News – Page 12 – PETplanet

Packaging specialist Alpla opens new plant in Thailand – Chachoengsao site includes manufacturing, product development and design centre

13 Feb 2025 Heike Fischer

Alpla is expanding in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific region and opening a second location in Thailand. The modern plant in Chachoengsao, near Bangkok, combines all production technologies, technical centre and STUDIOa, the one-stop-shop for design, on a 24,000 square metre site. The global packaging and recycling specialist is thus increasing capacities, expanding

Bottling / Filling Materials Packaging / Palletising

Vilsa-Brunnen replaces shrink wrap with adhesive dots

12 Feb 2025 Gabriele Kosmehl

Vilsa-Brunnen is the first German beverage manufacturer to eliminate shrink wrap on all its single-use bottles, replacing it with adhesive dots. With the introduction of the “VILSA NIX-PACK”, the company aims to redefine the classic six-pack [“NIX” meaning “nothing” in German, highlighting the absence of shrink wrap]. Instead of being held

People

NAPCOR appoints Srinivasan “Shankar” Prabhushankar as new Technical Director

11 Feb 2025 Heike Fischer

The National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) is pleased to announce the appointment of Srinivasan “Shankar” Prabhushankar as its new Technical Director, effective February 3, 2025. Shankar, who recently retired from Indorama Ventures after 22 years with the company, brings a wealth of experience in the PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic

Materials Recycling

MacroCycle raises $6.5M to commercialise upcycling technology with 80% less energy

10 Feb 2025 Gabriele Kosmehl

MacroCycle Technologies, a developer of a novel PET & polyester textile waste upcycling technology, announced the close of a $6.5M seed financing round. The round was led by Clean Energy Ventures and Volta Circle, with participation from KDT Ventures and Neotribe Ventures. MacroCycle will use the funding to grow its operations

Bottles / Bottle Making

Coca-Cola installs KHS InnoPET Blomax at its German Knetzgau plant

7 Feb 2025 Gabriele Kosmehl

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has made strides in energy conservation with the installation of KHS’ latest-generation InnoPET Blomax stretch blow moulding technology at its plant in Knetzgau, Germany. The new equipment replaces two older machines from 1998, with the goal of increasing energy efficiency and reducing operational costs. The InnoPET Blomax

People

New President of UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe

6 Feb 2025 Gabriele Kosmehl

UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe, the European trade association representing the soft drink industry, announced the appointment of Andrew McMillin, President of Western Europe Operations at The Coca-Cola Company, as the new President of the association. Commenting on his appointment, Mr. McMillin stated: “I am honoured to lead UNESDA and represent some

Materials

Avantium and EPC Engineering & Technologies collaborate to commercialise continuous PEF production technology

6 Feb 2025 Gabriele Kosmehl

Avantium N.V., a leader in renewable and circular polymer materials, has signed a collaboration with EPC Engineering & Technologies GmbH, an international technology provider as well as an engineering and plant construction company. This partnership aims to advance the continuous PEF polyester production technology, targeting plant capacities of 100 kt/a and beyond. The collaboration will

Events

PETtalk in São Paulo

5 Feb 2025 Gabriele Kosmehl

Leading global and Brazilian companies in the PET packaging market, along with their key executives and experts, will gather on March 24 in São Paulo for the 2025 edition of PETtalk – International PET Industry Conference. This year’s event will take place at the Grand Hyatt São Paulo. Promoted by the

People

Tomra Recycling announces leadership transition

4 Feb 2025 Gabriele Kosmehl

Tomra Recycling has announced that Katrin Fricke will succeed Dr Volker Rehrmann as the company’s new Executive Vice President and Head of Tomra Recycling. Dr Rehrmann has decided to retire, effective 31 May 2025, after a remarkable career pioneering optical systems for waste sorting within the recycling industry. He has been

Companies People

Telly Chauke appointed as new CEO at Petco

3 Feb 2025 Gabriele Kosmehl

One of South Africa’s leading producer responsibility organisations (PRO), Petco, has bid farewell to industry stalwart Cheri Scholtz and welcomed a new chief executive officer, Telly Chauke, as of January 1 this year. Chauke replaces long-standing CEO Scholtz, who has helmed the organisation since its incorporation in 2004 and led its

Bottles / Bottle Making Moulds / Mould Making

Sidel introduces new high production speed 100% rPET lightweight bottle base for still products

31 Jan 2025 Gabriele Kosmehl

StarLite-R STILL is a new bottle base that employs Sidel’s patented technology to ensure 100% recycled PET (rPET) integration, lightweighting, and high-speed production for water, juices, milk, and edible oil from 0.25l up to 2.5l. Mikael Derrien, Manager Packaging Innovations at Sidel, explains that mainstream food and beverage manufacturers aim to