Barrier coatings are used to prevent water or water vapour, hot and cold liquids, oils and fats from leaking out of or penetrating into paper packaging. With this in mind, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) and Solenis, a manufacturer of specialty chemicals, announced a collaboration in the field of paper packaging.
The aim of the agreement is to develop a cost-effective process to integrate barrier coatings for fibre-based packaging directly into the existing roll-fed flexo printing process with the Boardmaster from HEIDELBERG. The announcement was made during Fachpack 2024 in Nuremberg, Germany.
‘The growing global demand for sustainably produced, cost-effective, recyclable and compostable packaging makes the flexible paper sector an attractive growth market for us,’ said Dr. David Schmedding, Chief Technology and Sales Officer at HEIDELBERG.
‘Our new Boardmaster web flexo printing machine, with its production speed of up to 600 metres per minute and an availability of up to 90 percent, offers the ideal conditions for this. In our collaboration with Solenis, we are aiming for the cost-effective production of packaging solutions for the food industry that are geared towards efficiency and sustainability.’
The cost-effective application of barrier coatings plays a key role in the quality and safety of flexible paper packaging. The collaboration between HEIDELBERG and Solenis is therefore about optimally coordinating the individual components of the Boardmaster, the chemical composition of the Solenis barrier coatings and the entire process technology and making them available to packaging producers.
At the same time, the use of plastics is to be reduced through environmentally friendly alternatives with improved barrier functionality. The overall package should enable customers to expand their range of applications in the flexible paper sector with improved barrier functions. The result is cost-optimised applications that are predominantly reusable, recyclable, renewable and compostable.
‘Packaging companies are under increasing pressure to optimise processes while meeting ambitious sustainability goals,’ said William Kuecker, Senior Director, Strategic Marketing at Solenis. ‘Our partnership with HEIDELBERG pushes the boundaries of what is possible for paper packaging manufacturers. With the combination of state-of-the-art printing technology and innovative, high-performance specialty coatings, packaging manufacturers can increase their operational efficiency and product performance while meeting the growing demand for sustainable products and processes.’
HEIDELBERG GRAPHIC SYSTEMS SOUTHERN AFRICA
+27 86 142 4756
warren.jones@heidelberg.com
www.heidelberg.com/za
