Surface Engineering
One of our core strengths is our expertise in film coating.
Much of our Research & Development work is centred on developing new performance coatings to create films for specific applications.
Our coating capability is key to our determination to stay at the leading edge of film development. It enables us to react quickly to changing market trends and to produce novel films which offer cost-effective solutions to a wide range of different challenges in the packaging, labelling, graphic arts and tobacco overwrap sectors.
Whilst there are minimum economic production volume levels, our coating technology enables us to produce comparatively small quantities of speciality films as markets emerge and develop, or in areas where demand is limited by the specialised nature of the application.
These factors combine to make us the development partner of choice for many of our global customers and have enabled us to establish world-leading status in certain markets.
In the Labels sector, for example, our coated BOPP films are the industry benchmark and have opened up large and wholly new opportunities for paper replacement.
In markets such as Labels and Graphic Arts – which require superb adhesive and print adhesion as well as long-term durability and resistance – our speciality coatings deliver just the right surface characteristics.
Other areas of expertise are in the arena of smart and active packaging where we are currently developing coatings for tamper evidence and in variable barrier coatings which tailor films for precise product protection from moisture, aroma and gases for extended shelf-life.
Cellulose
Cellulose films’ characteristics can be significantly tailored through the use of different coating techniques. A range of coatings are used that allow us to control the moisture barrier of the base film, and to alter its resistance properties, heat sealability, machinability and printability.
We are also focused on the development of multi layer biodegradable structures using a natural cellulose base film with high performance compostable sealant layers.
BOPP
By adding coatings to our core BOPP we are able to control a wide range of film requirements including printability, sealability, stiffness, barrier, chemical resistance, machinability, optical qualities, anti-static, anti-mist and thermal and dimensional stability.
Differential coating allows us to provide each side of the film with different surface characteristics depending on its eventual uses.