PACKAGING | TECHNOLOGY
Innovations in packaging with sustainable materials
Alternative materials are increasingly being used in packaging, and suppliers are working hard to help improve processibility of these bio-based and recycled plastics. By Mikell Knights
Bio-based materials and compounds continue to gain attention in rigid and flexible packaging applications where they offer potential reductions in carbon footprint and reliance on fossil fuels. Machinery technology advances improve the processability of these materials resulting in higher- quality products that deliver performance charac- teristics similar to fossil-based resins. Meanwhile, new processes such as direct compounding, which deliver material savings with precise formulations, and microcellular moulding, which offers product lightweighting with reduced cycle times and energy consumption, are emerging. And the materials themselves are being developed with improved mechanical and thermal properties. Innovations that expand the use of polylactic acid (PLA) materials in packaging have been an area of focus for injection moulding machinery manufacturer Nissei Plastic Industrial. In 2009 the company released N-PLAjet, a specialty injection moulding system it developed in partnership with
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material suppliers, mould makers and a processor to add heat resistance to PLA products up to 120° C. Poor heat resistance was one of the disadvan- tages of PLA products, say officials at Nissei who discussed these developments with Injection World. It has continued to be actively involved in the development of PLA solutions for packaging since then. At K2022, Nissei group company Negri Bossi demonstrated the manufacture of a PLA bottle produced using PLA injection blow moulding technology it has developed. Nissei co-developed the “blow-grade” PLA material in partnership with a material maker. According to Negri Bossi, “the demonstration does not require a special blow moulding machine, which is commonly used for moulding bottles, but it uses a general-purpose injection machine and a special mould.” Negri Bossi produced the rigid packaging on its new Nova5eT series of electric machines, the fifth generation of which was presented at the K show. The bottles were
Main image: Foamed
moulded PLA containers produced by Yizumi
July/August 2023 | INJECTION WORLD 29
IMAGE: YIZUMI
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