Dow and Nordmeccanica partner to ‘redefine packaging lamination’

The technology combines Symbiex solventless adhesives, Dow's new ultra-fast curing adhesive technology, and Nordmeccanica’s Duplex SL One Shot lamination line. This combination offers converters best-in-class conversion efficiency improvements, shorter time-to-market and total conversion cost reductions, according to the partners.

Other benefits are said to include: reduced line downtime and curing inventory; very high web speeds and the possibility of increased speeds on metallized and foil laminations versus conventional solventless; no misting and better wettability; elimination of adhesive scrap; and bond-quality checking possible 30 minutes after lamination

‘We are excited to launch this breakthrough technology at drupa, just 18 months after the signing of the joint development agreement with Nordmeccanica,' said Greg Bunker, global business director for Dow Adhesives for packaging, textiles and hygiene. ‘By combining Dow's adhesive development know-how with Nordmeccanica's machine pioneering, we succeeded in introducing the biggest innovation in packaging lamination in 50 years.'

Vincenzo Cerciello, vice president of technology at Nordmeccanica, added: ‘Dow and Nordmeccanica worked together to reimagine the current conventional lamination process and address some of its fundamental limitations, namely combining fast curing, which requires a fast-acting adhesive, with outstanding pot life, which requires a slower-acting adhesive.

‘With Symbiex and the Duplex SL One Shot laminator, we are able to slit just 90 minutes after lamination compared to today's 24-hour standard. This is an exciting development and game changing innovation for the lamination adhesives market.’

The Duplex SL One Shot laminator features a unique system to handle the solventless lamination process, enabling the two adhesive components to come into contact as late as possible in the lamination process. With two independent high-precision coating stations, the two films are pressed together only in the lamination nip station where the curing of the adhesive takes place. This process eliminates the need of a mixing unit and any pot life concerns, and offers reduced line downtime and easy cleaning.

‘We were able to overcome the pot life constraint by moving the start of the chemical reaction to the lamination nip, and to develop the fastest two-component solventless adhesive seen in the market today,’ said Marco Re Fraschini, technical service and development leader in the EMEA region at Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics, while Cerciello emphasized that. ‘prior to this technology development, if a converter needed to supply laminates with fast turnaround, they would have had to use solvent-based, water-based, or another alternative cure method.

‘Symbiex adhesives and Duplex SL One Shot provide excellent bonding with no VOCs, much reduced energy consumption and fast curing, enabling just-in-time delivery.’

Bunker stated that innovation is central to the work of Dow, underpinning its commitment to delivering technical know-how and advanced products to its customers. ‘This breakthrough technology redefines today's standards in solventless adhesives, enabling converters to accelerate innovation into the value chain through a simpler and more flexible lamination process, improving their competitiveness and responsiveness to meet today's fast-paced market needs.’

‘Innovation is also in the DNA of Nordmeccanica,’ stressed Antonio Cerciello, Nordmeccanica Group president. ‘We constantly think outside the box, focusing our efforts on bringing new design, new technologies and new advantages to converters. We have always been innovators at the forefront of our industry, and that is what makes us different. I am proud of our collaboration with a key partner like Dow; it is what we need in a complex environment to continue delivering reliable and effective innovation.’

Both Dow and Nordmeccanica are exhibiting at drupa 2016, at stands A29 and B42 in Hall 15, respectively.