Sun Chemical and Acpo partner for coated transparent flexible packaging films

Acpo is a coater of flexible films, and Sun Chemical will supply SunBar to Acpo to coat and supply various films to flexible packaging converters. Sun Chemical said this meets the growing demand of brand owners and flexible packaging converters for high barrier transparent packaging. With only a few converters having the capability to coat thin films, only a limited number were able to take advantage of its SunBar barrier coating technology to date. This partnership means converters will have access to SunBar without needing to make capital investments in a coating unit, according to Sun Chemical, whose product manager for costings, Robert O’Doyle, added: ‘The need for barrier films is growing at a healthy pace. Consumers will buy what they can see. This has led to the growing trend of transparent packaging that allows consumers to see the actual food. Many natural foods, such as granola, nuts and fruit, require a high barrier film for better protection.

‘Since the majority of printers don’t have the ability to coat films, our partnership with Acpo will allow us to deliver them with the coated films they need to meet this trend. Choosing to partner with a respected leader in self-wound overlamination products like Acpo was an easy decision for Sun Chemical to make.’

SunBar oxygen barrier coatings create a smooth, homogenous, pinhole-free and flexible layer that can be overprinted with inks and laminated to a variety of secondary films. SunBar is compostable, chlorine-free and metal-free. SunBar coated films from ACPO are suited to clear high barrier flexible packaging structures and also for ultra-high barrier metalized film structures.

Currently two different Acpo coated films, polyester and BOPP, are available with SunBar oxygen barrier coatings. There are plans to add to the barrier film product line by introducing other SunBar barrier coated films in the near future.

John Coyne, Acpo product manager, said the company is ‘excited’ about this partnership as Sun Chemical is, ‘a recognized leader in our industry with an abundance of resources.

‘Sun Chemical has already provided a high level of support. I feel that our strengths complement each other and together we will deliver innovative barrier film solutions to converters and brand owners.’