Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/680166
44 tobaccoasia MANUFACTURING NEWS 制造新闻 India Shutdown No More In early April 2016 the Tobacco Institute of India (TII), a lobby group that represents 98% of India's cigarette industry, threatened to halt production claiming "ambiguity" over the government's policy on health warnings displayed on tobacco packs. In a statement they said that they had "unani- mously decided to shut all their cigarette factories with effect from April 1 owing to ambiguity on the policy related to revision of Graphic Health Warnings on tobacco product packs." According to the TTI, the cease in production would mean a daily loss of Rs.350 crore for the tobacco industry and that "the extreme 85% warnings will promote illegal cigarette trade and adversely affect the New Production Line for Rhodia FilterSorb Up and Running Solvay is introducing their new production line for Rhodia FilterSorb at its site in Freiburg, Germany. The last function tests have been successfully performed and the new production line can now produce up to 400 tons of Rhodia FilterSorb each year. Rhodia FilterSorb is a highly effective granular additive. It enables to produce a cigarette with an advanced filtration, preserving the authentic tobacco flavor combined with a cleaner smoking experience. Rhodia FilterSorb is made from neutral synthetic and natural raw materials. It provides selective filtration and also keeps the physical proper- ties of the filter during smoking. In markets where consumers do not appreciate charcoal filters due to its specific impact on taste, Rhodia FilterSorb is the solution to improve the filtration without losing the authentic tobacco flavor. As for markets where consumers are used to the specific taste of charcoal, a combination with Rhodia FilterSorb in a filter is a concept that will definitely enhance the filtration. Rhodia FilterSorb is a white, clean, and round granular additive. Thanks to its high mechanical resistance and low dust formation, it is clean and easy to process with standard filter making equipment. Rhodia FilterSorb can be applied to commonly used multi-segment filters, such as the so-called "Dalmatian" or cavity filters. Rhodia FilterSorb livelihood of 45.7 million people dependent on tobacco which included farmers, labour and workers." April 1st was to be the day when cigarette manufactures were to ensure that 85% of the surface area of their cigarette packages be covered with warnings on the harm posed by consuming tobacco. Following the shutdown, the Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA), repre- senting the interests of tobacco growers in the country, expressed concern that continued closure of tobacco products manufacturing had created a panic amongst the community with Rs 1200 crore of unsold tobacco crop lying in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh alone. The association said another Rs 700 crore of bank loans outstanding with farmers are under risk. FAIFA said the FCV tobacco crop had piled up on back of fluctuating buying by domestic manufacturers and poor demand from global buyers and appealed to the industry to resume production, as well as requested the government to withdraw larger graphic health warnings on tobacco products. India's tobacco industry had got unusual support from a health ministry-appointed parliamentary panel that said the implementation of large size health warnings would be an extreme measure. On April 15, ITC Ltd., India's largest cigarette manufacturing company, said it would resume the manufacturing of cigarettes in its factories following a High Court order passed in favor of the company. US Ex-PMI Plant Changes Pace A North Carolina manufacturing plant formerly owned by Philip Morris has been purchased by Alevo Manufacturing to make 40-foot-long containers that hold thousands of lithium ion battery cells. The batteries, called GridBanks, store extra electricity and release it when other energy sources cannot meet demand. For example, utility companies can combine the batteries with wind and solar power – storing energy generated during the day, for use at night. The batteries also enable utilities to integrate renewable electricity with traditional power sourc- es and reduce wasted energy, making the grid more reliable and efficient. That could lower energy costs and pollution.