Ineos Styrolution benefits from Bischof+Klein stretch hood packaging solution

INEOS Styrolution and Bischof + Klein have recently announced the installation of a stretch hood packaging solution at the INEOS Styrolution production site in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Of particular interest is the fact that the packaging material used in the application is based on Styroflex®, an SBC copolymer produced by INEOS Styrolution.

The Bischof + Klein (B+K) stretch hood film is used today in the Luran® S facility, a production line producing about 35,000 tonnes of packaged goods per year. Luran S is used for example in automotive interior and exterior applications. Due to its UV resistance it is also the material of choice for outdoor applications including wind turbines and gardening equipment.

Peter Lakeman, Manager Engineering Ludwigshafen at INEOS Styrolution comments: "It is very motivating for us to see our own packaging material Styroflex through the eyes of a customer. The Styroflex based film has turned out to be exactly the right material for our purpose. It is very robust, yet light and thin, resulting for example in much less packaging waste than other solutions. Bischof + Klein was very instrumental bringing a lot of expertise to the table delivering a truly complete solution."

Frank Heermann, Manager Product Development Industrial Packaging at Bischof + Klein, adds: "We enjoy the collaboration with INEOS Styrolution in Ludwigshafen. It is interesting to see that the company is using its own products. The Styroflex based film increases the flexibility for the users of the packaging machines. Overall, it allows us to better meet our customers' requirements."

Styroflex is a styrene-butadiene block copolymer (SBC) with the properties of a thermoplastic elastomer (S-TPE). In film applications, Styroflex provides excellent stretch recovery and superior transparency and puncture resistance. Styroflex PG77 was particularly tailored for packaging applications like stretch hood solutions. It combines maximum transparency with outstanding elongation and extreme toughness. Styroflex PG77 can be stretched up to 200% with enormous recovery capacity: It snaps back to its original shape, clings tightly to the load and holds it securely.

About Bischof + Klein

Bischof + Klein is a leading European full-service supplier of flexible plastic and laminate packaging and technical films, and is represented around the world by a strong network of sales offices. Industrial packaging from B+K is used world-wide by major players within the chemicals, agriculture and horticulture, construction and housing, high-purity products and foodstuffs industries. The product range encompasses open sacks and valve sacks, liners, shrink films, bale wrapping films, flat films, label films, stretch hood films, hazardous material packaging and FFS films. Packaging for high-purity products is manufactured under clean room conditions in a separate production facility.

The B+K-GROUP employs a total of around 2,800 staff at five production plants in Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Poland. In 2018, the B+K-GROUP generated turnover of around 567 million Euros.

About INEOS Styrolution

INEOS Styrolution is the leading, global styrenics supplier with a focus on styrene monomer, polystyrene, ABS Standard and styrenic specialties. The company provides styrenic applications for many everyday products across a broad range of industries, including Automotive, Electronics, Household, Construction, Healthcare, Packaging and Toys/ Sports/ Leisure. In 2018, sales were at 5.4 billion euros. INEOS Styrolution employs approximately 3,500 people and operates 20 production sites in ten countries.