WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 9222 [post_author] => 288 [post_date] => 2018-02-21 08:55:47 [post_date_gmt] => 2018-02-21 08:55:47 [post_content] => The past six years have seen US-headquartered Greif investing heavily in its production of intermediate bulk containers (IBCs). Having previously only produced GCube blow-moulded composite units in Italy and Germany, it now also manufactures them in the US, Russia, Sweden, Israel, China, the Netherlands and Spain, with further locations likely to be added in the future. Similarly, the company also continues to enhance its IBC product portfolio, developing, for example, what EMEA IBC and plastic product manager Luca Bettoni describes as "the first IBC for Ex applications using antistatic additives directly in the bottle" and which therefore does away with the need for external earthing elements. "Greif offers a safer IBC thanks to its strong cages, which are able to resist 30 per cent more in stacking compared to the traditional IBCs on the market. Our unique solution of a universally compatible butterfly valve is able to offer one valve suitable for all kinds of liquids with a huge reduction in IBC configurations used by our customers," he states, noting that the company has "experienced reductions of between 25 and 50 per cent of item codes" as a result. Moreover, the GCube also offers an easier customer handling experience as no extra tools, such as screwdrivers or cutters, are needed to empty it. "Every sealing is easily removable by hand, helping our customers and offering a higher percentage or reusable IBCs." Greif also focuses on achieving the highest levels of cleanliness and hygiene to meet the demanding needs of the food and pharma sectors, both for complete GCubes and GCube spare parts. "Our brand-new production site in Ede [in the Netherlands], a state-of-the-art plant for the production of food containers and the only one with blow-moulders running in clean rooms, is an example of the strong investments by Greif to satisfy the highest levels of food sector requirements," says Bettoni.   NEW CONCEPT In terms of new products, Greif has also unveiled the GCube Shield, "a new concept of IBC" able to reduce the permeation of gases through the IBC bottle. Of particular boon to shippers from the agrochemical, paint, food and flavour and fragrances sectors, the GCube Shield features a three-layer coextruded design that, due to a "a specific mix" of polymers in the middle layer of the bottle's wall, "offers equal performance against permeation as six-layer or fluorinated IBCs". Reduced permeation, Bettoni observes, "could mean a longer shelf life and better effectiveness" of the unit's filling product. However, that is certainly not the only benefit offered by the new unit, with the GCube Shield also boasting "full recyclability" compared to "partly recyclable" six-layer or fluorinated alternatives. Moreover, these new units can be readily supplied with short lead times as they are "available in every country" where Greif produces GCubes. "The GCube life-cycle is fully supported by the EarthMinded network, a widespread structure of participating sites able to offer reconditioning services in every region of the world. We're able to offer the simple collection of used IBCs and collection for re-use through washing or rebottling," he explains, noting that EarthMinded can also provide users with important environmental impact data. "This helps our customers measure their efforts to achieve their environmental targets," Bettoni states. www.greif.com [post_title] => Greif: Cute cubes [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => greif-cute-cubes [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2018-02-20 15:01:05 [post_modified_gmt] => 2018-02-20 15:01:05 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.hcblive.com/?p=9222 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )