Leading in Films Technology and Service

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1 Research Extrusion Printing Technical Service & Project Development Slitting & Rewinding Consulting Raw Materials & Quality Management Laminating & Development Leading in Films Technology and Service Logistics

2 Consulting & Project Development Can products be protected even better? Do any specific hygiene requirements need to be observed? When developing a new film, these and many other issues have to be addressed right at the outset. In-depth consulting is, after all, a crucial cornerstone for the quality not only of our products but also of yours.

3 Head of Marketing/Sales Food South Georges Bassin: Many of our customers enjoy a special status in their markets a position they have only accomplished through individually tailored solutions. That s where we come in. We encourage our customers to entrust us with the development of purpose-made solutions. This approach precludes the use of inappropriate ready-made solutions. That means planning with foresight, making resources available on schedule, and thinking and acting on an entrepreneurial level. Food Medical Technology Films can and must be tailored In many areas of everyday life you are bound to find our products packaging and protective films for food and consumer goods, for medical and technical applications. Whether high-barrier or with defined transmission rates, whether highly transparent or with high-quality print 50 years of experience have taught us that no film is the same as another. Too different are the uses for which they are designed, too complex the individual requirements. Every film is truly tailor-made to suit a specific purpose. This individuality is your opportunity to stand out from your competitors. Before we embark on developing and manufacturing a new film, we are extremely inquisitive. The discussions we have with you will focus not only on product requirements and properties, but also on production processes and project phases. The more precisely we know your needs and the better we understand your markets, the better we will be able to come up with sophisticated film solutions that match your requirements in every respect. Many of the questions will already be answered during this phase, others will arise each step along the way. And we ll certainly find an answer. A promise is a promise.

4 The mix is crucial. The high quality and specific characteristics of our films and packaging products are Raw Materials & Quality Management to a large degree the result of selecting appropriate raw materials, processing them properly, and paying stringent attention to quality assurance.

5 R&D Laboratory Manager Dr. Angela Berner: In Wipak s laboratories around the world we gauge oxygen transmission rates, check mechanical properties such as puncture resistance, analyse whether the layer structure meets product requirements. In doing so, we collaborate closely with quality control and development departments as well as with renowned institutes. In addition we continually provide the production plants with qualityrelated data. Raw Materials & Quality Management Take the volume of a package, for instance. A certain amount of creativity is required to measure what needs to be measured. State-of-the-art laboratory technology is one module within this field. Another one is committed and experienced staff: industrial chemists and chemical technicians, engineers and laboratory assistants, and highly specialized experts such as food analysts, who keep a close eye on regulatory affairs. They all contribute their expertise and experience towards making Wipak films even better. This wealth of dedicated resources also benefits quality control and assurance twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Quality knows no respite at Wipak. Using only the best ingredients... When selecting raw materials we leave nothing to chance. Our experts constantly keep in close touch with our suppliers around the globe. New base materials are carefully verified and classified in our laboratories. Jointly with our suppliers each and every one of them accredited to recognized quality standards we devise new processing methods and quality assurance schemes so as to develop film formulations that give our customers a competitive edge.... and complying with international standards HACCP or AIB* the most rigorous international standards are our guidelines all along the line, encompassing quality management, hygiene, environmental protection and occupational safety. To give but one example: in our food packaging production we meet the strict US food safety regulations. And it almost goes without saying that all Wipak manufacturing units are certified in accordance with ISO 9001:2000. * HACCP - Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points. AIB - American Institute of Baking, rating: excellent.

6 Research & Development Raw materials plus technology plus service that s our success formula for unique films and packaging systems. Our development and production techniques are designed for uniting many different film properties, so that we can provide appropriate solutions.

7 Director R&D Wipak Group Esko Saaristo: Wipak s approach to innovation involves considering alternatives and scrutinizing our own processes from the customer s point of view. We achieve this by pooling vital resources and by bringing together specialists from research & development, production & technology as well as marketing & sales experts. This constitutes the core of our R&D efforts and provides the answer to the question: what level of performance is required in order to obtain an optimum product? Experience, commitment and creativeness When developing new film concepts we first of all dismiss any holistic approach to a film structure and instead we take a closer look at each individual layer. Every film layer has its own specific characteristics features that you can select, such as barrier properties, mechanical properties or the film s sealing performance. Using this profile, we then select the raw materials and processing methods, and assemble all the building blocks one by one. This process results in innovative products such as ingenious reclosable packaging systems, high-barrier films, oxygen scavenging films or safety applications. Criteria for innovative Research & Development Wipak has in-house R&D facilities at each of its locations. This enables us to respond rapidly and flexibly to our customers needs and to continuously upgrade our technologies and processes. It also means that we selectively invest in new production lines or adapt existing processes. A vital part is played by our pilot production facility, where we implement new ideas on a small scale to test whether scaled up production will be feasible. So, before things get serious, we can reliably answer questions such as: Are certain materials suitable for extrusion on a 10-layer blown film line?

8 Head of Production & Technology Dr. Detlef Wolf: It is part of our overall approach to be state-of-theart in terms of technology. And we also invest in production lines and equipment that enable us to specifically meet your demands and market requirements, whilst coordinating the capacities available in all our factories. Regular maintenance and modernization and careful harmonization among all Wipak manufacturing units worldwide helps guarantee our consistently high quality as well as short production and delivery times. Production & Technology Continual investment... Market requirements are constantly on the increase, and Wipak is wellequipped to meet them. To achieve consistently high quality levels we use camera systems, for instance, which scan the entire length and width of the film. Any defects can therefore be detected and corrected within a fraction of a second. This is just one example of how we assure consistently reproducible film quality by using innovative processes.... in advanced technologies, processes and facilities But that alone is not enough. We go a step further and combine various pieces of equipment from different manufacturers. The additional effort we put into this has proved highly successful, particularly since we can base it on many years of our own engineering expertise. Our specialized engineers and technicians know the machinery inside out, are able to reliably assess the strengths and weaknesses of equipment and systems, so that the potential they provide can be fully exploited for the task in hand. In practical terms, to achieve best results this means using tailormade technology rather than off-the-peg equipment. This applies in equal measure to all our production plants. Our customers, therefore, benefit from enhanced machine performance levels, higher productivity and lower costs.

9 Extrusion The Wipak Group is a one-stop films manufacturing specialist and converter. By coupling extrusion technology with printing and film converting facilities plus vibrant R&D, we offer a range of interlinked services that sets standards worldwide.

10 Printing Extrusion Cast film and blown film coextrusion is the centrepiece of our technology concept. This key process enables us to combine various materials that individually have very different properties. For instance multilayer blown films: ten extruders can be fed with more than 30 different resins via automated feeding systems. The outcome of this cutting-edge technology: transparent or coloured films with up to 20 layers and a broad array of properties meeting supremely sophisticated technical demands. Slitting & Rewinding Printing State-of-the-art printing technology brings the films development cycle to a close. From creating the graphic design and performing all pre-press stages right the way through to the finest flexo and gravure printing, Wipak has all the required facilities under one roof. Where printing is concerned we hold all the technological trumps. Our high-performance flexo and gravure printing presses operate with up to 11 colours in a single pass. These printing processes coupled with our in-house pre-press facilities, cylinder preparation unit with digital ink storage and blending plant and fully automatic cylinder engraving, platemaking and storage system guarantee maximum flexibility and reproducibility. This enables Wipak to produce brilliant graphic images as well as special effects such as surface structures resembling parchment, or decorative finishes, or high-security films using specially designed cylinders, plates and inking systems. Laminating

11 Wipak s printing machines provide impressive verification of our performance capabilities. Short changeover times between different job lots allow us to produce even small lot sizes. Wipak s printing facilities are monitored by highly skilled and experienced printing staff who make sure that production runs trouble-free. Laminating, slitting & rewinding With the aid of adhesives and coatings it is possible to unite the properties of various types of film to provide added benefits. Combining several individual films with their specific attributes results in composite films or laminates for optimum performance with minimum material consumption. This is ultimately followed by the slitting and rewinding sequence. Core dimensions, web width, run lengths, winding tension and precision slitting & spooling techniques are some of the keywords here. Our converting facilities are perfectly equipped to slit and rewind our vast range of films and laminates. Besides operating high-speed slitting and rewinding machines, we run a Tape Center where film webs are converted into tapes on state-ofthe-art spooling equipment. Irrespective of the original film width, we can therefore supply film ranging from spools of material as narrow as 0.9 mm to reels with a width of up to 2500 mm.

12 Technical support is a particularly important item among Wipak s portfolio of service options. Our Technical Service is available on-site to customers even after the films have been delivered. Any technical issues will be dealt with promptly and competently. Technical Service

13 Field Service Technicians Hans-Jürgen Reinbold and Kai Nieber: Wipak s service philosophy includes carefully observing the customer s films processing operation and providing help as and when required. This processoriented approach ensures that any deficiencies in processing conditions or machine-related technology are systematically eliminated. Our pilot production facility proves immensely useful in this context, as it enables us to carry out extensive trials and continually improve the quality of our products. Technical Service the link between companies and their market Our Technical Service monitors on-site operations and optimizes the film processing conditions in the customer s plant. Our service staff are familiar with both sides. In addition to their expertise in film technology they have a comprehensive background knowledge of mechanical engineering and are aware of our customers requirements from their own practical experience. We rate this combination very highly, as it provides a valuable interface between film users and our experts. Their everyday experience in the field enables us to continually improve manufacturing processes and formulations. Pilot production facility a training camp for employees and customers Reclosable packaging systems or the thermoformability of printed bar codes are examples of the topics on the agenda of Wipak s technical service seminars. The modern training camp is the heart of our service concept and, in respect of its equipment, it is always at eye level with industry at large. All categories of commercial packaging machinery including thermoforming lines, high-end horizontal and vertical form-fillseal machines, and vacuum packaging units are available here for extensive trials, practical tests and training sessions.

14 Target accomplished? What may appear to be the completion of a project is for us merely the end of a phase. Even after delivery we probe the market for improved raw materials and new applications in an ever-ongoing effort to upgrade our products and services. Logistics

15 Head of Marketing/Sales Food Benelux Anton de Jong: Our greatest assets are the people at Wipak. Whether machine operator, shift supervisor or production manager we are open to new ideas and ready to search jointly for viable solutions. This kind of flexibility, innovativeness and willingness to implement changes is not a question of the capital expenditure involved, but of the right attitude. And our customers sense and appreciate this. Sales and Logistics Sales, logistics, warehousing, material management and quality management are integral elements of our films cycle and they are part of our extended service package. The constructive interplay among all sections and departments fosters new and creative approaches, and ultimately results in first-rate solutions tailored to the respective requirements. We are well aware that we do not rely on technology alone, but also on ideas and flexibility. Take logistics, for example. Our company-wide logistics system administrates consignment stock and provides warehousing, ensuring rapid deliveries and smooth integration in our customers logistical procedures to all corners of the world. With our sister company Winpak in North America and our sales offices, research facilities and production locations in more than 20 countries around the globe, we are always close at hand.

16 Global Expertise As part of the Finland-based Wihuri Group, the Wipak Group and its North- American sister company, the Winpak Group, hold a leading position worldwide in the development and manufacture of films. The product portfolio is divided into three divisions: Food, Medical and Covexx. Wipak Food offers films for packaging fresh and processed meat products, dairy products, bakery products, fish and coffee and for a variety of reclosable packaging systems. Wipak Medical supplies a comprehensive range of sterilizable packaging materials (e.g. for medical instruments) and base films (e.g. for plasters). Wipak Covexx stands for highly developed films for technical applications, Walotape easy openers, and non-food packaging as well as films for converters. The films are used for instance as security tapes and tear tapes, in thermal insulation panels and as decorative print substrates. Wihuri Oy Wipak P.O. Box Nastola FINLAND Tel Fax Wipak Gryspeert S.A.S. B.P Bousbecque FRANCE Tel Fax Winpak Ltd. Corporate 100 Saulteaux Crescent Winnipeg, Manitoba CANADA, R3J 3T3 Tel Fax Wipak Walsrode GmbH & Co KG Postfach Walsrode GERMANY Tel Fax Wipak UK Ltd. Buttington Business Park Welshpool, Powys, SY21 8SL UNITED KINGDOM Tel Fax Biaxis Oy Ltd. Teknikonkatu Lahti FINLAND Tel Fax Wipak Walothen GmbH Postfach Walsrode GERMANY Tel Fax Wipak BV Nieuwstadterweg KN Sittard NETHERLANDS Tel Fax Wipak Iberica P. I La Creuta, Apdo. Correos Santa Perpetua de Mogoda (Barcelona) SPAIN Tel Fax