Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/550331
46 tobaccoasia TOBACCO MANUFACTURING 制造新闻 WHO SAID WHAT? USA Imperial fights illicit Imperial Tobacco has rolled out its case trace tracking security technology in four more European factories and six markets in order to deal a blow to illicit tobacco trade. A cross-functional project team consisting of group IS, global engineer- ing and supply chain, as well as factory and market teams, spent two years perfecting the technology. Markets can now use Case Trace to track bulk supplies to customers and identify any shipments that fall outside the legitimate supply chain. Such information can be used as evidence for authorities to seize illegal products. "The coding and tracking project managers have done a fantastic job in driving this work but they couldn't have done so without the efforts of hundreds of others all working together," said Olaf Huderitz, head of supply chain services and project sponsor. Case Trace is now operational in 11 factories covering 13 EU markets. The next phase will see it rolled out in Germany and global duty free markets. Indonesia New Amcor plant Amcor Tobacco Packaging is scheduled to build a manufacturing plant in East Java, Indonesia. Amcor has expanded its presence in Indonesia in the last several years and plans to have the new produc- tion facility cater to customers not only in Indonesia but also in other countries. "Amcor will be the first international tobacco packaging player to establish a manufacturing presence in Indonesia, bringing new jobs, technology, and innovation to the country. This move underscores Amcor's long-term commit- ment to grow with its customers – espe- cially in emerging markets – and to contribute to the Indonesian economy," said Amcor president Peter Konieczny. The new facility is expected to start production in late 2015. North Korea Machinery imports up According to a new report by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), imports of Swiss cigarette- making machinery parts by North Korea skyrocketed in the first half of 2014, compared to last year's figures. North Korean imports of tobacco machinery components from Switzerland reached US$180,000 in the January-June period, well above the US$24,000 level recorded for all of 2013. The new trend can be attributed to the communist country's growing interest in investing in its cigarette industry. An earlier KOTRA report showed that North Korea's cigarette imports far exceeded its exports in 2013, with the country importing US$65.28 million worth of tobacco last year, about 77.8 times what the country sold in other countries. According to another academic report, the smoking rate among North Korean men aged 15 or more stood at 45.8%, with the global average being 31.1%. Europe JTI to close plants Japan Tobacco Inc. (JTI), may close some of its European manufacturing facilities in a restructuring plan after taxes and illegal trade started an industry slowdown in a number of European countries. Under the plan, JTI's facilities in Lisnafillan, Northern Ireland and in Wervik, Belgium would shut-down, production from these facilities moving to other sites, potentially in Poland and Romania, while some production in Germany would also be relocated. The closings should affect about 1,100 full-time jobs across the EU and will be completed from 2016 to 2018. "This restructuring proposal will allow JTI to optimize its operations, strengthen its competitive position and achieve its financial commitments in a challenging operating environment," said the company, which makes Benson & Hedges and Silk Cut cigarettes outside the US. EU AM 5200 approved The AM 5200 grain moisture meter from Sweden-based Perten Instruments was recently approved for official moisture payment analysis in Serbia, Croatia, Romania, and Tunisia. Parten Instruments AM5200 with reflex "...the FDA and the CDC, have been dissemi- nating the message that electronic cigarette use is harmful and they have largely hidden from the public the fact that vaping is much safer than smoking. As a result of these information campaigns… there has been a substantial decline in the proportion of the public which correctly believes that smoking is more hazardous than vaping." - Dr. Michael Siegel, professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health