Extrusion International USA 4-2022

46 Extrusion International 4/2022 K 2022 K IEFEL will be presenting machine, tool and automation solutions for processing recyclable materials at this year's K trade fair with live demonstrations. The company is also showcasing new digital services, solutions for the medical and pharmaceutical industries and research activi- ties on the topic of sustainability. In addition, Kiefel is of- fering insights into processes for closing the cycle at "The Machine" in the VDMA Dome. "At Kiefel, we keep our eyes on the megatrends of digi- tization and sustainability," explains Cornelia Frank, Head of Sustainability at Kiefel. "That's why we are particularly pleased to be presenting solutions at this K trade fair that ideally match this year's focal topics of circular economy, digitization and climate protection." Sustainable packaging solutions from a single source As well as classic, bio-based and recycled plastics, Kiefel steel rule and tilting machines can also process paper. In live demonstrations of the KMD 78.2 Speed steel rule machine, the company will illustrate how high-quality, sustainable packaging products are made from recycled film – thus mak - ing a contribution to tray-to-tray recycling. This is made pos- sible by in-house, unique tool technology and smart auto- mation concepts. Kiefel is unveiling the new Kiefel Standard Automation (KSA) at the K. Beside customer-specific auto - mation solutions, the company thereby offers completely modular standard automations based on a building block principle for the most common applications. In addition, visitors can discover more about the latest packaging technology from Kiefel, fiber thermoforming of natural fibers, which is in high demand worldwide. Large numbers of the NATUREFORMER KFT 90machine, which de- ploys this technology, are already operational worldwide. At the K 2022, the KFT Lab laboratory machine will be used to illustrate the production process and suitable food and non- food applications for the technology. With its own material and technology centers, Kiefel offers extensive capabilities for proofs-of-concept, which will also be featured. Research activities for a better circular economy Kiefel is committed to increased sustainability in many ways, and has anchored this in its corporate strategy, is Eco- Vadis-certified and is involved in various research initiatives for a better circular economy. At the booth, visitors will gain an insight into new research activities and results from initia- tives such as HolyGrail 2.0, PrintCYC and NextLoop. Service: Machine status and maintenance at a glance – 24/7 In Kiefel's After Sales division, the range of digital services has beenexpanded. TheKiefel Portal is the central onlineplat- form that allows customers to keep an eye on their machine status around the clock using the "Maintenance Dashboard" and plan upcomingmaintenance. Furthermore, users are also informed about suitable machine upgrades. The Kiefel portal can also be used to identify and request machine spare parts, Sustainable and Digital Kiefel machines can produce a wide range of packaging made from classic, bio-based or recycled plastics At the K 2022, Kiefel will also be presenting fiber technology and the potential applications of thermoforming with natural fibers The KMD 78.2 steel rule machine is an efficient all-rounder – and i capable of processing recycled film (All pictures: © KIEFEL GmbH)