One solution is a high barrier packaging material combining UPM Solide Lucent base paper with three of Michelman’s water-based coatings, aiming to deliver robust oxygen and moisture vapour barriers with heat-sealability, designed for products such as chocolate and coffee. Another solution is said to offer “superior barrier properties” for frozen foods, based on a combination of either UPM Asendo or UPM Asendo Pro barrier papers and Michelman’s heat-sealable barrier coatings.
The third solution has reportedly “significantly boosted” resistance to water vapour and grease, involving Michelman’s VaporCoat 2240 coating and the existing barrier properties of UPM Asendo and UPM Asendo Pro papers, particularly suited for inner liners in end-uses such as corrugated cardboard boxes. The companies state that all three structures have been tested for recyclability according to the PTS-RH 021/97 cat II method.
“UPM’s papers provide a perfect foundation for our water-based barrier and heat seal coatings. Working closely with them for many years has allowed our combined team to increase the performance threshold of fibre-based substrates while maintaining recyclability,” comments Thierry Van Migem, sales director EMEA at Michelman.
Both companies will be exhibiting at Pack Expo International in Chicago, USA, taking place from November 3rd–6th. Esa Saukkonen, packaging portfolio development manager at UPM R&D and Talia Collins, global R&D manager of Printing & Packaging at Michelman are due to present the results of the collaboration on the Pack Expo Innovation Stage 2 on November 4th.
UPM Specialty Papers recently partnered with Unipaco to create a recyclable, heat sealable salad and herb pot wrapper, said to guarantee product safety and meet German 95/5 mono-material requirements, with single-component materials accounting for 95% of the packaging mass. UPM states the fibre-based wrapper is safe for food contact and compliant with recyclability requirements.
The company previously teamed up with Henkel and Koenig & Bauer on a heat-sealable ’doypack’ confectionary pouch aiming to bring together recyclability, high barrier properties, and suitability for both traditional and digital printing methods. The pouches are said to be safe for food contact and recyclable in existing fibre recycling streams.
