Plastics and Packaging

PureCycle Technologies and IPL Schoeller have developed SnapPack Square EVO, a tamper-evident container containing 20% PureFive recycled polypropylene in every unit. The container has been introduced as part of IPL Schoeller’s tamper-evident packaging portfolio and is intended as an off-the-shelf option for brand owners seeking to meet incoming recycled content requirements without the time and cost associated with a custom development programme.

Out of ten medical products and devices used in hospitals, medical practices or everyday care, five to six are made of plastic. Syringes, needles, tubing, implants and packaging are among the applications in which plastics support hygiene, innovation and efficiency in medicine. According to the German Medical Technology Association, BVMed, this material group is deeply embedded in the healthcare sector.

Fanuc will present its latest developments in all-electric injection moulding, robotics, artificial intelligence and digital manufacturing at Fakuma 2026 in Friedrichshafen, Germany. The exhibition will focus on integrated production solutions intended to help manufacturers increase productivity, improve quality and respond to labour shortages, rising costs and competitive pressure.

Finke Colors is expanding its portfolio of laser-active masterbatches with a new solution for high-quality marking of transparent plastics. The new laser additive enables optical effects that stand out clearly from traditional laser markings, precise, durable and visible directly within the material. Instead of modifying or damaging the surface, the marking is created inside the polymer.

Evosys Laser GmbH has expanded its technology portfolio with the establishment of Attosys Laser GmbH, founded in July 2026. The new subsidiary, based in Erlangen, focuses on laser-based manufacturing processes for demanding applications in micro- and macro-machining. Its activities cover processes including laser welding, laser structuring, laser cutting and laser drilling. A particular focus is the hermetic joining of glass components and the joining of dissimilar materials.

Maag Group has presented the extrex⁶ EC, a gear pump developed specifically for the continuous conveying of rigid PVC in extrusion. According to the Swiss machine manufacturer, the system addresses a long-standing technological limitation in PVC processing, where the material’s thermal sensitivity and tendency to degrade make stable conveying difficult. The pump was developed for applications involving rigid PVC, including recycled material streams with inhomogeneous batches.

Enma, a waste crusher and recycling system group headquartered in Lille, France, has been active in equipment for plastic recycling and reuse since 1990. The company positions its development in the context of growing investment in the circular economy and increasing demand for efficient recycling technologies.

The G-Mation P6 is the modular CPU of the G-Mation family. It conforms to the EN61131-3 standard and provides a fully scalable HTML operator interface for use with multiple devices, including a web panel, smartphone and remote service tools. Based on x86 architecture, the unit is positioned as a high-performance PLC for real-time applications. It can integrate G-Mation G3 I/O modules and is equipped with multiple EtherCAT masters with distributed clock and redundancy capabilities.

Siemens is strengthening its automation business to help industrial customers build more flexible, productive and resilient production systems. As part of its ONE Tech Company strategy, the company will bring together its four automation business units into a single organization effective October 1, 2026. Customer Services, Factory Automation, Motion Control and Process Automation will be consolidated into one unified organization, Automation.

Dassault Systèmes is expanding its AI-native agentic 3DExperience platform with new skills for virtual companions, supporting people in collaborative design. AURA, LEO and MARIE, Dassault Systèmes’ virtual companions, are now available on the AI-native agentic 3DEXPERIENCE platform. They co-create solutions and collaborate with users, providing working conditions based on advanced scientific and industry knowledge. This is an important step towards the development of factories using virtual twins.