CLIPP European Project: Study of recyclability of printed or laminated plastic packaging films using supercritical CO2 technologies

The CLIPP European project “Study of recyclability of printed or laminated plastic packaging films using supercritical CO2 technologies”, coordinated by AIMPLAS, officially started on the 1st of January, 2011. The project’s aim is to promote a system which allows to use post-industrial wastes coming from scraps, and reels refused by manufacturers of plastic film for flexible packaging and injected packages.

This EU-funded project is framed within the sub-programme “Capacities”, specifically in the “Research for the Benefit of SMEs” area, within the Seventh Framework Programme. Its consortium is constituted by 10 partners from 4 countries: 3 technological centres, 5 SMEs and 2 large companies. The companies involved in the project cover the whole value chain of the product, including thermoplastic materials processors, manufacturers of equipment for plastic extrusion, film lamination and printing companies, packages manufacturers, recycling companies, and packaging companies from the food sector, which are the final users of the product.

The CONSLIT 16/06 is a reel slitter for working width of 1650 mm max. and a finished roll diameter up to 600 mm.

All usual packaging materials such as hard and soft lms made of PE, PP, PA, PET, PVC, papers and laminates can be processed.

Today's market requires highly efficient and operator convenient reel slitting and winding machines. In response to this demand, SKYMARK’s investment on the Conslit ensures downtime is decreased , thus increasing machine output.

The well proven ball friction winding shafts, laser assisted core positioning, motorized nished roll stripper, an optimized slitting section for all common slitting methods. Slitting widths from 50mm and up are oered as standard.

SKYMARK are proud to announce its latest investment in state of the art flexographic print technology with the installation of its 3rd F&K into its Scunthorpe facility.

The F&K 14S 8 colour Flexo 1500mm press with GPS Smart system boasts a number of features and benets including:

• Reduced risk of over impression
• 1450mm printing width
• Job data is stored on the actual printing sleeve.
• No registration or target marks are required, saving substrate.
• Automatic inking and cleaning system

Innovation and technology are always a high priority when any investment is made, so the GPS Smart system was a must when SKYMARK made this investment. With vastly reduced set up and increased speed of registration therefore improving on its environmental obligations for reduced LDPE waste.

Sales Development Manager for the Group Dan Richards said; “With many of our Key customers requiring larger print widths this is a welcome addition to our printing capabilities.”

SKYMARK have chosen to install a Fischer & Krecke 10 colour exo press model FP-16S from the Bobst group Flexibles division. The machine includes the innovation award winning ‘smartGPS System’ (Graphic Positioning System). This system allows the press to nd the correct impression and register settings in each print deck simultaneously, without running the machine.

The new F&K is a fully gearless machine with direct drive to the C.I. Cylinder and uses sleeve technology for both printing plates and anilox. The machine incorporates a new ‘retractable’ inter-colour dryer design for maximum accessibility and an advanced operator control system. This 10 colour press includes ‘Access’ system enabling any idle print deck to be automatically cleaned and set up for the next job whilst the current job is running. A unique C.I. Drum cleaning system is also included.

Mr. Paul Neath, Production Director, SKYMARK Group commented “Having a great deal of experience already with Fischer & Krecke machines we concluded that this press was the ideal solution to our current needs and from trials the results using smartGPS were very decisive. It was immediately evident that the ‘smartGPS’ system would oer us some unique benets in the reduction of start-up waste and greatly reducing set-up times by providing the correct print impression with the rst ‘kiss’ of the plate to substrate, very important features for producing our short run jobs protably. No registration marks are required so we can also save on edge trim.”

Regenerative Thermal Oxidiser

Included in this investment is;

Brofind RTO

This new and up to date RTO (Thermal Regenerative Oxidiser) This has been built to cope with all latest and future (As we know to date) environmental requirements. This equipment takes the solvent laden air from all its printing presses and destroys 99% of all solvent and releases very low CO2 into the atmosphere. The equipment has been designed to have further printing presses added to this in future. Due to its modern design, it has the ability to run very efficiently using the solvent rather than gas as its fuel (Autothermal) This in effect reduces its running costs and carbon footprint.

Renzmann solvent wash and distillation system

The cost and time of cleaning the printing press parts was paramount to Skymark, we have invested in very efficient Fischer & Krecke GPS printing equipment that can change from one design to another in minutes. What we needed was that that same speed to clean the parts and solvent from the autowash system. Each press can generate 120 liters of solvent from each change over, The Renzmann system can clean the dirty solvent and store it in its tanks until automatically required. This has a massive saving in terms of not having to purchase solvent and again improve our Carbon footprint. We have also added a ‘washing machine’ to clean all ancillary parts; again the solvent used is cleaned through the Renzmann system.

Skymark Riders

Skymark Riders Cycling Team were formed in 2007. Our first ride was The Great Nottingham Bike Ride which supports various charities. We raised £833.00. We cycled this event again in 2008. Last year we cycled coast to coast, a distance of 130 miles from Workington in Cumbria to Sunderland. We raised £1928.00 for Click Sargent. This year we are cycling The Cornish Way from Lands End to Bude, a distance of 180 miles, and hoping to raise funds for Prostate Cancer Charity.

The ride..

They set off on Friday the 14th May from Skymark Ilkeston at 7.00 am, to arrive at the hotel at Lands end around 8 hours later, and they will begin there ride...

We once again kindly ask for your support by donating what you canusing the following link Skymark Riders Just Giving page

Thank you and best of luck to "The Skymark Riders"

SKYMARK’s investment has brought welcome news to the North Lincolnshire site with over 60 NEW postions.

SKYMARK currently employs approximately 150 people over its two sites in a variation of dierent roles. Our employees are key to our success, and therefore we recognise that eective training and genuine opportunities for career development are essential elements in determining the Company's long-term future. Our training programmes reect this and are designed both to encourage a positive attitude to everyday problems in the workplace and optimise the unique contribution everyone makes to the team effort.

SKYMARK has achieved “Investor in People” award and this is therefore the ethos that we adopt throughout our two operations. Investment in our employees is a continuous process through constant training and development initiatives. All of our internal training programmes have been specically developed for our organization, and therefore provide our employees with the exact skills that they require to succeed within their roles.

Our extensive NVQ program is continually testing employees skills and knowledge, and giving them the opportunity to develop new skills and undergo further training. Modern Apprenticeship schemes are also in place at our sites giving young people the opportunity to learn and gain valuable qualications in a working environment.

For a information on the opportunities that are avialable across our site please contact Peter Holder on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The installation of Scunthorpe new arrival the F&K 16S 10 colour Flexo press with Smart GPS is well under way. It is antcipated that this will be operational early October.

Skymark Performance Films – a privately owned flexible packaging manufacturer – is investing to expand its site on Mannerberg Way, Scunthorpe.

The expansion follows a devastating fire that destroyed Skymark’s factory in Leominster, Herefordshire on 17 June 2009.

The 1,400sqm development in Scunthorpe will see the expansion of its printing and slitting function. The expansion of the site will increase the total number of positions to approx 80 with around 30 to 40 being new employment opportunities – mostly for non-skilled people

New state of the art printing equipment will be installed by the end of August and will be operational by end of September. This will ensure the company meets customer demands.

Dan Richards, Sales Development Manager at Skymark, said:

“While we cannot make a big impact on the redundancies taking place in the town of Scunthorpe, we can bring optimism to a significant number of people.

“Following the devastating fire at our Leominster facility, we have already completed our first investment in new equipment to restore lost production. This enables us to offer continued support to our current customers and to develop further.”

Cllr Mark Kirk, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said:

“This is without doubt a huge investment in Scunthorpe and is a major boost to the local economy. It couldn’t come at a better time, with the recent announcement of job losses elsewhere in the town.

“I have every confidence that the company will succeed. And while it is sad to hear about its factory in Herefordshire, I am delighted to see the company expand its Scunthorpe site – creating much needed jobs for local people.”