NOVA Chemicals Corporation announced a significant milestone in the global availability of biaxially oriented high-density polyethylene (BOPE-HD) film. Utilizing NOVA Chemicals’ resin, biaxial film manufacturers across the globe have successfully produced BOPE-HD film on commercial tenter frame lines. As the company states, BOPE-HD film is a fully recyclable alternative to traditional, non-recyclable, mixed material films for flexible packaging.
Bringing BOPE-HD Films to Market
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| Fully Recyclable Pouch Made With BOPE-HD Film |
NOVA Chemicals announced SURPASS® TX150-A resin in 2020 as the world’s first BOPE-HD resin specifically designed to run in the tenter frame process, for the production of BOPE-HD film. Strategic relationships were formed between biaxial film manufacturers and NOVA Chemicals, to deliver the BOPE-HD films to market, and meet the growing global demand for fully recyclable packaging. The collaborators include Inteplast (United States), JK Materials (South Korea), Oben Group (Ecuador), and Polivouga (Portugal).
Converters purchasing BOPE-HD films can expect a high-performing and sustainable product for various applications. Aurum Process Technology, a packaging company in Spain, leveraged BOPE-HD to enhance their highly efficient aseptic industrial cooking and packaging method, T-Sensation® process technology. This effort resulted in finished particulate food, ready meals, and pet food in fully recyclable, mono-material packaging.
Equipment to Enable BOPE-HD Films
Brückner Maschinenbau (Brückner), the world’s leading supplier of production lines for manufacturing biaxially stretched films, has been instrumental in bringing the supply of BOPE-HD online. Brückner has sold 18 BOPE/BOPP hybrid lines worldwide, with nine lines already in operation. These lines allow for additional capacity, which is key to the continued development and production of BOPE-HD solutions.
Utilizing one of the Brückner lines currently is film manufacturer Polivouga. “Understanding the positive impact of these fully recyclable films on our industry and the environment is precisely why we have invested in a hybrid line that can satisfy the demand for BOPE-HD film”, said Diogo Barros, Technical Service and Development Manager from Polivouga.
Packaging equipment suppliers, such as Effytec, which supply horizontal form-fill seal manufacturing equipment also support the adoption of fully recyclable films containing BOPE-HD by providing packaging solutions to companies like Aurum.
