{"id":72449,"date":"2022-11-29T10:08:14","date_gmt":"2022-11-29T09:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/?p=72449"},"modified":"2022-11-29T10:08:14","modified_gmt":"2022-11-29T09:08:14","slug":"sealing-packaging-material-with-the-laser","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/verpackungsmaterial-mit-dem-laser-versiegeln\/","title":{"rendered":"Sealing packaging material with the laser"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

In a joint project, scientists from the Laser Centre at M\u00fcnster University of Applied Sciences and the company Empac have found a method to seal big bags airtight. A new type of laser process and a specially developed automated machine system are used for this purpose.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

In the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, highly sensitive raw materials are packed and stored in airtight packaging in so-called big bags. The high-quality packaging units prevent both dust and moisture ingress. The company Empac<\/a> from Emsdetten, which manufactures the transport and storage containers - the big bags - has, however, recognised a problem in production: The packaging units are conventionally sewn together.<\/strong> However, each seam creates small holes, which in turn pose a potential risk of contamination.<\/p>

The company has therefore turned to the Laser centre<\/a> at the Department of Physical Engineering at M\u00fcnster University of Applied Sciences to jointly search for an alternative that would allow the big bags to be sealed cleanly and with high strength. After two years of research, the team found a solution by using the Packaging material welded at the seams using an innovative laser process and a specially developed automated machine system<\/strong>. The ZIM project has now been completed for the time being. \u201eZIM\u201c stands for the \u201eCentral Innovation Programme for SMEs\u201c of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. The programme supports companies in implementing their ideas with appropriate funding.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Laser\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Together, the team from the Laser Centre at M\u00fcnster University of Applied Sciences and the company Empac have found a way to seal big bags airtight. From the left: Research assistant Alexander Steitz, Empac employee Norbert Bytomski, Empac development manager Siegfried Hartmann, research assistants Jan-Philipp Wessels and J\u00fcrgen Gr\u00f6ninger, Prof. Dr Evgeny Gurevich, Empac authorised signatory Sebastian Hans and research assistant Sascha Wagner. (Image: FH M\u00fcnster\/Frederik Tebbe) <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u201eWe now have the opportunity to create reproducible seal-tight seams,\u201c explains Jan-Philipp Wessels, engineer and research associate at the Laser Centre. The team led by Prof Dr Evgeny Gurevich, graduate engineer J\u00fcrgen Gr\u00f6ninger and research assistants Alexander Steitz and Wessels have achieved this using the so-called \u201eV-seam method\u201c: A machine unwinds two rolls of the polypropylene or polyethylene fabric from which the big bags are made, and a laser welds them together in the centre under a defined contact pressure<\/strong>. \u201eThis allows us to heat the material with pinpoint accuracy and create a hermetically sealed and precise weld seam.\u201c<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"BIg\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Airtight thanks to the V-seam. (Image: FH M\u00fcnster\/Frederik Tebbe) <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Empac employee Norbert Bytomski also sees the advantage of the laser: \u201eThe laser creates a homogeneous joint and generates a constant temperature in the weld seam.<\/strong>\u201c It was important not to heat the material too much to prevent the fabric from shrinking. \u201eThis is called the memory effect,\u201c says Wessels. \u201eIt's similar to a rubber that is first stretched and then returns to its original shape. The aim was to avoid this.\u201c Accordingly, the team at the laser centre, which generally works with metals rather than plastics, carried out material tests to check how the fabric reacts to high temperature changes, for example.<\/p>

\u201eIf we adjust the parameters accordingly, we can also process other plastics with the machine and the V-seam process,\u201c says Steitz. As part of the research project the Laser Centre has been able to prove that hermetically sealed welding is possible.<\/strong> Additional investigations and economic considerations are required for direct implementation in industrial production processes. The project partners agree that this requires further development work. \u201eThere are already interested companies that have expressed a strong interest in the innovative and contactless manufacturing process,\u201c says Wessels.<\/p>

Source<\/em>FH M\u00fcnster<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

IBC and Big Bags - More news<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRingmetall unit IPL takes over Indutainer\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tThe Industrial Packaging Liner (IPL) division of Ringmetall SE has taken over the business assets of Indutainer GmbH.\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead more \"\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSch\u00e4fer Werke strengthens its position in Austria\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tThe Sch\u00e4fer Werke Group has fully acquired the Austrian company Automationstechnik GmbH with effect from 1 July 2025.\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead more \"\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRedesign of IBCs for transporting sterile products\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tGreif and the CDF Corporation have developed a redesign of the GCube IBC Flex especially for the transport of highly sensitive products.\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead more \"\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMerger for bag-in-box solutions\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tThe Aran Group acquires a majority stake in IBA Germany and intends to open up new markets and consolidate its foothold in Germany.\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead more \"\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\"Specialist<\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tA successful symbiosis\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tIntermediate Bulk Alliance GmbH and Werit have realised a sterile reusable bulk packaging for ice cream in a joint project.\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead more \"\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tNew tool finds the most sustainable IBC for liquids\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tTosca has introduced a new life cycle analysis (LCA) tool. With this tool, companies can select the most sustainable type of IBC for liquids to reduce the environmental impact of transporting bulk liquids.\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead more \"\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In a joint project, scientists from the Laser Centre at M\u00fcnster University of Applied Sciences and the company Empac have found a method to seal big bags airtight. A new type of laser process and a specially developed automated machine system are used for this purpose.","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":72450,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"__cvm_playback_settings":[],"__cvm_video_id":"","rank_math_description":"In einem gemeinsamen Projekt des Laserzentrums der FH M\u00fcnster und der Firma Empac wurde eine Methode gefunden, um Big Bags luftdicht zu verschwei\u00dfen. ","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Laser","rank_math_title":"","csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[58766,59938,54,44,39],"class_list":{"0":"post-72449","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-verpackungstechnik","8":"tag-empac","9":"tag-fh-muenster","10":"tag-kunststoff-und-verbunde","11":"tag-transportverpackung","12":"tag-verpackungstechnik","13":"cs-entry","14":"cs-video-wrap"},"acf":[],"vimeo_video":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72449","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72449"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72449\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/72450"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72449"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72449"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}