Product category:
Packaging, Conveyors and Materials Transfer
News Release from: Sirane | Subject: Sirane
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 07 May 2007
Polymer Cluster works for Sirane
The Polymer Cluster reports that its leading client Sirane is set to revolutionise the food packaging market with a new compostable polymer packaging named Resolve
The move follows through a clear, if understated, drive from the leading UK supermarket to adopt compostability as the main environmental solution to the UK packaging issues and needs The home consumer composting movement is likely to see an increased uptake of purpose made composting bins - and the requirement for polymer-based and other packaging to be fully composted within 60 days
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 18 Jun 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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After some three years of intensive development, the Sirane Resolve product fully fits that requirement.
The first Resolve product application will insert trays for meat packaging.
Resolve - patents currently pending - was shown to the food packaging industry at the Pro2Pac Excel exhibition last month; is currently being trialled by the major supermarket retailers and will appear in the shops over the coming weeks and months.
Further reading
Divide and rule! With the Sirane ovenable inserts
Until now the European ovenable tray market has been limited to a set number of standard sizes and configurations, but Sirane offers ovenable trays and compartments to the client's specific designs
Sirane 'Roast It' bags are on the Christmas list
As production in the Christmas packaging market enters its high season, Sirane is expecting high demand for its newly launched range of ovenable Roast It products
Sirane prepares for new markets and applications
In reviewing the future of the packaging industry, Simon Balderson of Sirane sees a busy time ahead, with the development of new techniques and heightened show activity in the US, London and Paris
Sirane is also preparing production for Resolve meat trays and film - thus offering a complete packaging solution in the same compostable polymer technology.
Work on a next generation Resolve - with longer lasting shelf life - is already underway and is likely to also be available by the year end.
By any standard the commercial growth and success of Telford-based Sirane has been impressive.
It now employs some 90 people and has grown to a GBP7million plus turnover from a standing start in 2003.
'The business model we're using appears to be working!' says Simon Balderson, director.
From year two he notes that the support of the Polymer Cluster was vital in helping the company develop the business.
"There's not many people that you can turn to when developing unique technology and a business such as this.
The Polymer Cluster, however, is one of our friends that was able to give us unconditional support in a number of areas.
It greatly helps that they have no agenda - other than to help your business".
Shortly after the company was formed Paul Sansom, Senior R+D Associate at the Polymer Cluster, met Sirane founders Ian Beardsall and Simon and was able to offer helpful advice on marketing development, research reports and the generation of new product ideas.
Following the introduction the company developed a very useful partnership with the Cluster and the Innovative Product Development Centre (IPDC) at the University of Wolverhampton.
The idea generations have continued to pay dividends in a number of development projects Sirane have launched in a very fast period of time.
The Polymer Cluster also performed its traditional intermediary role in helping match Sirane up with the right science and technology partners - such as Rapra Technology for the detailed batteries of migration and other tests for the new cellulose-based films and sheet.
Balderson says that "the Polymer Cluster rightly sees that creating and nurturing some in-depth technical and commercial relationships within the region is not only good for the region - but good for our business.
The Cluster not only helped us in this scientific and technical networking but also introduced us to full blown commercial contacts - for trials and also for business.
We are very happy to recommend the Cluster and its activities".
Whether Sirane can double its turnover yet again for the fifth year running remains to be seen: Balderson says that "our whole business outlook depends on doing whatever the customers want and whenever they want it by.
We are not sentimental about product as such - every solution we create is bespoke and to order.
Neither are we sentimental about machinery and production lines - we build all our production equipment and we readily cannibalise and reconfigure it to suit the demands of each particular job".
Balderson is the primary interface with the food packer and retailer and is happy to be challenged to create whatever packaging solution is needed.
His colleague Ian Beardsall is then challenged to build the processing solution that will create the product.
"At the outset", says Beardsall, "we said that we wanted to create a 'Dream Team' of skills and people around us and, by and large, that is what we have done".
The Polymer Cluster is funded by the European Regional Development Fund; is a Wolverhampton Telford Technology Corridor project, and is housed within the University of Wolverhampton on its Telford campus.
All further details from Paul Hackney, Polymer Cluster Champion.
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