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Read below or in the PFFC magazine here (page 16).
Read below or read in Canadian Plastics digital magazine, here.
Davis-Standard is pleased to announce that Rich Kanarski has been elected to serve as a Technical Program Chair for the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE), Extrusion Division. In 2014, Kanarski was recommended by a mentor to serve on the SPE Board of Directors as a young professional, several years later being elected to serve on the Board in a traditional governing role. In addition to presiding over technical programs, he also serves as the division’s Membership Chair. His SPE responsibilities coincide well with his leadership position at Davis-Standard where he manages the company’s converting system technical product team.
“I am honored to serve as the Technical Program Chair. My fellow board members are incredible people who consistently inspire members to challenge themselves personally and professionally,” explained Kanarski. “We have a common commitment to the betterment of our industry, which is a fundamental value within SPE. Sharing knowledge and strengthening skills is a collaborative effort among our professionals worldwide.”
In his TPC role, Kanarski will support technical conferences, including ANTEC® 2021 to be held via live-stream beginning May 5. ANTEC is a top priority for Kanarski as it one of SPE’s largest technical conferences. As a TPC, with the support of the technical paper review committee, is responsible to review and organize all the technical content submitted by the extrusion division members who wish to voice and present their developments to their peers, compiling it into an effective program for ANTEC. ANTEC offers a platform for members and students to share and discuss the latest developments in plastic processing and polymer science. A key experience of ANTEC, is the presentation of technical papers that highlight timely subjects and processing expertise within all areas of the plastics industry.
SPE is at the forefront of advancing extrusion innovation and best practices within the global plastics industry. The organization represents more than 22,500 members from 84 countries, connecting scientists, engineers, technical personnel and senior executives. For more information about SPE’s technical conferences, visit www.4spe.org.
Doing business in the COVID era has required a great deal of creativity and flexibility. With evolving protocols and safety requirements, businesses have had to adapt quickly and with prudence to ensure success. To support customers, Davis-Standard’s teams have rallied to provide an exemplary aftermarket response in regard to parts, rebuilds, equipment upgrades and emergency breakdown services. Anagram International of Minneapolis, Minn., and Synovos of Radnor, Penn., are two examples of customers who have experienced this top-tier service.
The Anagram (www.anagramballoons.com) project was two-fold with an extruder rebuild and controls upgrade. The extruder rebuild occurred first to complement the company’s recently reconditioned feedscrew and extrusion die. Typically, Davis-Standard holds pre-installation meetings on-site at the factory, but due to COVID, held a detailed pre-install meeting virtually. Davis-Standard shipped the parts to Anagram and a regional service engineer (within driving distance) did the installation in-person. The extruder was back in full production faster than expected, which decreased downtime. This was important for Anagram as the world’s leading foil balloon manufacturer.
Anagram’s second phase required upgrading an Integrator-C controller to a faster PC system. As with the extruder rebuild, a virtual pre-installation meeting outlined specifics. It was decided Davis-Standard could do the upgrade remotely via the DS5 secure network access system. The remote upgrade went well with the only in-person contact being from a gauge technician who installed new gauge application software and provided operator training. Within 24 hours, the line was back up and running. In both cases, in-person contact was minimized and timelines were met.
“I was most impressed with how quickly Davis-Standard’s team developed a plan to mitigate COVID exposure while performing the work,” said Bob Hajlo, maintenance and facilities manager at Anagram. “Both projects were successfully completed on time and on budget. It also proved to be a great technology enrichment course for our operators.”
Synovos (www.synovos.com) benefitted from Davis-Standard expediting parts on a regular basis. This has been critical during COVID as Synovos provides comprehensive MRO supply chain management services for customers in a range of industries, including medical and health. Davis-Standard has supplied all types of extrusion parts this year including spare parts, rupture discs and band heaters. When needed, Davis-Standard has been able to overnight parts for early morning delivery to mitigate downtime. In cases where parts were not in stock, Davis-Standard has been successful in getting them to Synovos within a week. The ability to serve customers with speed and efficiency is a reflection of Davis-Standard’s planning strategy early on in the pandemic. This included keeping parts well-stocked, maintaining a healthy network of suppliers, establishing multiple production shifts, and prioritizing employee safety. All without sacrificing 24/7 customer accessibility on a global scale.
“I am always impressed with Davis-Standard because they go above and beyond to do what it takes to get me the parts I need,” said Renee Evans, a buyer at Synovos. “They haven’t missed a beat during COVID, which has been instrumental in helping us serve customers.”
Davis-Standard’s customer service extends to all heritage brands under the Davis-Standard umbrella. Customers can call (+1 844 MYDAVIS) for assistance or visit the aftermarket webpage for more info.
Davis-Standard is pleased to offer its popular “Basics of Plastics Extrusion” seminar, in virtual format, April 13 – 15, 2021. This three-day interactive seminar will cover the fundamentals of plastics extrusion, composition and properties of various polymers, and the mechanics of essential downstream processes. Session topics include extruder components, temperature control, control systems, maintenance practices, screw and die design, among others. All participants will see a virtual borescoping demonstration as well as lab demonstrations, and receive a virtual tour of Davis-Standard’s manufacturing and technical facilities.
“This seminar has been extremely beneficial to customers who seek to improve the knowledge base of their engineering and operational teams to strengthen overall productivity,” explained John Christiano, Davis-Standard’s Vice President of Technology. “Although the seminar will be in virtual format this year, it still contains the same amount of robust instruction and interaction with our engineering and technical teams. We look forward to an outstanding session.”
Daily instruction will begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m. The fee is $695 plus tax, per person, with a 10 percent discount given for groups of three or more from the same company. Class size is limited to promote student and teacher interaction. This course fills up fast, so we encourage you to sign up now.
To register or for more information, including a list of topics, please visit https://info.davis-standard.com/seminar-registration-april-2021.
Contact marketing for additional questions.
Davis-Standard’s German subsidiary, ER-WE-PA GmbH, is pleased to announce that XOL Automation will be Davis-Standard’s registered sales representative for extrusion coating, liquid coating, cast film and slitter/rewinders in the Middle East and North Africa. The agreement was made official in February. The area of XOL’s representation includes Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. This will further expand the reach of Davis-Standard’s converting equipment range and services to support customers worldwide.
“XOL Automation has an excellent reputation in serving the industrial and manufacturing segment throughout this region,” said Adnan Bdour, Davis-Standard’s Regional Sales Manager. “Whether customers are looking to upgrade machines or purchase new technology, we are pleased to have them represent us. We also appreciate their knowledge of engineering practices and commitment to helping our customers improve productivity and profitability.”
"We are very excited to work with Davis Standard. XOL Automation team is known for its expertise in the flexible packaging industry. We have been using our recognized experience in this area with customers for years." said Gabriel Hage, General Manager of XOL Automation. "Teaming up with Davis-Standard will provide our valued clients with cutting edge solutions and continued support" added Hage.
Regional customers looking to inquire on Davis-Standard products can reach out to Gabriel Hage, at ghage@xolautomation.com or via phone +961 3 703444.
For more information about XOL Automation, visit www.xolautomation.com.
Featured in March Edition of PFFC Magazine, here.
Preferred Packaging, a U.S.-based leader in complete packaging solutions, is set to further boost production capabilities with the addition of a Deacro T610 turret slitter rewinder. The machine, slated for installation this spring, will join three other Deacro machines that support film processing for making lidding film and numerous other flexible film types; and provide Preferred Packaging with desired throughputs and automated benefits while equipping the company for new developments in packaging markets. Preferred Packaging supplies sealing equipment, stock and custom containers, and lidding films to customers throughout North America. The company is also exploring opportunities in overseas markets.
“As film applications continue to advance and gain popularity, it’s important to update efficiencies. For us, that meant moving from standard slitter rewinder technology to greater automation,” explained Rick Ivy, CEO of Preferred Packaging. “Initially, we couldn’t justify buying a new automated turret machine, so we purchased a used one to test the concept. That machine confirmed our approach but was inferior to Deacro’s engineering. We sold it and purchased the Deacro model T610 twin-turret duplex slitter rewinder. We look forward to installation because we know this machine will make an immediate impact on our production goals.”
Ivy appreciates that the T610 model allows the operator to setup cores on the outer rewind mandrels during the slitter runtime. When the rewinding is complete, the machine turrets the rewind shafts and automatically continues winding while finished rolls are unloaded onto a receiving tree. After the finished rolls are removed, new cores are positioned during slitter operation. Another advantage noted by Ivy is the differential rewind system, which compensates for web gauge variation. If there is a non-uniform web construction, the operator can easily rewind the film to where the glitch occurred and correct it. Other advantages such as touch-screen operation and automatic knife assembly support repeatability. Operators never have to handle rewind tooling, shafts, setup knives or manually remove rolls, simplifying operator training and improving safety.
Preferred Packaging has been doing business with Deacro, A Davis-Standard Company, for over 20 years. Ivy appreciates Deacro’s professionalism, quick response and quality engineering. According to Ivy, Preferred Packaging “knows lidding films better than anyone” in terms of film characteristics and re-sealability. Product examples include laser for extended shelf-life for produce, hot-pin perforated lidding and overwrap films that allow controlled evacuation of heat and moisture, as well as perforated films used for bakery items and other foods to keep the food crisp during re-heating. Preferred Packaging also excels at multi-layer laminate films that combine the strength of a polyester upper layer with a specific sealant type and thickness designed for custom seal system requirements. These films have a glossy top layer and clarity to enhance the appearance of print copy while protecting the package from abrasion during shipping and handling. Preferred Packaging’s stock and custom containers come in microwaveable and oven-ready designs in a full range of sizes. As for sealing equipment, the company supplies in-line sealing machinery, counter-top sealers and rotary sealers uniquely engineered for their containers and films. Preferred Packaging can support solutions across every operational range, which has enabled them to serve a broad base of customers.
“Our films and sealant properties are highly customizable based on packaging type,” said Ivy. “Having machine suppliers like Deacro who understand our processes and deliver the technology needed to execute those processes is very much appreciated. They do everything you would expect from a good company.”
For more information about Preferred Packaging, visit www.prefpkg.com. For more information about Deacro’s turret slitter rewinders, click here.
