Key topics of discussions included advanced line performance, sustainable BOPE film solutions and materials, and easier line management through digitalization
After six years, NPE: The Leading Plastics Industry show, finally took place again in Orlando, Florida and attracted more than 2,000 exhibitors and 50,000 visitors during the five days of exhibition. Attendees could experience for the first time after COVID-Lockdown, again the latest technologies and breakthrough innovations, newest trends, and next-generation machinery.
Together with its local set-up Brueckner Group USA, Brückner Servtec presented newly developed local services and digitalization solutions for the American, Latin, and South American visitors supporting them to streamline their production & maintenance efforts. Thus, enabling in-depth discussion within a great booth atmosphere. Attended by around 200 guests from the plastics industry, also the customer event generated very positive feedback and strengthened customer relationships, with everyone enjoying the reunion.
Discussion Highlights: Local Clip and Chain Refurbishment and Lab Trials
Brückner Servtec had many in-depth customer talks focusing on its local clip and chain refurbishment facility in Dover, New Hampshire, and its related services for film transport systems such as the FOK 8.8 – a state-of-the-art high-speed sliding chain. At the certified refurbishment workshop customers’ TDO clips and chains are professionally overhauled with specialized equipment at the highest quality level. During NPE, this local service for both, Brückner and non-Brückner lines, stood out most in customer minds, preserving the line’s performance, process stability and uptime for maximum availability and minimized downtime.
A lot of enquiries also regarded Brückner’s possibilities to do local lab trials with the KARO batch laboratory stretching machine* and to work closely with Brückner for further film developments. To increase safety and efficiency, Brückner Servtec’s upgrade solutions for the KARO IV were also in high demand.
In addition, many customers were also highly interested in optimizing their operation and maintenance through further services such as line, process, or energy audits, spare parts or even personnel on-site training.
Continued focus on sustainability and digitalization
Numerous discussions, concentrated on keywords such as sustainability, circular economy, or resource conservation. The booth visitors showed great interest in Brückner’s advanced sustainable solutions for converting existing lines to the production of recyclable BOPE and monomaterial-multi-layer films. Also, market discussions on new and sustainable material compounds, such as PLA or PHA as well as innovations to save energy, use fewer raw materials, and improve recyclability reflected the latest trends in the industry.
Next to the mentioned sustainability topics also digitalization was a buzzword at the exhibition, thus the digital platform Brückner ONE with its new advancements lead to fruitful talks, enabling higher line availability and easier handling.
Reinforced position as a long-term partner in the market
The joint and powerful Brückner Group appearance was completed by the growing team of local sales and service specialists of Brueckner Group USA and resulted in a successful number of contacts and leads, enabling customer visits after the show for refining existing quotations.
Benjamin Sandelowsky (Vice President Service and Film Division, Brueckner Group USA) summarizes the NPE2024 participation as follows: "We finally met customers from several countries personally again, new ones, but also existing contacts and in many cases, we welcomed them like our own family! They see Brückner as a long-term partner in the market to work with and that is very unique in my opinion".
Thanks to all our customers, partners and friends who joined us for discussions at our booth and at our customer event – we look forward to the next NPE!
*A cutting-edge technology, which enables film producers to test monoaxial and biaxial films and sheets in the sequential as well as in the simultaneous stretching mode for process and technological developments
