On 13 March 2026, the final day of the Technology Days industry event hosted by Arburg in Lossburg, Germany, the company officially launched its network partnership with the Thin Wall Packaging Academy (TWPA), based in Au, Switzerland. The cooperation is intended to generate mutual benefits and increase the visibility of thin-wall injection moulding technology both within the industry and among the wider public. A key element of the initiative is intensive training of specialists, who can then present the advantages of thin-wall packaging and contribute to improving its market image.
The partnership is designed to facilitate the exchange of information on new solutions, requirements and trends among network partners in the field of manufacturing and use of thin-wall packaging. As emphasised by Michael Haug from the Packaging team at Arburg, the objective is to draw more attention to this topic, expand the reach of all partners with experience in thin-wall products and channel additional interest towards the packaging sector within plastics processing through the formation of a cooperating cluster.
Nature of the partnership and origins of the cooperation
The network cooperation with TWPA takes the form of a voluntary, non-contractual association based on mutual respect and a shared commitment to modern, practice-oriented education in the field of thin-wall packaging. According to the training institution, the partnership focuses on modern education in the area of thin-wall packaging products and their manufacturing technologies.
The starting point for establishing the relationship was Arburg's presence at the leading global trade fair K 2025. It was there that TWPA business coach and lecturer Nijaz Husidic noticed the company's exhibit. At the Arburg stand, thin-wall IML cups were being produced on an electric Allrounder 720 A injection moulding machine equipped with a four-cavity mould and fast take-out automation supplied by Brink. The electric 1300 injection unit achieved injection speeds of up to 400 mm/s.
At this exhibit, Arburg demonstrated that the injection compression moulding process represents an efficient alternative to thermoforming for thin-wall applications. Markus Haas from the Packaging team at Arburg describes the advantages of combining injection compression moulding and in-mould labelling (IML) as follows: "With this innovative process, we achieve a lighter component while also simultaneously optimising clamping force and energy requirements. These are tangible benefits that we wish to bring to the attention of specialists and, through them, to the wider public in partnership with TWPA. After all, injection compression moulding of thin-walled articles effectively minimises the use of plastics, particularly in serial production."
Importance of thin-wall technology and injection compression moulding
The example of thin-wall IML cup production on the Allrounder 720 A became a reference point for TWPA in assessing the potential of the technology. The process demonstrated the possibility of reducing wall thickness while maintaining functionality and quality of the packaging, as well as integrating in-mould decoration within the injection cycle. For the packaging sector, this means both simplification of the process chain and potential material and energy savings.
The organisers of TWPA paid particular attention to the combination of the high dynamics of the injection unit with the fast part take-out system, which is crucial in high-throughput production of thin-wall products. The Arburg exhibit was recognised by the training institution as one of the most interesting solutions presented at K 2025 and was highlighted in TWPA's post-show report on the fair.
Joint training activities and use of know-how
The exchange of experience in process technology and Arburg's specialised application know-how convinced TWPA to deepen the cooperation. As a result, the training institution can now use the content of Arburg presentations and practical application examples in its own events and courses. This enables course participants to explore the subject of thin-wall packaging and injection compression moulding from several perspectives, including that of a supplier of machines, tools and automation.
The TWPA educational platform currently offers four part-time online training modules. They cover introductory issues in thin-wall technology, the design of tools, processes and products in thin-wall packaging (TWP), as well as automation and in-mould labelling in TWP and an overview of packaging processes and technologies. Through the partnership with Arburg, this content can be supplemented with up-to-date application examples and process data from industrial production installations.
Within the framework of the partnership, further exchange of information is planned between Arburg's application experts and TWPA teaching staff, supporting the updating of training programmes and their better alignment with the needs of the packaging industry. The parties emphasise the importance of the practical dimension of education, which is intended to help companies optimise thin-wall moulding processes, reduce raw material and energy consumption and implement solutions with higher production efficiency.
Training formats offered by TWPA
The Thin Wall Packaging Academy's training programme in the field of thin-wall packaging currently comprises four modules delivered as part-time online sessions:
- Introduction to thin-wall packaging,
- Module on tools, process and product design in thin-wall packaging (TWP),
- Automation and IML in TWP,
- Packaging technologies and processes.
These modules are intended to provide participants with a broader and structured view of thin-wall technology, from the basics of product and mould design, through process parameters, to the integration of automation and in-mould decoration. The cooperation with Arburg expands the technical basis of the courses with specific application examples and current machine solutions presented at leading industry events.
