In the global cement industry, woven PP sacks are an established flexible packaging solution. The main alternative to PP are paper sacks. Windmöller & Hölscher and BSW as the technology and market leaders in both technologies have been working closely with Cherat Packaging over the last several years. Now, Cherat Packaging is the leading producer of sacks for cement in Pakistan, both in paper and woven PP.
Cherat Packaging Pakistan and BSW Machinery, the Vienna-based subsidiary of Windmöller & Hölscher, are partners since 2010, when Cherat Packaging added AD proTex Block Bottom PP cement sacks to its portfolio. The close cooperation has led to further investments in the AD proTex Block Bottom PP sack business by Cherat Packaging and significant technology developments by BSW. This year the joint developments have led to the successful introduction of AD proTex bags for 50 kg cement with only 65 gram sack weight.
The 65 gram woven AD proTex sack are a game changer AD proTex sacks are used globally as flexible packaging material for cement. The most commonly used size is the 50 kg sack. The weight of the AD proTex sack has been set as global standard to 80 grams and above. Thus, the new technology package offers a reduction potential of over 15 grams, or 20%.
The new sack is very well received by clients in Pakistan. More than 50% of the cement factories have tested and approved the sack, and it is now in commercial use. The primary advantages include reduced material consumption, leading to major cost cuts, and carbon footprint reduction, as less PP to melt directly translates in less energy being used from polymerization to extrusion.
Amer Faruque, chief executive officer of Cherat, says, “We look back on years of exclusive cooperation during which we always got top technology and constant support. I am happy to say that BSW under-promised and over-performed. BSW supported continuous growth of our business and we continue on this path with our third complete new BSW production line for PP sacks.”
As per Walter Häder, chief executive officer of BSW, “From the outset Cherat implemented a stringent quality management system, covering the entire process from the PP granule to the final bag. The experience of the engineering and production team in making paper sacks was a strong foundation. They were quick to understand that every process step is crucial for overall success. We want to highlight that Cherat is up there amongst the firms which run at the highest overall efficiency and lowest waste rates. Their customers benefit through top quality.”
