The demands on modern food packaging are constantly increasing. In addition to protecting and preserving products, sustainability, design and functionality are also key focus areas. Particularly in the field of fresh convenience products such as sandwiches, packaging solutions are needed that are both visually appealing and technically sophisticated. Etimex offers a solution with a new PP barrier film.
A leading manufacturer of fresh sandwiches faced the challenge of finding a packaging solution that allowed for complex geometries while offering maximum product visibility and extended shelf life. Conventional materials quickly reached their limits here, particularly when implementing the desired deep-drawn shape with pronounced contours and clearly defined edges.
Etimex offers the solution to this challenge with the introduction of Vistaform X. This innovative PP barrier film has been specifically developed for demanding thermoforming applications and offers special material properties. With draw depths of up to 90 mm at a film thickness of 300 µm, the material impresses with high precision and process reliability in industrial series production.
A key advantage of Vistaform X is its reduced material density, enabling weight savings of over 35 percent compared to classic solutions. This has a positive impact on material costs and the ecological footprint of the packaging. Furthermore, the material's brilliant transparency offers optimal product presentation at the point of sale.
Barrier properties and sustainability
The integrated barrier properties of Vistaform X are another plus point. An EVOH layer provides an excellent oxygen barrier, while the water vapour barrier preserves the freshness of the products. This combination contributes significantly to extending shelf life, which is crucial, especially for sensitive foodstuffs.
A particular advantage with regard to current regulatory requirements is the material structure as a PP-EVOH-PP composite. This structure allows for complete recyclability within the scope of the applicable requirements of the PPWR and combines high barrier performance with future-proof circularity.
Versatility and efficiency in processing
In processing, the new mono-PP barrier film also shows its strengths. The material runs stably and efficiently on modern deep-drawing machines and can be processed without problems on most machines designed for APET. High cycle rates, excellent reproducibility and low scrap rates enable economical production.
Furthermore, Vistaform X is extremely versatile: with appropriate formulations, it is also suitable for deep-freeze applications and is pasteurisable and sterilisable. This opens up additional areas of application in the food sector.
SourceEtimex : Etimex
