The transition to sustainable packaging has become a priority for industry players. With this in mind, Heidelberg and Solenis have joined forces to offer an innovative solution: the integration of barrier coatings into the flexo printing process. This approach aims to meet the growing demand for recyclable and compostable packaging, while optimizing production costs.
Meeting growing demand for sustainable packaging
Fiber-based packaging represents an attractive alternative to traditional plastics, but requires specific coatings to ensure effective protection against moisture, grease and liquids. The collaboration between Heidelberg and Solenis aims to meet this demand by integrating barrier coatings directly into the printing process, without additional steps.
An optimized printing process with the Boardmaster machine
Heidelberg's Boardmaster, capable of speeds of up to 600 meters per minute, stands out for its ability to integrate inline barrier coatings into the flexo printing process. The technical challenge of this collaboration lies in precisely adapting the chemistry of the coatings developed by Solenis to Heidelberg's flexographic printing technology. This enables the production of high value-added packaging, while maintaining competitive production costs.
Dr. David Schmedding, Director of Technology and Sales at Heidelberg, says: "We aim to produce cost-effective packaging solutions for the food industry that are geared towards efficiency and sustainability."
One of the main aims of this cooperation is to limit the use of plastics while offering packaging solutions based on renewable, reusable and compostable fibers. Solenis' barrier coating technology protects fiber packaging from external elements (water, steam, grease), while reducing the environmental impact of the materials used. This approach makes it possible to reduce the use of plastics in sectors where food safety and impermeability are priorities.
Diversified applications in the packaging industry
Although the primary target is the food industry, this technology could also be applied to other sectors. Barrier coatings adapted to the Boardmaster meet the requirements of different markets, such as cosmetics or pharmaceutical packaging, where advanced protection functions are needed. The machine's fast, adaptable production capacity paves the way for a wider range of applications
