SMI Coated Products, the leading labelstock manufacturer, has just installed three Matho waste management systems at its impressive and modern Ambernath plant near Mumbai. The plant, which is 50 kilometers east of the city, occupies 25,000 square meters with a built-up operational area of 13,000 square meters. SMI produces 100 million square meters of pressure-sensitive lablestock annually – using the highest quality liners and face stocks and adhesives specially developed for a wide variety of applications, including cold chain logistics. Exporting to 22 countries, SMI has a slitting cum distribution operation in the Jebelali zone in Dubai.
Increasingly, labelstocks are a part of the hygienic and even aseptic supply chain and equally require both end use collection, sorting, recycling, and disposal of both the used labels and the matrices containing silicone coating in recycling. Therefore, sustainability is uppermost on the label industry’s agenda. The leading manufacturers such as SMI are keen to demonstrate the path by their supply of appropriate materials and best practices. Rohit Mehta, SMI’s young director, says, “We continuously strive to invest in sustainable, cleanroom manufacturing and environmentally conscious practices. The installation of the Matho waste management systems is a step in that direction.”
Converting 1,350 tons of paper and other materials monthly on seven coaters generates voluminous waste consisting of slitting trims and matrix waste with adhesives that attract dust and bacteria. The Matho systems extract the trim and matrix materials from the slitting and die-cutting areas with a vacuum for shredding and compacting disposal containers. The system is devised so that waste does not stick on the sides of the evacuation pipes or anywhere else on its path to the collection, shredding, compaction, and disposal station.
SMI as a responsible labelstock manufacturer is constantly investing in best practices to produce sustainable labelstock while following the most sustainable and best practices in its processes. Thus, for example, one remembers at the beginning of the Covid-19 epidemic, the company’s managing director Ajay Mehta relating to us that he had installed an automated UV sanitization system at the plant’s entrance to maintain the health and hygiene of employees.
In hindsight, we recognize the idea of cleanroom principles and commend SMI’s vision. In addition, waste management systems are coming to a variety of printing and converting plants in India that recognize their responsibility for the health of their workers and their role in reducing and monitoring the carbon footprint of their processes. The company takes its corporate social responsibility to heart as one can see on its website. This is not a template or cut and paste policy but an actionable instance of a humble and smart company.
Matho is a German manufacturer of granulators and waste extraction systems for the packaging, converting, and labels industry. It provides project planning, manufacturing, installation, and commissioning of waste extraction systems and is sold in India by Weldon Celloplast.
