Thermoforming technologies respond to thin wall packaging trends

WM Thermoforming Machinery presented its assessment of market trends based on the market information gathered by its team of area managers working with 30 agents who cover 56 different countries worldwide.

 

For the period 2014-2015, the company noted that  the market is looking for more personalized packaging solutions able to to come up with unique shapes, sizes and colors for a more personalized touch. WM Thermoforming also noticed a continuous growing demand for recycled and composted materials. 

 

The food industry in particular is demanding more transparent containers with higher clarity that are showing even better the characteristics of the final product. 

 

To summarize, the company found that  during the past years, the material applications have been changing with increased demand for polypropylene material.  It also noted the general preference for highly automated machines that run faster, more efficiently and at a lower cost.In terms of distribution, the biggest players are becoming bigger through new acquisitions while the niche distributors have to adjust their strategy in order to maintain their competitiveness. Foodservice operators are looking for product differentiation by offering sustainable products and new menus in order to respond to the changing demographics and consumption habits.

 

In response to these trends, WM has been providing in-line extrusion and thermoforming to assure better PP transparency for packaging. WM contributed to several successful projects in collaboration with renowned mold makers in order to ensure customers satisfaction.

 

Flexible machinery from WM are able to run small and medium productions due to the growing customized and downsized product packaging: WM Robot stacker and quick mold changes ensure 45-production change time. Reduction in resin cost  is achieved by using fillers or expanded material especially in PP material that is replacing materials such as EPS, PS, OPS. PET on the other hand is gaining some the PP products due to the lower density. WM in-line extruder and thermoforming line with in-mold trimming technology is a state-of-the-art solution for processing PP material and two colors with fillers in order to achieve close tolerance for food packaging products at a lower cost. The machinery guarantee lower energy consumtion as they are in compliance with the European Direction EuP2005/32/EC (Eco design of Energy-using Products). Labor cost reduction is put in effect since the system is fully automated and can operate with only one machine supervisor.