GPCA honors innovators in plastics industry

The third edition of this prize saw an exceptionally high calibre of entries with 28 entrants all demonstrating innovation and creativity in the Gulf plastics sector. Six winners were selected by a seven member jury comprising the heads of plastics innovation and application centres of the GCC resin manufacturers, in addition to independent consultants. The awards were given during a formal ceremony held on April 7, the first day of GPCA PlastCon.

“The excellent quality of entrants at this year’s Plastics Innovation Awards is representative of the GCC’s investment in technical innovation which has had a profound effect on the region’s economy and education,  said Dr. Abdulwahab Al- Sadoun, Secretary General of the GPCA.

The awards recognise the efforts in innovation and the achievements made by plastic converters in the Middle East, and have had a positive impact on the growth of the winning organisation.

Mohammed Adnan Khan from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) was recognised in the Talent in Plastics - Student category, for his research into low cost and energy efficient plastic electronic products. Chosen from a shortlist of two other finalists from Saudi Arabia, Khan will be awarded a prize of AED10,000 to mark his achievement.

For the Talent in Plastics- Academics category, Professor Nadir Ahmed from IDVAC Ltd was the winner for his study in the development of gold colour metalized packaging film without the use of wet chemicals.

In the Plastic Conversion Processes category, packaging specialist company Schoeller Allibert was selected as the winner. A highly technical category, Schoeller Allibert was judged favourably for using innovative and sustainable methods in their production cycle for its Smartleaf product.

Additionally, NAPCO was the recipient of a special award in the Plastic Conversion Processes category for its innovation in attaining technical excellence in its manufacturing processes.

The final category was for Plastic Goods, for which there were two winners - FLEX Middle East was selected the winner for the packaging subcategory, while JRD International won for the construction and other industrNike Air Max 90 Womens Grey