
than heavier packaging formats.
Exal's C2C process can also use
post-consumer recycled aluminium
as a raw material, and finished
C2C containers are infinitely
recyclable. This is a great
sustainability asset of aluminium
because aluminium recycling
requires only 5 percent of the
energy needed for the production
of virgin material. Since the
C2C process incorporates high
speed production lines less
energy input per container is
required.
8 CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080

Industry winners
Visual impact award for
Estee Lauder
Ultimate Luxury Set
Knoll Packaging’s beautiful Ultimate
Luxury Set for Estée Lauder won the
Visual Impact award at this year’s New
Jersey Packaging Executives Club
(NJPEC) Package of the Year.
Knoll designed and manufactured the
gift set which features a double-decker,
hinged design for optimal counter display,
gold pebble embossed foil lining,
and a winter white vacuum form with
gold hotstamping, signature to the
Estée Lauder brand.
‘So many features of this set add to
the visual impact,’ stated Knoll sales
representative Karen Werther.
‘From the two-tiered bar hinge
design, to the gold wrap, keepsake box,
and gold stamping… The overall quality
and luxury of the final product is
astounding.’
The gift set is now on-counter.
Label industry makes awards
at Label Expo in Brussels
This year proceedings were different,
with companies being allowed to
nominate themselves for the Label
Industry Award for Continuous
Innovation, Label Industry Award for
New Innovation and the European
Converter of the Year Award. The judging
panel then met in Antalya at the
FINAT congress in June to make the
Knoll Packaging, a leader in the packaging
and printing industry, has delivered
innovative and creative packaging
solutions to demanding global brands
final decisions and also announce the
winner of this year's R. Stanton Avery
Lifetime Achievement Award.
Helmut Schreiner, Label Industry
Global Awards Judging Panel
Chairman, commented ‘The quality of
entries for the Awards continues at the
highest level and makes an ongoing challenge
for the judges. Each winner has
for over 26 years. Knoll provides premium
packaging tothe world’s prestige
brands, ensuring high quality, creativity,
and reliability.
made a significant contribution to the
growth of the industry and I would like
to congratulate them all on their awards.’
The Label Industry Global Awards
take place at Labelexpo Europe and
Labelexpo Americas. The next Awards
will take place in Chicago in September
2010.
The R. Stanton Avery Lifetime Achievement Award was won
by Michael Fairley. who has been at the forefront of introducing
the latest innovations in label materials, technology, markets
and applications. The Award recognises the values and vision
of Stan Avery and his pioneering efforts in the label industry.
(Photo from L-R: Clive Smith, Founder of Labelexpo, Dean
Scarborough, CEO Avery Dennison, Mike Fairley, Founder of
Labels & Labeling, Helmut Schreiner, Owner Schreiner
Etiketten (and Chairman of the judging panel) Andrea Vimercati,
President of FINAT)
CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080
9

Industry winners
Seven CEE companies victorious in Pentawards
worldwide packaging design competition
Three products from Russia and four from Romania were winners in the Pentawards
worldwide packaging design competition. Here the winners from the CEE region are
presented!
Gold award : cereals
The Yarmarka Platinum trade mark is used to
market premium beans and lentils.
The Platinum brand purports to be the only
Russian brand offering such a collection of
foodstuffs and as such the objective of the
branding was to communicate this message to
the potential customer. The designers aimed to
create a USP for the brand through visual
conception and reinforcing the corporate
identity of the brand. The image of the
product plays the main role in the design
using a textured grain which has an unusual
form and colour with positive graphic symbols.
Agency: Kian Brand Agency
Silver Award : Food
Language of the Leaf is based in Ontario Canada. It packages
premium teas some of which are sold through major retail outlets.
The brief for the agency was that the packaging design needed to
differentiate the product on the shelf whilst communicating the
intrinsic values of the product. The design uses silhouettes created
using tea leaves.
Agency: Grapefruit
Silver Award : Clothing
Packaging for T-shirts by the Russian
agency Dark Design. The objective of the
packaging is to replicate the human torso for
which the T shirts are designed.
10
CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080

Industry winners
Silver Award: Household Appliances
Gauss is a new brand of energy saving lamps on the
Russian market. The packaging needed to communicate
the message that these lamps are in the premium
segment and this needed to justify the higher price. In
order to gain the attention of the potential purchaser,
the lamp and dots in the design were UV lacquered.
Fastway Agency
Silver Award : Home Improvement
Stas is a Romenian company which produces a range of paints and other
home improvement products. Although it is a comparitively small company,
it claims that its focus on innovation has allowed it to produce products
which are similar or at lower cost to established brands.
The brand strategy is show what the agency terms as 'correctness'
through minimalist design whilst at the same time reinforcing brand loyalty
through a series of numbers rather than colours or shapes.
Agency: Grapefruit
Bronze Award : Food
The bronze award in the food category was given to the Papane range of
frozen ready meal poultry products. The packaging was designed to be low
cost yet eye catching using the colour white to stand out amongst competitors
who tend to use very colourful packs. The main part of the packaging
design uses illustrations of humourous Romanian literary characters who
become spokespersons for the product thus giving an amusing, popular
and friendly spirit to the brand.
Agency: Brandient
Bronze Award : Brand Identity
Sushimania is the leading sushi home delivery company
in Romania. The concept of the Sushimania brand
identity is to use the most popular conception of sushi
which is salmon and rice so the colours of those
products were used as visuals of the brand in all
branding colour combinations. Salmon colour and white
are therefore used in all visual communications
including packaging, stationery and vehicles.
Agency : Ampro Design
CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080

Supplier guide
SUPPLIER GUIDE
Food Industry
COMPANY
PRODUCT
DESCRIPTION
Amcor Flexibles Food
offers innovative, sustainable
and effective flexible
packaging solutions for the
beverage, fresh and
processed food markets
across Europe.
Flexible packaging
PRODUCT
EXAMPLE
COUNTRY OF
MANUFACTURE
Various including Russia,
Poland
Various
Flexible packaging, technical
films, and product components.
Various including Hungary,
Poland, Russia
Fresh Food Weighers
Screw feeder weighers
Traysealers
X-ray inspection systems
Checkweighers
Weigh-Price-Labellers
Seal testers
Pick-and-place systems
Complete lines
Filling, process for pharmaceutical
products and
confectionery, to packaging
solutions for piece
goods and bulk items in
the food sector, as well as
for health and hygiene.
Shrink films, shrink barrier
bags; non-shrink hybrid and
coextruded structures; cookin,
heat treatable, microwavable
+ dual ovenable materials;
pouches pumpable
foods; retort and aseptic
Production lines for high
value mono- and biaxially
stretched film, equipment for
the manufacture of cast film
and sheet, turnkey plants,
laboratory & pilot lines.
Various
Austria, Brazil, China,
Denmark, France, Germany,
Hungary, India,
Japan, Netherlands, Russia,
Singapore, Slovakia,
Switzerland, UK, USA
Hungary, Germany,
France, Spain,
EU
12 CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080

Supplier guide
COMPANY
PRODUCT
DESCRIPTION
PRODUCT
EXAMPLE
COUNTRY OF
MANUFACTURE
Speciality BOPP and cellulose
films for packaging,
labels and overwrap; serving
the confectionery, biscuits
& bakery, dairy and
fresh produce markets.
UK with representation
throughout CEE
Mater-Bi®, biodegradable
and compostable bioplastic,
from renewable
resources of agricultural
origin.
Italy
DuPont Packaging Graphics
is a global leading supplier
of Cyrel® flexo printing
plates and sleeves solutions
for analogue and digital
applications, for both solvent
and thermal processing.
USA and Germany with
service throughout Europe
Based on the use of industrial,
high-amylose cornstarch,
technology can
service a rich variety of
products including thermoforming,
injection moulding
and film extrusion.
Australia, Germany
Clients include DuPont
Packaging & Industrial
Polymers, Amcor, Lindt &
Sprungli, Marks &
Spencer,
DSM Engineering Plastics
(a raw material supplier for
packaging film)
Akulon® PA6: high consistency
for optimum
process performance
Akulon® XP: maximizes
productivity of multilayer
and extrusion coating lines
Yparex®: cost-optimized
tie layers
Various
PolyOne is a global
supplier of high performance
colour and additive
concentrates and compounds.
Belgium, Brazil, China,
Colombia, France,
Germany, Hungary, India,
Mexico, Poland, Spain,
Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand,
Turkey, UK, USA
Board multipacks for the
beverage industry include
basket carriers (open and
closed), fully-enclosed carriers,
clips and wraps
Germany, the Netherlands,
Sweden, Norway, Finland,
Estonia, Russia and
France
CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080
13

Products and Branding
P&G introduces resealable closure
for dishwashing tabs
Procter & Gamble has adopted the Slide-Rite® closure on the larger packages of the
Fairy dishwashing tab product line (about 15 percent of their volume). Earlier this year
P&G began offering the dishwashing tabs in a laminated film, stand-up pouch equipped
with the Pactiv reclosure system. The hooded pouch incorporates an Easy-Tear solution
in the film providing a very easy method of opening and the Slide-Rite® closure provides
a secure method of reclosing the packaging. In an effort to offer a value to the consumers,
P&G expanded the product range to include a 120 count package in many
European countries.
The stand-up pouches are equipped
with a clear 'window' in the film to
ensure the consumer will easily recognize
the production the supermarket shelves.
An additional 'window' in the film is
used in the area of the slider closure to
attract the consumer's attention to the
convenient Slide-Rite® closure system
supplied by Pactiv.
'We need a closure that offers both, a
secure protection as well as a high level
of convenience,' comments Olivier De
Brauwer of P&G Marketing. 'Pactiv's
experience in slider technology of more
than 20 years flowed directly into this
project. With its well-engineered Slide-
Rite® system Pactiv responds to the
requirements of our company.'
The Slide-Rite® reclosure offers a
high level of reliability. Even if the packaging
is frequently opened and reclosed
the tabs which are additionally wrapped
in a water-soluble technical film are protected
against humidity. The fragrance is
preserved until the last tab is used. At the
same time the consumer benefits from
the convenience provided by the slider
closure, which facilitates an easy access to
the tabs.
The stand-up pouches have been created
in close cooperation with P&G,
Pactiv and the packaging machine manufacturer
UVA at Eindhoven. UVA integrated
the new Pactiv Slide-Rite® model
SR-T100 into an existing vertical formfill-seal
packaging line of the Newton-
TX-series. The integration allows the
Slide-Rite® closure system components
to be sealed into the packaging inline.
The ergonomically designed slider
which is embedded in the ullage of the
stand-up pouches can be handled in a
comfortable and secure way. Another
important feature for P&G is that many
different bag sizes can be filled on the
form-fill-seal line.
Depending on the package size
requirements Procter & Gamble say that
they can respond very quickly and efficiently
to the individual market requirements.
The VFFS-line is very compact,
needing less space than conventional
horizontal packaging machines for
stand-up pouches, without sacrificing on
production speed. In cooperation with
UVA Pactiv's SR-T100 technology has
been designed to process Press-to-Close
closures as well as Slide-Rite® closures
on one bag-making machine. This flexibility
allows Pactiv and UVA to break
into many new markets.
14 CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080

Products and Branding
Novel ideas on brand awareness
for youngsters in Central Europe
There's nothing like a wide-scale marketing operating to enable consumers, particularly
youngsters, to identify with brands. Hoop Kofola, Czech producer of soft drinks for kids,
has relooked the packaging of Jupik, its cornerstone reference, and has aligned it with
an interactive campaign.
In a highly competitive context and a
constantly growing market, Hoop
Kofola, one of the main players in
Central Europe, is focusing on interactivity
with its young consumers. The
brand created the 'Jupik Team' - a group
of four virtual team members, each
endowed with special powers (strength,
IT genius, etc.). A website exists where
consumers can follow their adventures,
illustrated by the motto that can be
summed up as 'Together we are
stronger!'
Ten million bottles
With this device, Jupik soft drinks, available
on the market for the last two years,
intends to accentuate its visibility and
increase sales by enabling seven to fifteen
year olds to identify with the brand.
The operation features TV commercials,
point of sale events, a web competition
and brand new packaging, which is
where Sleever International steps in.
The group proposed a bespoke
Sleever® solution that fulfils three functions:
dressing the bottle and enhancing
the soft drink, consumer info with the
game announcement on the front and a
promotion by way of a thermochromic
printed peal-off label on the inner sleeve,
which can only be removed after the bottle
has been purchased. Once in possession
of this label, the player places it on
his or her computer screen and the
screen's heat reveals a code so that players
can move from one level of the game
to the next on the website.
The operation concerns some 10 million
bottles.
Sold in Czech Republic, Poland, and
Slovakia, the range features four 33ml
bottles, each of which is decorated with
the effigy of one of the four heroes, in
three languages.
The bottle design is the work of PND
Futura.
Technically challenging project
This project, which represented a genuine
technological challenge for Sleever
International, involved in particular
dressing the bottle - spherical in its
upper and very curved in its lower section,
and choosing and fixing the label.
The group proposed an SI-PET-
TG/050 film, because of its finish and
shrink properties - the bottle's complex
shape required a shrink rate in excess of
75 percent. The sleeve was printed in
eight colour helioengraving, one of
which a base white, to which was added
a simple micro-perforated access to the
peal-off label on the inner side of the
sleeve. Sleever Studio took care of the
pre-press stages and managed the
anamorphosis aspect, particularly
regarding the printing of the fruit and
the strip of colour between the bottle's
two curved sections. The firm also provided
the brand with advice relating to
the choice of label, thermochromic inks
and fixing the label.
CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080
15

Products and Branding
Nut producer
goes biodegradable
Innovia Films' high barrier compostable
cellulose-based material,
NatureFlex NK, has been chosen by an
Italian producer, New Factor, to wrap its
range of organic nuts and dried fruit -
Mister Nut Bio.
NatureFlex NK was launched in
2008 and offers not only biodegradability
and compostability, but also a moisture
barrier approaching that of coextruded
OPP. This means it has the
best moisture barrier of any single layer
biopolymer film currently available,
which has been achieved through
Innovia Films' unique coating technology.
New Factor was founded more than 50
years ago and is still owned today by the
Annibali family. From humble beginnings
in the agricultural seed sector to an
international concern with a multi-million
euro turnover, the company has gone
from strength to strength and currently
employs over 50 people at their plant in
Rimini. Markets served by New Factor
include Italy, Europe and Russia.
Outlining why New Factor chose
NatureFlex to package its Mister Nut
Bio range, Dr Fabrizio Pellegrini, Plant
Director stated, 'NatureFlex offers
protection for our product, as all good
packaging should. At the same time it
meets the eco-credentials for this organic
range and has fitted into our production
line process with minimal adjustment
needed.'
The new Mister Nut Bio brand
embodies naturalness and quality products
resulting from organic farming in
Italy, which are certified by Bioagricert
(the independent Italian body awarding
organic certification to food products).
New Factor collaborated with designer
and photographer, Marco Morosini,
for the creation of the pack and point of
sale box and with Innovia Films for the
choice of film to be used. The result is a
quality product brought to market in a
new eye catching pack comprising of
biodegradable and compostable
NatureFlex film and a biodegradable
cardboard label.
NatureFlex was an obvious solution
for the packaging in this application as
the film begins life as a natural product -
wood - and breaks down at the end of its
lifecycle in a home compost bin (or
industrial compost environment) within
a matter of weeks. It also offers advantages
for packing and converting such as
inherent deadfold and anti-static properties,
high gloss and transparency, resistance
to grease and oil, good barrier to
gases and aromas, print receptive surface
and a wide heat-seal range.
NatureFlex films are certified to
meet both the European EN13432 and
American ASTM D6400 standards for
compostable packaging. The wood-pulp
is sourced from managed plantations
from referenced suppliers operating
Good Forestry principals (FSC or equivalent).
NatureFlex films typically have
a renewable biobased content of some 95
percent by weight of material.
'With its excellent barrier properties,
NatureFlex NK fills a major gap in the
biomaterials market. Now dry, moisturesensitive
foods can also be wrapped using
a compostable solution. We anticipate
this will open up a host of new opportunities
both for NatureFlex on its own,
or as part of a laminate solution with
other biofilms,' exclaims Andy
Sweetman, Innovia Films' Business
Development & Sustainable Technology
Manager.
NatureFlex NK is a transparent,
general purpose packaging grade suitable
for various applications eg dried foods
(biscuits, cereals, crisps, snack bars etc).
The product is also ideal for lamination
to other biofilms. NatureFlex NK is
available in 20, 23, 30, 45 micron thicknesses
and can be used for a variety of
pack formats - VFFS, flow wrap, twistwrap
and overwrap.
16 CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080

Products and Branding
Nivea packaging
upgraded
Beiersdorf has upgraded the packaging
for Nivea for Men in order to compete
on the shelf with similar products.
The new Nivea For Men range offers a
facial skincare solution consisting of five
products : DNAge Anti-Age
Moisturiser, Gradual Tan Summer Look
Moisturiser, Cool Kick Gel, Energy Gel
Q10 and Q10 Anti-Crinkle.
Brand owner Beiersdorf wanted a distinctive
packaging format that would
ensure optimum recognition across the
new range, as well as delivering measured
dosing and convenient dispense.
The specially designed headpiece construction
accentuates the overall pack
appearance with a 'masculine' redesign.
The dispensing head is raised to give it
prominence, an effect enhanced by the
Closure devised for
upside down storage
use of a clear overcap. An indented band
separates the headpiece from the container
body to further emphasise its bold
look.
Injection moulded in PP random
copolymer, the jar is supplied in blue and
grey variants, with colour-matched labels
applied by Beiersdorf to the outer jar
completing the eye-catching packaging
solution.
'Nivea For Men is a prestigious and
popular brand, so our packaging must
offer the highest standard in terms of
functionality and aesthetics,' comments
Kurt Mählmann of Beiersdorf.
The new Nivea for Men dispensing
system has already been launched
throughout Europe.
Plasticum is marketing a new standard
flip-top closure with a diameter of 48
mm. The product incorporates a silicon
valve to optimise the control during dispensing.
The closure is suitable for food
applications, also when the bottles are
stored top-down.
The closure is fitted with the
MaxiDose technology, a patented valve
technique developed by Plasticum. The
silicon valve includes a crossed slit to
provide a dispensing orifice. It opens
gradually whilst squeezing the bottle and
offers a fully controlled and clean dispensing.
This valve solution suits many
different viscosities and bottle geometries.
The closure lid can be opened easily
with just one hand. It has a smooth and
glossy surface, whereas the body part features
a ribbed surface. The product can
also be supplied with non valve orifices,
such as a 10 mm opening and a star
opening. The manufacturers claim that
all kinds of sauces and dressings can be
dispensed cleanly, from mustard to
ketchup and mayonnaise.
CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080
17

Technology
Accurate cheese weighing
reducing waste
Austrian dairy product manufacturing company Berglandmilch has invested in a multihead
weigher and checkweigher enabling it to pack grated cheese accurately into bags
to within one gram of target weight.
Berglandmilch GmbH is the largest
milk-processing company in
Austria, offering well-known brands
such as Schärdinger, Desserta and Fidus,
and has a market leading 60 percent
share of the cheese market.
Berglandmilch's Gienberg site operates
two processing lines and is the company's
central packing facility for a wide
range of grated cheese. The company's
aim was to supply the product to the
retail trade in resealable bags. In order to
weigh the grated cheese, with its sticky
consistency, Berglandmilch needed a
highly efficient multihead weigher.
Accuracy was of particular importance,
as every gram of excess weight in the bag
means wasted product, which would
amount to around EUR40,000 per year.
Berglandmilch turned to Ishida
Europe for a solution who then integrated
a multihead weigher into the packing
line, along with a checkweigher.
The cheese is first fed in blocks to the
line via a conveyor belt and is then precut
and grated. An ascending conveyor
transports the product up into the air
and the cheese is continuously fed to the
weigher through a chute from above. A
vibration system ensures a controlled and
gentle flow of product to the weigh hoppers.
The flow of product to the trays on
the dispersion table is controlled by a
load cell and the intensity of the vibrations
of the vibratory feeder troughs is
constantly adjusted automatically.
The 14-head weigher works according
to the combination weighing principle
whereby the built-in computer instantaneously
calculates all possible weight
combinations in the available weigh
hoppers and selects the one combination
(typically three to four weigh hoppers)
that comes closest to the target weight.
The hoppers are made from stainless
steel with embossed surfaces which prevents
cheese from sticking to them.
The weigher is in use five days a week
at Berglandmilch in two-shift and threeshift
mode. With every single variety of
cheese that is processed, a throughput of
60 weighments a minute is achieved.The
multihead weighs so precisely that the
level of giveaway is no more than one
gram per bag.
Pre-set weight specifications for the
different cheese varieties can be easily
called up via the touch screen, allowing
fast changeovers and meaning that only
one to two employees are needed to
operate the entire packing line.
'The precision and speed of the
weigher are impressive and the potential
output is so high that we have not yet
been able to make full use of it,' comments,
Alois Kronberger, Head of
Production, Berglandmilch GmbH. 'The
investment is paying for itself more
quickly than we had anticipated.'
The checkweigher delivers a maximum
output of 270 weighments per
minute and features a fully integrated
metal detector.
For Berglandmilch, the primary
motive in purchasing the checkweigher
was to establish an additional safeguard
and prevent complaints. Alois
Kronberger says: 'Contamination almost
never occurs, but customers appreciate
very high safety standards.'
18 CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080

Technology
Serbian washing powder manufacturer
improves packaging efficiency
Serbian manufacturer Beohemija has optimised its powder detergent operation through
accurate weighing before packaging which at the same time has increased speed and
therefore efficiency.
Founded in 1991, Beohemija manufactures
liquid and powder washing
detergents and liquid household cleaners
for the Serbian and wider Balkan market.
Following its acquisition of a complete
powder detergent factory, and the
brands Duel and Talas, the company has
become the regional leader in powdered
detergents with a 45 percent Serbian
market share and a growing export business
into the EU.
Beohemija's five powder packaging
lines operate seven days a week, producing
220 tonnes of product a day. The
majority is packed into 3kg polyethylene
bags using a belt dosing system and bagmakers
that, typically, operate at 15
weighments / bags per minute.
Accuracy which could be improved
Despite an apparent high accuracy of
around 2.5g per 3kg bag and a weight
variation (standard deviation) of about
2.5 - 5g, Beohemija felt that the accumulated
product giveaway could still be
improved to be more acceptable for such
a modern, efficient plant. At the same
time, the company was concerned that its
belt dosing system required regular
cleaning and belt replacement, a significant
cause of downtime that restricted
the company's ability to meet steadily
increasing production demand.
At the Interpack 2008 exhibition in
Düsseldorf, Beohemija was introduced
to Ishida's new Cut-gate Weigher,
specifically developed for the controlled
weighing and gentle handling of freeflowing
granular products. Ishida claims
that it is three times more accurate than
conventional filling or dosing systems
and they say that it is also designed to
preserve particle size and structure for
optimum product quality (for example,
to retain the active ingredients in detergent
powders) as well as a significant
reduction in dust emissions.
Machine in action
Product is constantly dropped via an
infeed chute into the hopper, which is
programmed to discharge about 85 percent
of the target weight (the 'coarse
weight') into the weigh hopper directly
underneath. The hopper then closes just
enough to allow a drizzle of product
through to 'top up' the weigh hopper
(the 'fine weight'), until the target weight
has been reached and the correct amount
of product can be discharged into the
packaging machine.
After a site visit and data collected
from trials, Beohemija invested in a 3-
head model and a new vertical bagmaker.
Following installation, Ishida trained
nine operators across three shift-patterns
to enable the customer to operate and
maintain the machinery constantly.
Accuracy reducing loss
Beohemija has undertaken extensive
analysis of the accuracy and performance
of the machine and concluded that payback
on investment can be achieved
within one year.
Accuracy has increased to 1g per 3kg
bag (0.03 percent) and the weight variation
has been narrowed to between only
1.2 - 1.5g. The speed of dosing has also
increased from 15 to 22 wpm, and a further
increase to 25 wpm has only been
prevented by the speed limitations of the
bagmaker.
Downtime due to maintenance has
been reduced significantly: the old
weighing system took about 45 minutes
per day to clean, whereas Beohemija says
that 15 minutes per day is sufficient to
clean this weigher. In addition, the
weigher requires no more space than the
old belt dosing system.
Dragan Rakic, production manager
and deputy director of Beohemija claims
'We were able to reduce both our giveaway
by about 1.5g per bag and the
weight variation to only 0.3g, which we
initially could not believe was possible.
'Since its installation eight months ago,
the weigher has worked perfectly. We
haven't required any spare parts and all
of our operators are confident they can
keep the machine running day in day
out.'
CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080 19

Technology
Granite based labeling machine
introduced at Label Expo
At Label Expo Europe 2009, the Gallus Group launched what they claim is a new era for
the cost-effective manufacture of commodity product decoration solutions with the
market launch of the Gallus ECS 340. The press is based on a robust core of technical
granite.
Technical granite is used as the basis
of Gallus ECS 340.
'Thanks to its extremely high loadbearing
capacity, technical granite is
ideal for use in machine construction. It
is responsible, among other things, for
the user-friendly design of the Gallus
ECS 340. The printing units are suspended
on the granite structure, allowing
the printer easy access and thus ensuring
ease of operation,' explains Stefan
Heiniger, Vice-President Research and
Development of the Gallus Group.
'What's more, granite is a natural raw
material whose use has a very positive
impact on the CO2 balance of the Gallus
ECS 340.The eco-friendly design of the
Gallus ECS 340 is underpinned by the
ease with which the granite can be recycled
once the press reaches
the end of its life cycle,'
adds Heiniger.
Waste reduction
For labels with limited finishing
requirements in
commodity applications
(such as food and pharmaceuticals)
substrate costs
can account for up to 50
percent of the label's total
cost. This means that the
amount of waste produced
impacts strongly on the
margin of a job.
Gallus says that the web
length measures just over 11 meters for
an 8-colour machine which means that
the machine quickly gets into register
although it has no registry control at all.
One of the first Gallus ECS 340
presses has been in action at Barthel
GmbH in Essen since mid-2009, primarily
for the production of food labels.
Barthel believe that the machine has
reduced paper waste.
Short web path
Gallus say that the result of adjustments
made during production is visible immediately
and facilitates an extremely efficient
workflow due to the short web
path. The dynamic feed ensures that the
print image is not altered when speeds
are changed, thus ensuring consistency.
Plate cylinders and anilox rollers are
designed as sleeves, thus enabling quick
changeovers. There is also a chambered
blade system, so that inks can also be
changed quickly. The press, which comes
with full servo drive technology, is also
equipped with cooled impression cylinders.
No exhaust
The machine does not need an exhaust
system thanks to a new development in
the UV system. The UV dryers are fully
encapsulated and watercooled so that no
air extraction is required. This results in
low noise levels.
'The press' success even before the
official market launch surprised us all,'
says Felix Egger, head of Sales &
Marketing at the
Gallus Group.
‘We have already
sold six presses. The
functionality of the
Gallus ECS 340,
which was developed
based on numerous
discussions and surveys
with our customers,
undoubtedly
satisfies the demand
for the cost-effective
production of commodity
labels.'
20 CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080

Analysis
Growth for converted flexible packaging
forecast to be 3.5 percent per year
World demand for converted flexible packaging is forecast to reach over 19 million
metric tons in 2013.
Factors contributing to rising
demand will include growth in food
and beverage production, which represents
the largest market by far. In addition,
cost, performance and source
reduction advantages, as well as ongoing
developments in high-barrier resins and
value-added features, will continue to
favor flexible packaging products over
their rigid counterparts. Gains will be
limited by the mature state of the packaging
industry in developed areas such
as the US, Western Europe and Japan,
where the main markets for flexible
packaging are well-established.
Material downgauging will also restrain
volume gains. These and other trends
are presented in World Converted
Flexible Packaging, a new study from
The Freedonia Group, a Clevelandbased
industry research firm.
The fastest increases will occur in the
world's developing regions. Asia, Latin
America, Eastern Europe and the
Africa/Mideast region will all outpace
the global average. Population growth
and greater urbanization (except in
Eastern Europe), industrialization
trends, and expanding international
trade will support advances in these
regions' generally underdeveloped packaging
sectors.
Some of the best gains are expected in
China, which has surpassed Japan to
become the world's second largest converted
flexible packaging market
(behind the US); and India, which will
benefit from strong growth in domestic
output and consumer product markets.
Rapid gains are also expected in Russia
and Indonesia, which will benefit from
greater investment in state-of-the-art
manufacturing equipment, resulting in
improved product quality.
Plastic films, which account for
almost three-quarters of global converted
flexible packaging material demand,
will continue to make inroads at the
expense of paper and aluminum foil.
Plastics will benefit from a superior
price/performance profile, versatility,
and efforts to improve sanitation and
extend product shelf lives in the food
and beverage, pharmaceutical and personal
care markets. In addition, developments
in flexible packaging films,
such as breathable properties,
biodegradable films and high-barrier
resins, will support demand in new and
existing applications, particularly in the
food and pharmaceutical industries.
Novel value-added features, including
microwaveable pouches, resealable
stand-up pouches and pouring spouts,
will reflect increasing consumer preference
for convenience oriented processed
food, especially in developed countries.
Photo: Alcan Packaging
CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080
21

Analysis
PET collection increased
in Europe last year
Petcore publishes PET collection figures for 2008 - European PET bottle collection
increases by more than 11 percent
Petcore has announced that European
post-sorting PET collection reached
1.26m tonnes in 2008, an increase of
more than 11 percent on 2007.
The overall collection rate in 2008 rose
by nearly 5 percent, from over 41 percent
to 46 percent, of all PET bottles on the
market.
The overall share of fibres as an end
use for recycled PET decreased from 47
percent to 45 percent, although the tonnage
processed continued to grow. The
sheet market tonnage fell slightly to 22
percent. Blowmoulding continued to
grow with more than 20 percent going to
this outlet in 2008. The tonnage used in
strapping increased strongly again in
2008 to use more than 11 percent of the
total flake.
Exports to the Far East rose to nearly
17 percent of collected PET and the
tonnage exported increased by 20 percent.
A relatively small amount of baled
PET bottles (

Analysis
Demand for BOPP films
continues in Eastern Europe
Demand for bi-oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film in Western Europe suffered a 3.1 per
cent fall in volume in 2008 following recessionary pressures and changes in purchasing
patterns, according to a new study by PCI Films Consulting. World BOPP Film Market
Trends 2008 notes that this rate of growth contrasts starkly with the seven percent
growth experienced by BOPP film markets in Asia.
In the first half of 2008, the rapid
increase in world oil and PP resin
prices stimulated BOPP film demand in
the 781,000 tonne European market as
buyers stocked ahead of expected price
rises. However, in the second half of the
year, oil prices collapsed and buyers ran
down film stocks, which dampened
demand. With the world economy
entering a recession at the same time,
BOPP film producers found the extra
volume gained earlier in the year was
more than matched by reduced demand
in the second half.
Growth in demand in CEE region
Elsewhere, the USD15 billion world
BOPP film industry experienced more
positive buyer behaviour. Growth in
demand was seen in Eastern Europe,
thanks to investment in retailing, food
processing and new converting equipment.
In South East Asia, especially
India, growth was stimulated by
increased availability of film.
Surprisingly, even North America experienced
a 3 per cent growth in demand in
2008, owing to the buoyant Mexican
market, whereas demand in Central and
South America remained relatively stable.
During the year, supply and demand in
China's 1.8 million tonne market
became more balanced, encouraging
suppliers to plan the next expansion
phase of their industry. One leading
manufacturer of film extrusion equipment
has already sold 10 new lines to
China in 2009, equivalent to 375,000
tonnes of new capacity.
For buyers of BOPP film, PCI's report
also confirms that the Middle Eastern
BOPP film industry is expected to
emerge as a significant regional production
centre in the future, doubling its size
in the next three years. One of the major
factors driving this growth is the support
given by regional governments to downstream
industries, which are capable of
adding value to oil assets. PP resin production,
film extrusion, flexible packaging
and food processing are all industries
targeted for expansion in the region.
Producers forecast increased growth
In noting this trend, Simon King, report
co-author comments, 'Middle Eastern
BOPP film producers are confident of
strong regional demand growth from
flexible packaging customers and
increased opportunities to export volume
based on their lower costs of production.
While not questioning the long term
viability of these plants, our analysis suggests
that in the short term they will
have to be very strongly export-focused
to provide high production efficiencies'.
Over the next five years PCI notes that
there will be a strategic shift in the balance
of power away from the traditional
suppliers of BOPP film. Treofan and
ExxonMobil, previously the main market
leaders, have had to make room for
new players such as Dubai-based
Taghleef Industries and others emerging
in India and China. In the last five years,
Taghleef has invested in new low-cost
equipment and also bought regionally
based assets such as Radici Film, to
emerge as one of the world's largest
BOPP film producers with a world-wide
network of supply.
In the next five years, an additional 2.3
million tonnes of new BOPP film capacity
is expected to be commissioned,
expanding the industry by a third, which
will result in the Top 20 World Producer
rankings looking very different to that of
today.
CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080
23

Events
Six trade fairs
in six weeks!
by Alan Heath, Publisher, CEE Packaging
A personal account of visits to drinktec, Label Expo, Fach Pack, Empack Saint
Petersburg, Agroprodmash and the Millionaire’s Fair.
It seems to me that everyone wants to
have their own events in autumn
which means a lot of travelling for those
of us whose job is to distribute magazines
at trade fairs. However this year,
the events took place earlier than last
year and September and October is a
much nicer time to be travelling than
November.
The first event of the season was in the
Things are going to get better
Ukraine but as it was my mother's birthday
at the same time I did not go. So I
kicked off the season at drinktec.
Munich
Germany is of course a very easy country
to travel through. Probably the easiest. I
travelled from Hannover to Munich for
the fair on the first day - Monday, 14
September 2009. It was raining most of
the day and when one is carrying a vehicle
full of magazines, that means that
slow speeds are required. So I arrived
somewhat later than I would have liked.
I missed most of the first day because of
my travelling but I understand that it
was quite quiet anyway for most people.
However as the fair got underway the
number of visitors increased. The fair
was huge and six days for me was about
The organisers of drinktec 2009 claim
that they managed to gather together
the top decision makers in the international
beverage and liquid food industry
in Munich. At the same time they
believe that they saw evidence of the
light at the end of the tunnel of recession.
For example, Volker Kronseder,
Chairman of Krones AG and President
of the Advisory Board of drinktec 2009,
described how he saw the mood in the
halls: 'People are no longer paralysed
with shock, life is coming back into the
sector.' It is a view he shares with many
of his colleagues in the sector. Menno
Holterman from Norit also sees light on
the horizon after drinktec 2009.
'There´s more appetite for investment
again, so long as the ROI is right. We
have signed up a number of contracts.'
The trade fair attracted around
60,000 visitors. Whereas foreign visitor
numbers increased over 2005, the
amount of visitors from Germany fell to
27,000.
For Messe München, the organiser of
drinktec 2009, Managing Director
Norbert Bargmann, drew the following
conclusion: ‘Overall we are very satisfied.
In the run-up to drinktec we, too,
had to contend with the global economic
crisis. Nevertheless we have succeeded
in bringing the top ranks of the
beverage and liquid food industry to
Munich - and that is the critical thing
for the exhibitors. The high number of
visitors from outside Germany, and the
very broad spread of countries they represent,
shows just how highly regarded
drinktec is around the world. The drop
we have seen in German participation
is due primarily to budget cuts and the
resulting limitations on business travel.
Yet, from Germany, too, all the key
players in the beverage and liquid food
industry were represented, but no
longer with the same size of team.
In terms of visitor satisfaction, too,
drinktec was able to make further gains.
A survey of visitors, conducted by TNS
Infratest, turned in top results across the
board. Almost all the visitors (96 percent)
to drinktec 2009 described the
event as "excellent to good".
Furthermore, 64 percent of the
exhibitors and 56 percent of the visitors
expect the economic situation to
improve. This is considerably more positive
than expectations after drinktec
2005.
24 CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080

Events
I do not know what this is but I hope this gentleman did not drink all of the contents.
right although I appreciate for some it is
very long. The new event on Oils and
Fats clearly needs to be developed but
the main event was excellent with packaging
being the number one component
of the fair. I also very much appreciated
the lengths to which the fair organisers
tried to assist visitors and indeed how
friendly they were.
If I were to pick trends I would focus
on down sizing and light weighting as
being the main issues. Knocking a couple
of grams off a plastic cap may not
seem like much but times that by the
amount sold every year and that is really
quite significant! Another clear trend is
the move away from glass in the drinks
segment except of course at the very top
The end of drinktec coincides with
the beginning of the Oktoberfest -
the Munich beer festival. Wonderful
atmosphere with many people in traditional
Bavarian costume. I only
had my traditional driving costume
unfortunately!
CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080
25

Events
end. Another trend I saw was the production
of flat - or nearly flat - crates for
carrying bottles. This is an idea I first
heard of only last year and now it seems
as though everyone is doing it!
The end of drinktec coincides with the
beginning of the Oktoberfest - the
Munich beer festival. It was wonderful
to see people, especially young people, in
traditional Bavarian costume going to
the event. In view of my timetable, I was
only able to see the first evening but
there was a wonderful atmosphere in
fantastic weather.
Brussels
The next day I set off for Brussels to go
to Label Expo. This event did not start
until the Wednesday but I had arranged
appointments in the Belgian capital and
aimed to be there for first thing Monday
morning. That gave me a lovely Sunday
to travel there and explore a bit of the
towns of Bellheim in Germany as well as
Mondorf les Bains and Luxembourg.
Label Expo was also a huge event -
much larger than I expected. Most fairs
are much smaller! Again I would say the
four days was about right although the
final Saturday was very quiet. Star
attractions for me would be a granite
based press produced by the Swiss Gallus
together with some innovations in compostable
labels.
Of course Brussels is also the capital of
This is the Hewlett Packard stand at Label Expo as you may have
guessed from the large Epson sign! HP were showing off a new machine
but very impressive - and perhaps the most impressive thing I saw on the
entire trip - was the mindreader HP had to demonstrate their new equipment.
I volunteered to be his guinea pig for some mind reading. He asked
me to write down my PIN number and wrote down four figures at random.
As soon as I written them down and sealed the envelope, I forgot the order
of the numbers! Was it 7621 or 7612. I could not remember! When the
mindreader came to say what the numbers were he apologised to the audience
and said he could not tell if it were.... 7612 or 7621 ..... And only I
knew that I could not remember. I would say that he is much more impressive
that the fortune teller from Tambov in Russia who at around the same
time was making predictions to my then girlfriend. Apparantely she managed
to describe me very well, but she also suggested that I would no
longer be alive at the end of November 2009. Oh dear!
The Atomium is located next to
the expo centre in the north of
Brussels.
One of the halls at Label Expo. The size of the event was very
impressive and labeling is clearly a much more complex business
than one may initially think!
26 CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080

Events
Europe and there wee all sorts of organisations
and companies that wanted to
see me whilst I was in town. So in all I
was kept very busy and had a great time
into the bargain!
After being taken for a wonderful
night out by one of my partners in
Brussels it was time for another day
sightseeing. Being a historian of the second
world war, I had wanted to see the
Belgian fortress of Eban Emael for some
time. In 1939 it was the biggest fortress
in the world. I had earlier written something
sharply condemning the commander
of the fortress although I had
never been there before. I was amazed by
its size. All the guided tours were in
Dutch - a language I do not speak - but
as it was a subject I knew well I got the
gist of what was happening. At the end
of the tour, there were tours in English
and French (which I do speak) but I did
not repeat it.
The afternoon was quite advanced by
the time I left Eban Emael but I was able
to take in a drive in the Ardennes which
was most pleasant before it got too dark
to see anything.
Nuremburg
Fach Pack was the next stop. This is of
course perhaps the most important event
of the year in the European packaging
calendar. I aimed to arrive on the
Monday but unfortunately Nuremburg
does not offer the same facilities as
Munich for visitors and has a way to
catch up. Working there is nowhere near
as easy!
Monday night saw the awards ceremony
for the German Packaging Prize
chiefly memorable for me for the excellent
pumpkin soup served afterwards.
Some of the products were also quite
interesting and have been highlighted in
this issue.
Fach Pack is also a huge event. Three
days, in my opinion, is not enough and I
would have been happier if it had been
extended to the Friday too. The main
issue seemed to me to be sustainability
although branding and means of catching
the customer's eyes through attractive
design also figured prominently.
I stayed in a charming hotel in the
centre with a walk through the old town
past the cathedral and market square to
the metro. I have been to Nuremburg
FachPack received 33,846 trade visitors which was almost the same
number as in 2007 with almost the same number of exhibitors. Given the
economic situation that was quite an achievement.
Seventeen percent of visitors came from outside Germany, most of whom
came from Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Italy,
Poland and France. According to a survey commissioned by the fair organisers,
visitors came mainly from industries such as food, beverages, pharmaceuticals,
cosmetics, packaging and logistics related services, automotive
engineering and components, chemicals, printing, paper processing,
electrical equipment manufacture and plastic processing.
The main reason for visiting is to obtain information about new products,
followed by market orientation, cultivating existing business contacts and
paving the way for new ones, exchanging views, training, preparing for
investment decisions and concluding contracts. More than 62 % of the
FachPack visitors were especially interested in packaging materials and
supplies, 43 % in packaging machinery, followed by packaging ancillaries,
labelling and marking equipment, services and package recycling.
Intralogistics experts sourced information mainly about storage and orderpicking
systems (51 %), ancillary loading, transport and storage equipment
(43 %), conveying systems, and identification, coding and product security
systems.
CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080
27

Events
many times, yet I have yet to explore my
way around the medieval centre and the
city walls.
From Nuremburg I had an appointment
near Heidelburg on the Friday
evening - I took a leisurely drive there.
The following day I had a wonderful
drive through southern Germany ending
up at a petrol station near Lodz in
Poland. This is one of my favourite
places and all travellers have them. A
place I can sit and eat as well as work.
The internet is fast enough and I sat
there until I could work no longer and
only wanted to sleep. Then I went to the
car and slept before setting off for
Warsaw the following morning.
St Petersburg
Leaving my car in Warsaw, I took the
plane to Saint Petersburg where I
attended the Empack event. This was
the first event organised by easy Fairs in
Russia along with their Russian partner
Restec. The event was small as may be
expected from a first but it did seem to
attract a number of buyers and was
undoubtedly a good foundation to build
future events. I gave a speech on the second
day. A lot of people asked me questions,
mainly to do with the perception
of ecological packaging as though they
expected a major shake up of legislation
in Russia. The conclusion I came to
from this questioning was that many in
Russia believe the EU to be far more
concerned about the environmental
effects of packaging than it really is.
I did not have much time for tourism
there but what little I had I put to very
good use! Saint Petersburg is amazing!!
Incredibly attractive, huge .. so different
from Moscow. I only had three days
there so saw very little but I am very
grateful for what I managed to see! Such
a beautiful city!
Moscow
From there it was train to Moscow. I
had an overnight sleeper which was
much better than those I am used to.
There were two of us in the very comfortable
compartiment and with breakfast
cost RUR2,500 (EUR60). Certainly
highly recommended.
I had been warned not to take a taxi at
the station. I would have taken the
metro but when you are hauling a stack
of magazines with you it is not so easy.
Fortunately negotiating skills and the
good sense to seek someone in the street
came to my rescue.
I had insisted in seeing Saint
Petersburg even though it was pouring
with rain. I said to myself (to use the
German expression) that I am not made
of sugar. Maybe not. But I can get ill.
And the result was that I got a bit ill!
However it was not enough to stop me
visiting the AgroProdMash event in
Moscow the following week.
This is the first time that I have
attended this event and to me its theme
was not very well defined. It also seemed
as though various types of companies
were mixed up together. Organisation
was not up to German standards, I had
to ask 18 people before I found the press
office! Reactions were mixed although
one friend told me that he was really
impressed by the potential business that
came his way.
The following week was the
Millionaire's Fair. All I can say about
this is that anyone involved in professional
packaging of luxury items should
keep away. No buyers seemed to attend,
just those (like myself ) who jealously
want to see how the rich live - or are percieved
to live. This show is a complete
waste of time. If you really want to see
luxury lifestyels try watching some
repeats of Dallas or enjoy a James Bond
film on your DVD!
So that is another long adventure. I
left on 5 September and returned on 27
October. A very long tour. There are
many other trade fairs that I will be
attending but it will be a long time
before so many are so close together!
If you are interested in seeing any
more of the tourist elements of this journey
then please visit my private internet
site www.youtube.com/alanheath where
I have placed the many amateur films I
made during these six weeks!
Events
21 - 24 January,
Gastropack,
Bratislava, Slovakia
26 - 29 January
Upakovka,
Moscow, Russia
31 January - 3 February
Prosweets,
Cologne, Germany
1 - 2 Februay,
Pharmapack
Paris, France
3 - 4 February
easyFairs® Verpackung Austria
Messe Wels, Austria
10 - 11 February
easyFairs®Verpackung Nord
Hamburg Messe,, Germany
23 - 26 February
Pack Fair,
Kiev Exhibition Center, Ukraine
24 - 25 February
Packaging Innovations
Birmingham, UK
2 - 5 March
easyFairs®Embax Print,
Brno, Czech Republic
6 - 8 April,
Foodpack St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Russia
13 - 14 April,
easyFairs® Packaging Innovations
Warsaw. Poland
15 - 18 April
Cosmopack
Bologna Fair Centre, Italy
21 - 22 April
easyFairs® Verpackung Schweiz
Zurich, Switzerland
5 - 6 May
easyFairs® Verpackung Sud
Sinsheim, Germany
28 CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080

Company profile
Company profile :
Unterland Flexible Packaging
This year Mondi Consumer Flexibles celebrates the fiftieth
anniversary of its largest production plant, the Unterland
Flexible Packaging GmbH. The company located in
Kufstein (Austria), was founded in 1959 by Dr. Alfred
Labek and has continuously grown to be a specialist for
the production and processing of film made from
polyethylene and polypropylene. Today it is one of the
largest producers of plastic film in Europe.
L
ong-standing experience and individual
solutions are the key to success
since the establishment of company
in the 1950's. 'Our customers especially
appreciate the innovative competence,
the flexibility, the quality of service and
our reliability', Jakob Mosser, CEO
Mondi Consumer Flexibles states. And
continues, 'in the upcoming years the
plant will have a stronger focus on processing,
printing and converting. With
this, the entire production process can be
carried out in our plant - establishing an
even more competitive edge.'
In 1972, a new, larger production site
was built in Langkampfen, near Kufstein
and took already then a pioneering role
for LLDPE (linear low density polyethylene),
shrink and stretch film as well as
an early decision to invest in stretchwrap
film for agricultural applications.
Today, Unterland Flexible Packaging
is one of the largest producers of agricultural
stretch-wrap - also known as Agri
Stretch.
The company was certified for production
of film with clean room technology
as first plant in Austria.
CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080
29

Company profile
The production facility at Kufstein
in Austria.
Since then, high-quality castpolypropylene
(CPP) film is produced
for the medical and pharmaceutical as
well as the food industry and marketed
under the brand name Clean Cast
Technology®.
Since 2007 Unterland Flexible
Packaging GmbH is part of Mondi, a
global paper and packaging group, and
completes the product portfolio of the
business unit Consumer Flexibles within
the Europe & International division.
The reorientation of the company lead
to several modernisation projects and
investments in new technologies and
machinery, such as new multilayer extrusion
facilities, a 10-colour flexo-printing
machine and high-performance converting
equipment.
"Following the internal realignment
the site in Kufstein was established as
Consumer Flexibles competence centre
for "wicketed bags', plastic bags for the
food and hygiene industry. This has also
led to a reinforcement of our position in
Austria', Manfred Schlapps, Managing
Director of Unterland Flexible
Packaging explains.
One major success factor is the investment
in employees.The focussed schooling
and development of apprentices as
qualified production operators plays an
essential role. Continuous training and
education of all employees is a matter of
course. "A large number of our employees
has been working in the company for
many years and has a great wealth of
experience as well as new insights to help
shape the successful future of the company',
Manfred Schlapps points out.
The product portfolio of Unterland
Flexible GmbH contains transport,
safety and film packaging for industrial
products, agricultural packaging as well
as packaging for consumer goods and
medical engineering products. More
than 80 percent of sales by Unterland
Flexible Packaging are generated outside
of Austria, with increasing involvement
in the Asian and North American markets
in addition to the main sales markets
of Germany, Switzerland, Great
Britain, Scandinavia, Poland and
Hungary.
Unterland’s MD Manfred Schapps
30 CEE Packaging, www.ceepackaging.com Tel.: +48 22 2195466, +48 502 159080

“ LOOKING
FOR AN
UPTURN
AFTER THE
DOWNTURN”
AlleasyFairsshowsgiveyoualow-costall-inpackage–sodoingbusinessin
Europe’smostlucrativepackagingmarketswasnevereasier.
Buyers are back and they are looking for innovation.
easyFairs ®
PACKAGING
INNOVATIONS
easyFairs ®
FOOD-TO-GO
easyFairs ®
EMPACK
Warsaw
13 & 14 April 2010
Kraków
18 & 19 May 2010
St Petersburg
October 2010
IF ONLY ALL TRADE SHOWS WERE THIS EASY!
www.easyFairs.com

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