NUREMBERG -- Flexible packaging is becoming increasingly popular, both for protecting sensitive food and medicines and adding the required brand messages. This development is being supported by social trends, with consumers wanting to see lightweight products whose packaging is easy to open and close again. Prepared foods are another area where their convenience functions come to the fore, with small portions being particularly popular for single professionals and older people. The products are packed hygienically and are intended to stay fresh as long as possible. 

At the European Coatings Show 2015, Bayer MaterialScience unveiled a new aliphatic isocyanate hardener under the name Desmodur quix 175 that has been customized to meet these requirements. This raw material allows for adhesive formulations for high-performance composite films, which cure quickly at room temperature and can be safely used in food and pharma packaging. The previous storage period of up to two weeks at an elevated temperature no longer applies. The project was preceded by a precise analysis of the market and is an excellent example of customer-oriented developments, true to the slogan “Inventing for you” of the Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties Business Unit of Bayer MaterialScience. 

Generating value-added along the value chain
Using Desmodur quix 175 offers benefits for the downstream process chain. Packaging manufacturers can make their production operations faster and more efficient, while also saving energy and money. This in turn helps them to improve their position in a fiercely competitive environment. The previously required storage capacity and the capital tied up as a result can now be used for other purposes, while investment in new facilities is not necessary. 

Special food packaging is sterilized at temperatures above 120 degrees Celsius to prevent the spread of germs and prolong product shelf life. It has to satisfy increasingly stringent safety requirements. Adhesives based on Desmodur quix 175 are demonstrably safe ? an absolute necessity on this market.

The needs of the food and pharmaceutical industries can be met with greater flexibility and speed. This gives brand owners the support they need to adapt to trends such as rapid design changes, smaller batches and higher throughput, thus delivering clear value-added.

The new development also offers benefits to adhesive manufacturers, as they can offer their customers an innovative product. “The new materials enable faster and more flexible production and processing of high-performance laminates compared with the isophorone diisocyanate-based adhesives previously used in this sector,” said Julia Hellenbach, marketing manager for packaging adhesives at Bayer MaterialScience. “They also meet all the specific requirements for use in packaging for food and medicines.” 

About Bayer MaterialScience

Bayer MaterialScience is one of the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction and the sports and leisure industries. At the end of 2014 Bayer MaterialScience had 30 production sites and employed approximately 14,200 people around the globe. Bayer MaterialScience is a Bayer Group company. 

Source: Bayer MaterialScience