Modern Plastics Worldwide - October 2007 - dae uptlax

MARKET
UPDATE
brand with high vapor and gas barrier,
see-through properties, and complete
compostability of lidding films or pouch
laminates. Treofan (Raunheim, Germany)
just introduced a three-layer PLA
lidding film that is transparent, breathable,
and has good sealing and peel properties.
From Amcor Flexibles (Barn-
CLICK MPW a INFOLINK @ www.modplas.com
wood, England) in July came a 40-μm
coextruded heat-seal film pack, PushPop,
for UK retailer Tesco, for vertical formfill-seal
(VFFS) applications, based on
biodegradable resin NaturePLus from
Mater-Bi/Novamont (Novara, Italy).
But not all markets are experiencing
the same growth in flexibles. Emerging
Using low-power lasers, Videojet
DataFlex Plus thermal transfer
overprinter (TTO) can print at up
to 40 in/sec (102 cm/sec) and code
more than 425 packages/min.
economies such as India and Pakistan are
seeing demand for small, single-use flexible
film pouches for toiletries where purchasers
cannot afford larger solid packs.
Michael DelFranco, thermal transfer
overprinting product manager at printing
equipment maker Videojet Technologies
(Wood Dale, IL), says in developed
markets VFFS manufacturers expect continued
growth in pouches thanks to intelligent
use of valves and gussets.
“Flexible film allows the retailer to
put more items in the same area,” Del-
Franco says, noting the evolution of
packing for foods like tuna, which is now
also sold in pouches rather than just tins.
Borealis’ Thompson says metal and
aluminum foil are under threat due to
skyrocketing prices for metalized films.
“We see plastics film benefitting at the
expense of aluminum and paper for the
reason of price/performance, and limitations
of aluminum in terms of film thickness
reduction,” he says. “We expect
downgauging trends to continue, driven
by cost-cutting measures and environmental
pressure.”
DSM Engineering Plastics (Sittard,
Netherlands) expects an up to 7%
growth in demand for flexible food packaging
with increased shelf life and
improved barrier. The company just
introduced Akulon XP-brand nylon 6 for
meat, sausage, cheese, fish, and coffee
packaging that is said to have a broader
processing window, more uniform thickness
distribution in cast film, and more
melt strength, which can optimize the
LDPE/LLDPE ratio in multilayer films
without sacrificing the mechanical prop-
42 OCTOBER 2007 • MODERN PLASTICS WORLDWIDE modplas.com