Anhui Excellent opts for agricultural films; Reifenhäuser provides machinery

Chinese processor Anhui Excellent Plastic Film Tech, established three years ago in Anqing, Anhui Province, is one of the first producers of high-quality silage stretch film in China. Set up by Chinese entrepreneur Liu Xian, who had neither any experience in the production of plastic films or equipment required, her target was to become a leading film producer in China. She is now on track to achieving her target, says machine supplier Reifenhäuser that provided the support to Anhui.

Instead of choosing a market like food packaging which has great potential, but is already crowded with many good producers, Anhui Excellent opted for a growth market that is still at an early stage of development in China: agricultural stretch film, a product that needed a lot of know-how as it is in its infancy in China.

Know-how can be acquired, is the opinion of Vice-President Liu Xian. Much more important for success is good market potential, the right decision for a line and cooperation with suppliers who are more than only providers of technology.

“It was clear to us that we could only be successful with excellent system technology and a partner who brings us the know-how needed for operation and production of the end products. Crucial factors for our success are the flexibility and reliability of the Reifenhäuser three-layer blown film extrusion line and the Reifenhäuser team we opted for,” she says.

In addition to Reifenhäuser’s start-up support, Anhui Excellent has taken experts from Australia on board who are already experienced in the production of agricultural film.

The investment has paid off. Today, the product range includes agricultural stretch film and packaging film. By now, the company has a leading position in terms of film quality in China – an important prerequisite for future success in a strongly growing market. In 2014, the production of agricultural film in China rose by 14%.

Over the next years, the country anticipates a further continuous increase of the production capacities and there should be no lack of consumers. Due to a constantly growing population, China is considered to be the fastest growing market for agricultural film, according to an analysis of Grand View Research.

Farmers can use agricultural stretch film to wrap hay bales. After wrapping, fermentation is triggered which has a positive effect on the nutritive value of the hay. While this technology is widespread in Europe, North America and Australia, it is still in the initial stage of development in China.

The three-layer Evolution line supplied by Reifenhäuser allows for a width of 2,200 mm maximum; output of 550 kg/hour and raw materials like LDPE, LLDPE, mLLDPE, PIB, PP and HDPE to be used.

Besides agricultural film, the line can be used to produce packaging film and lamination film