Flexible Packaging


plastics plant in Birmingham, UK. The company, part of global engineering


Aquapak completes new purpose- built plastics plant A


quapak Polymers has completed a multi- million pound development of a purpose-built advanced manufacturing


company adi Group, was established in 2011 and has invested millions to develop a proprietary flexible polymer that is fit for the future: offering the same function and performance as conventional plastics, but is fully recyclable, biodegradable and harmless to marine life (if it ends up in the waterways it will eventually dissolve). Aquapak’s plastic film is based on a polyvinyl


alcohol, a base polymer that has been around for many decades and is used in laundry detergent pouches and as a lubricant in eye drops. However, Aquapak has successfully overcome the barriers and difficult process conditions traditionally associated with this material to radically improve its inherent strength, so it can be used for a much wider range of applications. During tests Aquapak’s polymer outperformed comparable plastic films, being both tear and puncture resistant and at least twice as strong as high-density polyethylene film of equivalent gauge. The company strongly believes its suite of materials provide a sustainable alternative to conventional bio-plastics, and in particular has the potential to transform mainstream packaging applications.


Aquapak will begin manufacturing its specially formulated plastic pellets from its new production facility this month. The plant has the capacity for five production lines with each producing up to 6,000 tonnes of pellets per year. The company is aiming to have all production lines operating at capacity by the end of 2017. Mike Everard, managing director of Aquapak,


says: “Plastic production and flexible packaging in particular is on the rise. Finding sustainable alternatives to traditional, non recyclable plastic packaging is becoming a priority for many market leading brands and manufacturers. “We’re now ready to go into full production at the new plant, which will enable us to push


forward with commercial trials to get the material out into the market.” Although Aquapak’s polymer shares some


characteristics with bio-plastics, it is made from a petrochemical source. This is an intentional move and forms a key part the company’s long-term strategy. Everard explains: “Sustainable polymers or bio- plastics still make up less than 10 per cent of the total plastics market. One of the biggest disadvantages is they cost too much to produce. Using a petrochemical source for ours means it’s cheaper to produce and combined with the resin’s compatibility with standard polyethylene machines means we can scale up production as market demand increases. “Once demand reaches a critical mass we will look at a sustainable bio-based source for the material, until then it just isn’t financially viable.” www.adiltd.co.uk


experience melts into su xp


perience melts into success in our


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The coope ration with artimelt allows us to convert innovative id www.convertermag.co.uk


innov Client, German Client, Germany


«The cooperation with artimelt allows us to convert deas into successfulll products even faste


for mor e ideas into successfull products even faster.»er.»


for more information: in June 2016


nformation:


experiencelab@artimelt.com artimelt.com/xp-lab


xperiencelab@artimelt.com ar timelt.com/xp-lab


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