Sixth W&H blown film line for single polymer films to replace polyester
Ultimate Flexipack, a manufacturer of packaging films with its office in Noida and plants in Haridwar and Jammu, purchased its sixth blown film line from W&H, a Varex II with MDO technology. Still in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the new line for PE-MDO films was installed at the company’s plant in Haridwar in the first half of 2021. The Varex II was the key component in a new project to produce single polymer films to replace polyester films and mixed laminates in appropriate applications.
With this investment and implementation of new technology, Ultimate Flexipack can now produce laminates from 100% PE material that offer similar functionalities as conventional lamination films. Moreover, like other W&H machines which provide ease of use and flexibility, both MDO-PE and the PE sealing films can be produced on the same line. This is an added advantage as the blown film line can be used for much wider applications.
Recyclable films and sustainability are key drivers in the current flexible packaging market as consumer and brand owner expectations of packaging continue to rise. Apart from enhanced product protection, greater convenience, and improved aesthetics, sustainability is an important requirement. Companies such as Ultimate Flexipack, known for their high-quality films, are responding to these challenges. One alternative to conventional multi-material laminates and structures is to develop a mono-material MDO-PE laminate that is easily recyclable provided it reaches the appropriate waste and recycling stream.
Jeevaraj Pillai, joint president of Ultimate Flexipack, states, “Ultimate Flexipack was committed to getting packaged supplies to the public throughout the pandemic. With the installation of the Varex II MDO blown film line, we feel we will be able to meet our customers’ desire for more sustainable solutions. We are happy to work with W&H, an innovative organization, to expand our product offerings. The new line will boost our production and flexibility while reducing environmental impact.
“PE films processed with MDO technology not only fulfill the requirements of the downstream processes such as gloss, transparency and mechanical properties but also provide greater pliability and quality for producers.”
W&H’s MDO technology contains several advantages that are proven with a large number of installations in the field globally. All the MDO unit’s roller temperatures and speeds are individually controllable, giving better handling and increased flexibility to the blown film producer.
For better-optimized film properties during production, the stretching gap can also be adjusted (between 5-60 mm). Thus, the Varex II with MDO has set a new benchmark for achieving a critical aspect of oriented films, i.e., despite the stiff nature of the MDO-PE film, a wide film with excellent flatness can be produced.
Shri Prakash Werlemann-Gupta, managing director of W&H India, comments on the relationship with Ultimate Flexipack, “This should be a landmark project for the Indian flexible packaging industry opening new avenues in the direction of sustainability. We are very thankful to Ultimate Flexipack for extending their long-term partnership with us with this very important project.”
The Covid-19 pandemic led to the country-wide lockdown on 25 March 2020. It will be two years tomorrow as I write this. What have we learned in this time? Maybe the meaning of resilience since small companies like us have had to rely on our resources and the forbearance of our employees as we have struggled to produce our trade platforms.
The print and packaging industries have been fortunate, although the commercial printing industry is still to recover. We have learned more about the digital transformation that affects commercial printing and packaging. Ultimately digital will help print grow in a country where we are still far behind in our paper and print consumption and where digital is a leapfrog technology that will only increase the demand for print in the foreseeable future.
Web analytics show that we now have readership in North America and Europe amongst the 90 countries where our five platforms reach. Our traffic which more than doubled in 2020, has at times gone up by another 50% in 2021. And advertising which had fallen to pieces in 2020 and 2021, has started its return since January 2022.
As the economy approaches real growth with unevenness and shortages a given, we are looking forward to the PrintPack India exhibition in Greater Noida. We are again appointed to produce the Show Daily on all five days of the show from 26 to 30 May 2022.
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