La Bobst's 'Generation 2.0' includes new high barrier polypropylene laminated bags, printed in gravure and recyclable, with the option of a metallized AluBond or transparent AlOx (aluminum oxide) barrier and solvent-free adhesive and / or finish.
It is the first UV flexography combined with digital inkjet on laminated polypropylene bags, with AluBond metallization and barrier properties, using solvent-free adhesive for a monolayer bag designed for recycling.
"Finding sustainable alternatives to non-recyclable plastics is one of the most important challenges of our time," he explained Nick copeland, Director of R&D at Bobst. “It is particularly difficult for flexible packaging such as those for food use, in which the high barrier protection against oxygen and water that prevents spoilage is currently obtained by multilayer packaging of different materials that cannot be recycled. This new generation of high barrier monolayer structures brings us closer to fully recyclable solutions that will replace non-recyclable packaging. "
Each project partner has played an essential role in the development and industrialization of the new monolayer material solutions.
Dow is the world's leading supplier of polyethylene (PE) resins and represents the first step in the Generation 2.0 sample production chain.
Brückner Maschinenbau is the market leader in extrusion and stretching lines for biaxial film (BO). With its R&D resources, it has been possible to achieve good performance from BO films in terms of barrier properties and processability.
Hosokawa Alpine is a world leader in the blown extrusion industry and an expert in MDO (Machine Direction Orientation) technology, a critical component for manufacturing high-performance polyethylene monolayer composites.
Elba develops and manufactures automatic high speed bag making machines. The company converts the finished coils into bags.
Sun chemical, a world leader in advanced inks, coatings, pigments and materials, provides the sustainable, solvent-free oxygen barrier adhesives used in the program.
Michaelman develops and manufactures the specialty and sustainable chemicals used in digital printing and food packaging; has provided the water-based barrier finish used in part of the project.
indopoly manufactures a wide range of biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) films for the flexible packaging industry; provided a BOPP film with a special sheet for one of the bags.
UFlex is the largest Indian company of flexible packaging and oriented films (BOPET & BOPP); provided the BOPP film used in some tests.
"It is an association of like-minded companies, all determined to design sustainable alternatives to non-recyclable flexible packaging," said Nick Copeland.
