Testing the stretchability of various formulations to unlock the potential of future-ready BOPE packaging solutions.
A strong collaboration across the value chain could be the key to a circular economy. At Brückner’s BOPE Summit, industry leaders echoed a shared commitment to advancing mono-material BOPE films for sustainable and recyclable packaging.
A prime example of collaboration in action were the recent BOPE trials at Brückner’s technology center in Siegsdorf, Germany. On Brückner’s pilot line, the renowned Indian film manufacturer Toppan Speciality Films optimized film properties, examined BOPE structures for printable, metallizable, and barrier films, and produced sample rolls for converting tests. This was achieved through seamless teamwork with global raw material suppliers, including leading Asian producers, and Toppan, which also prepared pre-samplings for their converting trials and customers.
The wonderful realization was: When renowned film producers, top raw material suppliers, and Brückner come together, innovation is inevitable! Mr. Tapas Kanti Mandal, Head of R&D department at Toppan Speciality Films, India along with Mr. Young Joon Park, Advisor-Global Packaging subdivision with Toppan Inc. : "These were very intensive, busy but also very successful days for us. In the end, of course, it's the results that count – and they were everything we had hoped for.“
Dr. Alois Körber, Team Leader Speciality Films in Brückner’s R&D department adds: "A major advantage was that we were able to test the properties of the films produced in our perfectly equipped film laboratory immediately. It was then possible to use the pilot plant to always improve mechanical properties such as stiffness or puncture resistance, shrinkage properties and also optical properties further.”
For Toppan, the recent BOPE trials at Brückner’s technology center were a crucial step in preparing for their upcoming BOPP/BOPE hybrid line, expected to launch in spring 2025. These trials provided Toppan with valuable insights into material behavior and the challenges of BOPE stretching, setting the stage for future innovations.
BOPE films (Biaxially Oriented Polyethylene), with their mono-material structure, represent a significant advancement for the circular economy, utilizing widely available PE recycling streams. The benefits of biaxial stretching and optimized converting processes make BOPE an ideal solution for sustainable and recyclable packaging.
Brückner’s hybrid line concept, which combines BOPE and BOPP production, offers manufacturers such as Toppan the flexibility to adapt quickly to changing market demands, ensuring they remain at the forefront of packaging innovation.
