Sheetplant

Tape systems can be added to conversion equipment, though this limits their use to one machine, or alternatively tapers can be used off-line as a second operation. By far the simplest alternative is to attach the system to the corrugator, and although this offers the possibility of high speed application of tape, it limits the use of tape to the cross-flute direction. The loss of BCT is said to be limited to a maximum of 6%, whereas perforating systems can lead to losses of up to 25% in case strength.

SuperCorrExpo 2008

SPA Chairman Graham Sutherland told the meeting that SuperCorrExpo, to be held in Atlanta USA in September 2008, is the largest trade show in the Western hemisphere catering for the corrugated industry. With over 200 exhibitors, SuperCorrExpo assembles all that is corrugated under the same roof and at the same time.

TAPPI’s Corrugated Division conference and the AICC Annual Meeting have both been timed to coincide with the event, although sessions will be timed so as not to conflict with exhibition opening times. Graham explained that there is a social aspect to the gathering, and Brunton Publications will be hosting International Visitor events.

Members were urged to give serious consideration to attending SuperCorrExpo, and there will be a link from the new SPA website for further information.

A Passage of Hope

SPA Committee Member Tim Gray craved the indulgence of the meeting and showed a DVD of his recent circumnavigation of Britain by catamaran. He had undertaken the voyage in order to raise funds to provide a toilet block for a small school in northern Thailand.

The voyage took 25 days, and a total of £7800 has so far been pledged, £4000 of which came from NPC and SPA members, and it is hoped that this sum will be ‘match funded’ by Rotary International.

The work of the CPI’s Corrugated Promotional Committee

Committee Member Richard Jarrett gave an account of the work of the above committee, formed two years ago and charged with the task of promoting the benefits of corrugated to users and specifiers, particularly in the fruit and vegetable sectors.

Four key projects have emerged:

• Work on a ‘common footprint’ for produce trays has resulted in the adoption in the UK of the AICC internationally recognised standard, in line with both Smurfit Kappa’s P84 Mixer and SCA’s Easy Stack system. Regrettably, this is not wholly compatible with the FEFCO standard, which will not allow for stacking of small trays on large, whereas the former standard does.
• The committee has had a presence within the Efficient Consumer Response group, which represents a collaboration of interested parties, not least the packaging manufacturers, within the entire supply chain.
• The committee has commissioned an investigation by Ceres Logistics into all aspects of the use of plastic returnable crates. The somewhat explosive findings are due to be presented to the CPI Council on October 17^th, after which a decision will be made on how to make best use of the report.

• The committee has been active n the promotion of the ‘Corrugated Recycles’ programme, and members are urged to make use of the internationally recognised logo on every box manufactured, and on every piece of company stationary.