The Bobst ‘hero samples’ are said to represent a significant achievement of project partners in their mission to offer advanced solutions using a new generation of polymers
Bobst and partners have new high barrier flexible packaging solutions. (Credit: BOBST)
Swiss packaging machinery and services provider Bobst, along with its partners, has unveiled ‘Generation 2.0’ samples of high barrier flexible packaging solutions.
The Bobst ‘hero samples’ are said to represent a significant achievement of project partners in their mission to offer advanced solutions using a new generation of polymers.
Bobst and its partners focused on the replacement of non-recyclable high barrier multi-material packaging structures with recyclable mono-material alternatives.
Designed for recycling, Bobst’s ‘Generation 2.0’ samples consist of ultra-high and high barrier full polypropylene laminated pouches, printed in gravure and recyclable.
The samples come with an option of an AluBond metallised barrier or transparent AlOx (aluminium oxide) barrier layer and solvent-free barrier adhesive and/or topcoat.
Bobst’s samples also include UV flexo combined with digital inkjet printing for AluBond metallisation, full polypropylene laminated bags with barrier performances, leveraging a solventless adhesive for a mono-material pouch designed for recycling.
The samples include UV low migration flexo printing, offering barrier with AluBond metallisation, on full low-density polyethylene laminated pouches.
In addition, the samples consist of CI flexo water-based printing on full MDO-PE laminated pouches with AluBond metallisation, thereby offering ultra-high barrier using a high barrier solventless adhesive.
Bobst R&D director Nick Copeland said: “Finding sustainable alternatives to non-recyclable plastics is one of the most important challenges of our times.
“It is a particular challenge for flexible packaging such as that used for food packaging, where the high barrier protection against oxygen and water that prevents deterioration is currently provided by multi-layer, multi-material packaging, which cannot be recycled.
“This next generation of high barrier mono-material structures brings us one step closer to being able to provide completely recyclable solutions to replace non-recyclable packaging.”
Bobst and its partners have already unveiled several different samples of mono-material standup pouches, including MDO PE, BOPE, BOPP and CPP, at K 2019.
Bobst’ project partners include Dow, Brückner Maschinenbau, Hosokawa Alpine, Elba, Sun Chemical, Michelman, Indopoly and UFlex.
Earlier this month, Bobst announced the introduction of a new SPEEDPACK automatic packer to better serve its customers.