100 % recyclability and excellent barrier properties need not be a contradiction in terms. The patented Reifenhäuser EVO Ultra Stretch unit makes polyethylene (PE). As a monomaterial, it is a high-performance, economical alternative to PET.
Stretched PE film for complex packaging applications
In conventional composite packaging, PET provides stability and barrier properties. On the downside, its recyclability is very restricted. Stretched PE produced with Reifenhäuser technology can fully replace PET with no loss of quality. The EVO Ultra Stretch process produces PE film with mechanical properties that meet all the requirements of the packaging industry in terms of high-performance packaging and its conversion: excellent heat.sealing property, high stiffness in the machine direction, good flatness, and perfect printability.
Energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness make entry easier
The process involves stretching the film from initial heat to ten times its surface area. Due to its patented positioning in the haul-off, the EVO Ultra Stretch features extremely low energy consumption and high process stability. A major advantage is that the PE film can be converted on existing conversion lines with no adaptation required. This makes the switchover to packaging made from PE monomaterial considerably easier. “To assist our customers introduce the product as smoothly as possible, we supply a full know-how package from a single source, complete with technology, film recipe, and processing parameters,” explains Eugen Friedel, Sales Direction at Reifenhäuser Blown Film. The application already passed its field trials successfully at a Reifenhäuser customer and brand owner. “Monomaterial packaging is the key to a functioning Circular Economy,” says Eugen Friedel.