Macro's Newsletter

In the plastics manufacturing industry, biaxially oriented film lines have transformed the production of thin films used in a wide range of applications, for packaging industry. Leading this innovation is Macro Engineering, recognized for its cutting-edge, customized extrusion solutions that cater to the industry’s diverse requirements.

The Importance of Customization

The need for tailored solutions in plastics manufacturing has surged. Producers require films with specific performance attributes, such as strength, barrier properties, and clarity. Standard solutions often do not meet these needs, highlighting the necessity for advanced custom extrusion options adaptable to specific applications.

Leading the Way in Custom Extrusion

Macro Engineering has established itself as a frontrunner in the Canadian extrusion sector, offering state-of-the-art technology and its patented Quadex™ film lines, which range from multilayer to monolayer options and various shrink capabilities. The line features Macro’s proprietary tube calibration system, which employs water-based quenching and sizing technology specifically designed for the biax process. This quenching system effectively cools and calibrates the primary tube, leading to reduced waste during production changes.

Macro provides both Quadex™-2B (two-bubble line) and Quadex™-3B (three-bubble system) options. Its flexible extrusion technology can produce films with different barrier resins, including EVOH, PA, and PVdC. Each model is equipped with a gauge randomizing unit before winding to ensure high-quality roll output.

To assist clients in transitioning away from polyvinylidene chloride (PVdC), Macro is installing a biaxially oriented multi-bubble lab line for shrink film. “We’ve received inquiries from producers uncertain about the future of PVdC or whether the shrink market will shift to EVOH for certain products,” explained Karen Xiao, VP of Technology at Macro. “We’ve already developed lines capable of running both PVdC and EVOH.”

To support this potential transition, the new system is optimized for structures based on nylon, EVOH, and mono-material configurations in both two- and three-bubble formats. “Our goal is to assist customers in developing more sustainable structures on a smaller scale that can be easily scaled up to wider widths,” she added. These film lines are perfect for manufacturers aiming to enhance their production capabilities while ensuring high quality and efficiency.

For more information, please contact: Martin Baron, Director of Sales: mbaron@macroeng.com, or +1 905 507 9000

About Macro

Macro Engineering & Technology is a global supplier of film and sheet extrusion systems that specializes in barrier film lines and custom engineered extrusion systems. Founded in 1978, Macro’s approach is to help film and sheet producers reach their production goals through a project-oriented philosophy and an uncompromising commitment to developing innovative technologies. Macro manufactures blown, cast and Quadex™ biaxially-oriented coextrusion lines for multilayer films up to 13-layers. The company also supplies sheet extrusion lines for specialty applications, along with coextrusion dies, air rings and winding solutions to meet the needs of complex requirements. Macro’s equipment is used throughout the world to manufacture value-added products in the food packaging, medical, and industrial markets. _

As a specialist in extrusion machinery for the production of shrink film, Macro Engineering Technology is prepared if the industry switches from structures based on polyvinylidene dichloride (PVdC) to other, more sustainable material options. So, it’s building a new, biaxially oriented multi-bubble lab line at its headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario (Canada). “We’ve been getting a lot of inquiries from producers who don’t know if PVdC is going to be around for long or if the shrink market will move over to EVOH for some products, currently we have produced a few lines already that’s capable of running both PVdC and EVOH” notes Karen Xiao, the machine builder’s vice president of technology.

In anticipation of a switch and to help our customers to plan for the future, Macro sold its old PVDC lab line and is in the process of installing a brand-new system optimized to run structures based on nylon, EVOH and mono-material structures in two- and three-bubble formats., as Xiao puts it, “Macro desires to help customers develop structures that are more sustainable on a small production-scale that can be easily scaled up to wider widths.” Macro is hopeful the line will be ready for customer trials before the end of the year. Xiao says more than 10 of its customers have already expressed interest in running trials. “PVdC is a very difficult material to replace,” Xiao notes. “It has both superior moisture and oxygen barrier, and if you have to remove it from the structure you will need to reengineer the film without compromising on the final film properties.” The line will produce film up to seven layers. The line is equipped with a die with multiple lipsets ranging from 60-90 mm, and will run at layflat widths of 200-600 mm, making it suited for both trials and small production runs. It is also built to accommodate various barrier and non-barrier structures for film development purposes for non-shrink applications. Says Xiao, “We know enough about the PVdC world that we can extrapolate from those recipes to help customers design new structures. This is pretty exciting news. Over the years, many machine builders have gotten rid of their lab lines (Macro also has a three-layer blown film line in its lab), but we think we will be filling a big need with this at a time when our customers are asking a lot of questions about different polymers and how they fit with their sustainability goals. So, the idea behind the line is to give customers the opportunity to come in and to optimize their film properties with tailored formulations using new materials and new process options, whether they’re currently running PVdC or just investigating options to run something else.” Macro has sold more than 70 of its Quadex™-2B two-bubble lines globally, and also offers a Quadex™-3B, a three-bubble system. Macro believes this will be the first lab line of its kind in North America.

Macro Engineering & Technology Inc, a leading supplier of film and sheet extrusion systems, is pleased to announce the expansion of its sales channel by adding NOVERIN® Inc. as their newest agent. With many years in the plastics industry, NOVERIN is active in Barrier Multilayer packaging, Tie-Layers, Bio Polymers and Engineering Polymers among other segments.

“We are very happy to start working with NOVERIN® in Brazil and are confident we will be expanding our business in this country in no time” says Martin Baron, Director of Sales at Macro. Mauricio Fernandes, President and Owner at NOVERIN®, adds: “We have known MACRO for years and are very excited to start working with them as their representative in Brazil.”

The addition of NOVERIN® as Macro’s newest agent in Brazil opens a world of opportunities for both companies. As the Director of Sales at Macro, Martin Baron expresses his utmost delight in working with NOVERIN® and is confident that this partnership will lead to the swift expansion of their business in Brazil. With their combined knowledge and resources, Macro Engineering and NOVERIN® can tap into the immense potential of the Brazilian market and cater to the growing demands of the industry.

Brazil, being one of the largest economies in South America, offers a thriving market for film and sheet extrusion systems. With its booming packaging industry and increasing demand for innovative solutions, there couldn’t be a better time for Macro to establish a strong presence in this country. The collaboration with NOVERIN will not only enable Macro to penetrate this market but also provide customers in Brazil with access to cutting-edge technologies and solutions.

The partnership between Macro and NOVERIN signifies a shared vision to deliver excellence and unmatched quality to customers in Brazil. Both companies are committed to providing top-notch products, exceptional customer service, and continuous innovation. Together, they are poised to make a significant impact on the plastics industry in Brazil and revolutionize the way films and sheets are extruded. Both companies already started to plan business activities for the rest of the year, including their participation at the NPE plastics show in Orlando, USA in May as well as other trade shows later in 2024.

Film and sheet extrusion machinery supplier Macro Engineering & Technology Inc. (Canada) has closed a deal with a major flexible packaging solutions supplier for several Quadex™ state-of-the-art 9-layer systems in Europe.

The lines are designed to handle various materials including barrier resins such as polyamide, EVOH, and PVdC to produce films that offer exceptional strength to match the enhanced barrier effects that can be achieved with the bi-oriented process. These films are then converted into shrink bags for the food packaging industry, particularly meat and cheese. Martin Baron, Director of Sales at Macro, comments about these lines: “The extruder screws are specially designed to process different materials so that there is no need to change the screws when processing resins from commodity to specialty engineering resins. The lines showcase proprietary 9-layer die and calibrator technologies; thanks to Macro’s innovative design, the lines are able to produce a desirable range of shrink films for meat and cheese packaging. The film can also be irradiated for crosslinking, in order to achieve even higher performance properties. Macro was the chosen supplier since the customer has some unique requirements to build the lines according to their specifications. Macro’s equipment also offers the best performance/cost ratio. Macro’s strength in custom machinery at a reasonable price was the deciding factor for them to get the orders. We look forward to many more successful projects to come.

The system was designed with features to further minimize waste and maximize energy efficiency. The Macro process control system includes the “ReadyRun” feature in which the customer can restore frequently used recipes at the push of a button. This significantly reduces changeover time and improves the consistency of the products.

The line is also equipped with the “Green Energy” feature in which the energy consumption is optimized during the heat and cool process; the customer is able to view energy consumption in real-time. This feature helps them to know which recipes are the most efficient to produce.

Mississauga, Ontario Macro Engineering & Technology Inc., a film and sheet equipment supplier based in Mississauga, Ontario, is pleased to announce the addition of David Anzini as Technical Sales Manager for Southeast US. David has over 40 years of experience in the extrusion industry and has vast experience in plastics processing. He has worked for Mobil, Pactiv, Conwed, ITW Zip-Pak, and most recently Celgard LLC (an Asahi Kasei company). David has a B.S. and a M.S. from the University of Connecticut in Chemical Engineering. He is based in Fort Mill, SC, and can be reached at danzini@macroeng.com or at (315) 945-1153. David is also replacing Steve Gammell, Senior Technical Sales who has worked for Macro Engineering since April 2020. Steve will be retiring at the end of April.

“We look forward to having David Anzini on our team. We trust that our customers will benefit greatly from David’s vast experience in plastics extrusion, and he will be a great asset to Macro Engineering as we specialize in custom machinery; an in-depth knowledge of equipment design to help our customers make the best products possible is our focal point” says Karen Xiao, VP of Technology, “We would also like to thank Steve Gammell for his service to Macro and would like to wish him the best in his retirement”

Film and sheet extrusion systems supplier Macro Engineering & Technology Inc. is pleased to announce the addition of Alfredo Santa as Area Sales Manager for Canada and Latin America. Mr. Santa joins the team with more than 15 years of experience in the plastics industry after working for recognized companies in North America such as Cincinnati Milacron and StackTeck. Alfredo holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering (MSc from Los Andes University in Colombia) and an MBA from Carleton University in Ottawa. He can be reached at + 1 416 568-2957 or asanta@macroeng.com

As part of a reorganization in the Sales department, Martin Woollard -Technical Sales Engineer who has been with Macro for more than six years- is now responsible for sales in the Asia-Pacific region and North East United States. Mr. Woollard can be reached at +1 647 292-2394 or mwoollard@macroeng.com “As technology leaders in co-extrusion and custom machinery systems, we want to keep a stronger presence in our strategic regions. We look forward to further building relationships with our customers and partnering with them to be successful” mentioned Martin Baron, MACRO’s Director of Sales.

Macro Engineering and Technology Inc., a leading supplier of film and sheet extrusion systems, is pleased to announce the expansion of its sales channel by adding SIMA LATINOAMERICANA S.A. and Michael Fishman as their newest agents. The former will represent Macro in the Central American countries of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama as well as Dominican Republic; the latter will do the same in Russia.

“We are excited to start working with our new agents. I am confident they will be a great asset to strengthen our sales support for our customers in those regions. Earlier this year we started to work with our new agent in Croatia KLIŠE-KOP. We now continue to expand our global presence with these two new agents in Central America and Russia, as part of Macro’s plan for 2020 to bring growth in sales and customer service performance” said Martin Baron, Director of Sales.

Both partners look forward to an excellent business relationship, and the strengthening of Macro’s presence in each region.

Russia
Tel: +7 843 227 4242
Mobile: +7 905 3141156
Email: Mfishman@macroeng.com

Central America
Tel: +506 2453 4004/ 2453 3626
Mobile: +506 7106 9983
Email: jbadilla@sima.cr
Website: www.sima.cr

Film and sheet extrusion systems supplier Macro Engineering & Technology Inc. is happy to announce that Steve Gammell has joined the company in the role of Area Sales Manager for the Southeast USA region.

“Steve brings with him over 45 years of experience in the plastic industry spanning from film manufacturing to sales leadership roles in various OEMs in Canada, USA and Europe. Steve will be a great asset to strengthen our sales support for our customers in the US” said Martin Baron, Director of Sales.

Effective immediately, Steve will oversee all sales activities for the following states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Macro Engineering and Technology Inc., a leading supplier of film and sheet extrusion systems, is pleased to announce the signing of a representation agreement with KLIŠE-KOP, a well-respected Company in Croatia. “KLIŠE-KOP’s impressive team will definitely bring new sales in a region where Macro has not been really present until now” said Martin Baron, Director of Sales

KLIŠE-KOP have been in business over 36 years and enjoy an excellent reputation in the region, which in addition to Croatia it includes Austria, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Northern Macedonia. Their list of principals includes companies like Soma, Focus, Celmacch, Orafol, Sandon, Tech Sleeves and XL Plastics.

Roman Šoic, Commercial Director, adds “KLIŠE-KOP is pleased to have been appointed Macro’s representative in our region. Macro’s extrusion systems and services fill a void in our portfolio” Both partners look forward to an excellent business relationship, and the strengthening of Macro’s presence in the region.

Contact KLIŠE-KOP

Dr. Franje Tu?mana 39
10431 Sveta Nedelja - Hrvatska
Telefon: +385 1 3370 034
Telefax: +385 1 3371 729
Mobitel: +385 99 2268 069
Website: www.klise-kop.hr

(February 12, 2020 Mississauga, Ontario) Plastic film and sheet extrusion machinery supplier Macro Engineering & Technology Inc. announced today that Latin American Sales Manager Martin Baron has been promoted to the position of Director of Sales.

Effective immediately, Martin will oversee all sales activities in Canada, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, working with our regional sales managers and agents. Martin is based in Macro’s headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario. “I’m excited for the opportunity to help Macro’s sales team to achieve further success and deliver value and quality to our clients. Macro is uniquely positioned for growth since we focus on custom-engineered equipment to suit our customer needs. We see a lot of opportunities in this area as most of our competitors are standardizing all their product lines.” Mr. Baron commented.

“I have tremendous confidence in Martin’s ability to implement and manage the sales activities, identify new market opportunities, and define the actions required to generate new growth in a manner that is aligned with Macro’s fundamental commitment to innovation” says David Cui, Executive Director.

Film and sheet extrusion machinery supplier Macro Engineering & Technology Inc. (Canada) has had an excellent start to the year 2019. Following the success of launching Macro’s new line Quadex (Bi-axially oriented multiple-bubble lines) in 2018 and adding two new agents in Spain, Portugal, and Mexico, Macro starts the new year of 2019 with tremendous growth on dies, air rings, and winders sales.“We are very excited to start 2019 with unprecedented growth in sales. This is right on track with the new machining capabilities we acquired last year in die manufacturing. It is a reassurance from the industry that we are a leader in supplying extrusion systems and components” says Jim Stobie, Macro’s CEO. Many of these are repeat orders from our existing customers who are extremely satisfied with the equipment they received from Macro.

Macro Engineering and Technology, a leading supplier of film and sheet extrusion systems, has recently enhanced its Quadex™ bi-axially oriented multiple-bubble lines for the production of films with Nylon and EVOH, particularly for bone-in-meat high barrier shrink bags. Macro has developed the process and the right combination of materials for a successful product, and we include this process know-how with the line purchase.

This line offers the latest bi-ax process technology, computer-based automation, and overall control.

Line features:

Different configurations include 7, 9 or 11 layers Ability to run up to three layers of nylon with the main barrier layer being EVOH Film width from 200 to 500 mm Film thickness from 40 to 90 microns Production output from 50 to 150 kg/h Equipped with our newest Quadex™ technology to better tailor the film properties

Macro Engineering and Technology has earned its extensive reputation for delivering unmatched technology, flawless execution and after sales support for the most efficient process with over 60 Macro bi-ax lines running worldwide. The newest Quadex™ line has just been successfully installed at a customer in South America.

Macro Engineering and Technology, a leading supplier of film and sheet extrusion systems, announced the installation of a technologically advanced cling PVC cast film extrusion line at MEIWA Embalagens in Brazil. MEIWA is an innovative manufacturer of polymer film in the food packaging industry. “MEIWA was very happy with our first installation of the cling PVC cast film line, but wanted to tweak the second line for some specific requirements. Macro offers a unique value proposition from our competitors in that we custom engineer all our lines to suit different customers’ specific needs, so we were happy to accommodate MEIWA’s requests.” Stated Jim Stobie, CEO of Macro Engineering.

“We wanted a partner that would provide consistent quality, have good after sales service, and would tailor the equipment to our needs,” stated Ricardo Huang, Director of MEIWA Embalagens. “We did not want an off-the-shelf line that everyone else has, we have some unique requirements that Macro provided innovative solutions for.

In addition to the two PVC cling film lines, MEIWA also has a line from Macro to produce polystyrene foam.

This new cling PVC cast film line is capable of producing thicknesses in the range of 8-16μm, with a die width of 2.2 meters. The winder can produce 4 ups across the web at a line speed of 250 m/min. Strikethrough

On November 22, Canada Export Awards Selected Macro Engineering & Technology, a global supplier of film and sheet systems, as one of the 2016 Finalists in Export Awards Ontario in pursuing growth in international markets.

In June, Macro Engineering won the TECHNOLOGY INNOVATOR AWARDS 2016 for the Best Global Extrusion Systems Supplier & Recognized Leader in Customized Winding Solutions.