Plastic food container

The economic survival of the companies demands of the process contante of the innovation. Until the current economic crisis, this was a recurrent sentence, heard by all but listened by few companies.

Only innovative companies have been able to understand that the dynamics of offer new products to the market could not stop, as a requirement to ensure the future of your business. We are all capable of inventing but few are able to innovate or what is the same make these 'inventions' cardholder with success by the market.

Novelty requires prior knowledge that only tools of information technology can offer. The risk of investigate or innovate in materials, processes, etc. are already patented or protected industrially is currently higher than it was a couple of decades ago. In contrast, the possibility of accessing information, treat it and offer it to the company in the form of business opportunity has become a reality within the reach of many companies regardless of their size.

In short, we speak of technology watch (VT) and competitive intelligence (CI), as methodologies capable of helping companies in the always difficult process of taking a strategic decision.

The current economic situation makes that company try to find factors that differentiate her from its competition. To achieve such objective, it is necessary to put in place different strategies which end up becoming economically useful for the company. Access to the latest information, both in technology and market, would minimize the risk that managers have to time to take strategic decisions related to the future evolution of the business. He is trying to control the environment of the company in all its possible fronts: technology, competitive, regulatory, etc. with the ultimate goal of having all the elements necessary to detect opportunities and threats that exist outside.

Technology watch (VT), as a key tool in the process of business innovation, assumes a series of commitments that we summarized below:

• Detect threats and opportunities
• Updated the technology information of the company
• Controlling and protecting innovations
• Detect new trends
• Monitor our competition
• Generate new ideas
• Capture, filter, assimilate and disseminate technological information

The sector of the food packaging (food and drink) is equivalent to 13.8 million tons of total production in Europe (Applied Market Information Ltd.). Or what is the same, 60% of packaging plastic are intended to preserve food.

As a manufacturer of a product of massive use, companies in this sector stand out as important technology information seekers. In addition, they have information specific needs (positive lists of admitted plastics by the EU, certifications, standards, etc.) that make it different from others.

Most respondent

Aimplas (technological Institute of plastics) (www.aimplas.es) has been demonstrated, in his 20 years of service to this sector, the most popular information products are:

Technology watch bulletins

Biweekly/monthly review of all technological developments on packaging and packaging for the food sector. Subject premium, transformation processes, transportation, design, etc.

Access to database of legislation

Usually databases with web access that controls all the legislation on packaging. Looking for maximum customization and alerts of any updates, modifications or waivers. The desired area is the national and European.

Technical advice

Carried out by professionals who diagnose the company regards the fulfilment of legal requirements. With a fast and flexible access to information to help the process of certification according to national and international standards.

Custom legislation alerts

That it enable the company to control the legislative changes in those matters that affect your business, and those specific provisions which need to monitor.

Control and updating of technical regulations

System for the control of changes in the technical standards (UNE, ISO, ASTM, etc.) which uses the company to do processes, trials and products.

Control of the positive lists of plastic food contact

Databases that include all of the substances permitted for use in contact with food according to existing legislation (national and European).

Competitive position and market reports

Indicating the status of the company with respect to its competition in terms of billing parameters, forecasts of future investment, end markets, sales, etc.

Source: Aimplas (technological Institute of plastics). Department of information technology (dit@aimplas.es).

More information:

Information services for food packaging (dit@aimplas.es)

Other links of interest:

Observatory of the plastic www.observatoriodelplastico.com

Aimplas (technological Institute of plastics) www.aimplas.es