The Italian paper manufacturer Fedrigoni has just acquired the research and development center located in Voiron near Grenoble in Isère. This establishment was part of Arjowiggins, placed in receivership last September . With this transaction, the 5,000-employee group aims to accelerate product development in the areas of RFID, printed electronics and advanced paper media.
The Italian company keeps the seven employees of the research center as well as the machines, and takes over the patents and brands of the site, including the Powercoat brand. PowerCoat is a recyclable and connected paper thanks to printed electronic circuits, an NFC chip and an antenna.
The paper group sees many possible applications for the innovations of this R&D center, both in the field of adhesive labels and luxury packaging. In particular, it cites solutions for protecting brands against counterfeiting, product traceability (which can be used to control CO2 emissions linked to transport, for example) and personalized consumer experiences with the product and packaging through digital interactions.
This acquisition also strengthens Fedrigoni in the field of cellulose-based materials. The research site is part of a unique ecosystem in France. It is close to the Grenoble INP âeuros Pagora International School of Printed Communication and Biomaterials and the Centre Technique du Papier (CTP).
