The ecological transformation of the packaging industry is no longer merely a marketing requirement or a marker of \u00abresponsible business\u00bb. Today it is a hard necessity dictated by European legislation (in particular the PPWR \u2014 Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation directives) and by the global requirements of retailers.<\/p>
The main vectors of this transformation have become mono-materials<\/strong> (which are easily recyclable, unlike traditional multilayer PET\/PE laminate) and biodegradable (compostable) films<\/strong> (based on PLA, PHA or starch).<\/p> However, for manufacturers the switch to new eco-materials often turns into a serious technological challenge. Old packaging lines, optimised for classic plastics, \u00abrefuse\u00bb to work correctly with the new structures.<\/p> In this article we will look at exactly which problems engineers face in production when switching to eco-films, and how to adapt existing packaging equipment without losing productivity.<\/p> Traditional combined films (for example, PET\/PE or OPP\/PE) were ideally suited to high-speed packaging thanks to a clear division of functions: the outer layer (PET) withstood high sealing temperatures without melting, while the inner one (PE) melted quickly and created a tight seam.<\/p> Ecological alternatives have completely different physical and mechanical properties:<\/p> For many enterprises, buying a completely new packaging machine for eco-films is financially unjustified. The optimal way is a selective retrofit (upgrading of individual units)<\/strong> of the existing equipment fleet.<\/p> The transition process usually consists of the following stages:<\/p> Switching to biodegradable and mono-material films is a technological examination for a production facility, but at the same time an enormous competitive advantage. Modern engineering solutions make it possible to adapt practically any quality packaging equipment to the new standards. The main thing is to approach this process comprehensively: to assess the physics of the material, to control the thermodynamics of sealing precisely and to entrust the modernisation to experts.<\/p> The \u00abSteiner-Ukraine\u00bb team has many years of experience in the selection, setup and modernisation of process and packaging equipment for the strictest environmental requirements. Do you need an audit of your line before switching to mono-materials? Contact our specialists for a consultation!<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The ecological transformation of the packaging industry is no longer merely a marketing requirement or a marker of \u00abresponsible business\u00bb. Today it is a hard necessity dictated by European legislation (in particular the PPWR \u2014 Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation directives) and by the global requirements of retailers. The main vectors of this transformation…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":1589959,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[189],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1589958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stattya"],"yoast_head":"\nWhy do the problems arise? The physics of the new materials<\/strong><\/h2>
The main challenges for equipment and engineering solutions<\/strong><\/h2>
Challenge No. 1: rejects, burn-through or leaking sealed seams<\/strong><\/h3>
Challenge No. 2: violation of the pack geometry and a shift in the print (design) repeat<\/strong><\/h3>
Challenge No. 3: difficulty in forming a sharp fold and cutting the pack<\/strong><\/h3>
Retrofit (upgrade) or purchase of a new line?<\/strong><\/h2>