ATTENTION AND INNOVATION
The adhesives market has seen an increase in importance as packaging processes and materials continue to improve.
By Bobby Douglas
ATTENTION AND INNOVATION
The adhesives market has seen an increase in importance as packaging processes and materials continue to improve.
By Bobby Douglas
With manufacturers and suppliers continuing to develop innovative packaging solutions, the importance of adhesives that keep packages intact has never been greater. Per Fact.MR, the global packaging adhesives market is set to grow by over $12 billion in the next decade, and this makes sense given how universal adhesives are among different packaging types. Whether it’s flexible or rigid, adhesives and sealants find their way onto any package, making them high on the list of considerations for manufacturers and CPG brands.
Not only is this clear from a projected growth perspective, but also from an acquisitions one. Just recently, the industry has seen two key acquisitions of adhesives providers.
First, Anderson & Vreeland, Inc. acquired Adheso-Graphics, a manufacturer of pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes designed for various applications including corrugated, wide web, narrow web, offset and letterpress printing. The acquisition allowed Anderson & Vreeland to offer new technologies and serve multiple markets.
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“We are excited to expand our core portfolio with the addition of Adheso-Graphics to the Anderson & Vreeland, Family of Flexo Brands,” said Darin Lyon, President and CEO of Anderson & Vreeland, Inc. “Our commitment to providing world-class products to the markets we serve is enhanced by this strategic acquisition.”
In addition, Arkema announced the acquisition of Dow’s flexible packaging laminating adhesives business, an entity that generates close to $250 million in annual sales. The move allowed Arkema to expand their flexible packaging solutions and enter the adhesives market as well.
“We are very happy to announce this great acquisition which is perfectly in line with Arkema’s strategy to offer its customers innovative products with high technological content and continue to grow in the attractive adhesives segment,” said Thierry Le Hénaff, Arkema’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
With adhesives at the top of mind for many in the packaging industry, individual innovations in this space have come to the forefront as well. Find out about some these advancements below:
Sticker Gizmo Enlists Futamura's NatureFlex™ Facestock for Their Labels
British labels producer, Sticker Gizmo, is committed to providing the highest quality labels and stickers with first class customer service. Founded in 2018, the company has invested in the latest digital printers and laser cutting technologies to produce in-house all their high-quality labels. To achieve the perfect label every time, they only use the highest quality materials.
In addition to their standard paper and vinyl labels, Gizmo now offers a range of sustainable solutions based on Futamura’s NatureFlex™ facestock materials and a compostable pressure sensitive adhesive. This new range of labels offers a great solution for many applications.
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The new labels are available in clear, white or metalized to fit all client requirements. These can be printed any color and achieve a highly decorative finish. They offer all the benefits of traditional labels and much more on a sustainability front. The NatureFlex™ facestock is made from renewable wood pulp sourced from responsibly managed plantations. It also meets all the relevant standards for industrial composting, including EN13432, and is certified for home composting according to the OK Compost Home protocol and by Din Certco/ABA to the French and Australian home composting standards.
“The new NatureFlex based labels are an excellent addition to our portfolio. They are a high quality product and offer a valid end of life option after use,” said Alistair Tillen, Founder of Sticker Gizmo. “We are seeing more brands switch to sustainable labelling as long as they don’t have to compromise on quality and being able to offer a high-quality sustainable alternative to our customers is essential for future growth.”
“The labels produced by Sticker Gizmo with our NatureFlex films have the same appeal as conventional plastic ones with the benefit of having a valid end of life. We are delighted that our NatureFlex films are used in this application, in combination with a compostable adhesive,” added Andy Sweetman, Sales and Marketing Director EMEA at Futamura. “These labels show what is possible today in the self-adhesive label market. As legislation evolves, we are likely to require more compostable labels.”
The labels come in clear (pictured), white or metalized.
Courtesy of Sticker Gizmo
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UPM Raflatac Earns RecyClass Recognition for PE Films
UPM Raflatac has received RecyClass recognition for PE Films with its Multipurpose UV acrylic adhesive technology — making UPM Raflatac the first ever pressure sensitive laminate producer to receive technology approval in this category. The granted recognition expands UPM Raflatac’s portfolio of RecyClass approved PE (polyethylene) adhesive label materials. These materials are recognized to be recycling compatible with colored and natural PE flexible films.
Today’s consumers and brand owners demand product solutions where the sustainability aspects including packaging recyclability are carefully considered. As a significant trend which is only going to get bigger, UPM Raflatac is well positioned to cater for the growing market demands with its labeling solutions for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) products which are by default designed to support recycling compatibility.
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“We are working towards a more sustainable and circular future. One big part of this is making plastic packaging recyclable. Labels not only serve as a carrier of information on flexible packages and packaging films, but also offer a functional purpose for example as closure systems. We are proud to be the first ever self-adhesive label company to provide RecyClass approved recycling compatible labeling solutions for PE flexible packaging,” says Katja Kivelä, Business Director, Food and HPC, Films & Specials SBU EMEIA, UPM Raflatac.
RecyClass is an initiative driven by the interest of brands, retailers, converters, raw material producers and recyclers to advance the recyclability of plastic packaging to improve recyclability and recyclate quality. With its scientific approach, RecyClass enhances and evaluates the recyclability of plastic packaging by developing methodologies and guidelines necessary to assess the recyclability of a package.
To learn more about UPM Raflatac, please visit upmraflatac.com.
To learn more about RecyClass, please visit recyclass.eu.
The new technology helps toward UPM Raflatac’s goal of creating a circular economy.
Courtesy of UPM Raflatac
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Beontag Develops Range of Self-Adhesive Wine Labels
Beontag, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of pressure-sensitive adhesives and smart tags, has launched its innovative range of self-adhesive wine labels in the Latin American market. The move represents a commitment to excellence through tech innovation for Beontag, as well as for the region’s globally celebrated winemaking traditions.
Beontag’s Grass Natural label is made of up to 40% grass fiber combined with FSC certified cellulose. Along with the White Martelé label, it sets a new standard in sophistication and moisture resistance.
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Speaking ahead of the new range Mauro Lerner, General Manager LATAM GLM (Graphic and Label Materials), said: “We are proud to enter the Latin American wine market with the innovative approach that has come to define our place in the many sectors that we serve. By offering improved and innovative label materials solutions to the wine market, we support a highly respected global industry while maintaining all of the relevant product and brand information that customers expect.”
This announcement comes during a period of global expansion, investment, and innovation for Beontag. The company recently announced the next step in its North American expansion, having taken on a 200,000 square foot facility in Dayton, Ohio which will house two new modern coaters. Beontag’s evolving commitment to cutting-edge products and a seamless customer journey bolsters their status as a trusted end-to-end provider of graphic and label materials as well as IoT (Internet of Things) solutions rooted in sustainable technologies.
