Amcor invests in Bobst laminator

Amcor has installed Bobst Master D 1000 S multi-technology laminator at its Sustainability Centre of Excellence in Ghent, Belgium. The machine will be used to develop and test new multi-layer product constructions for Amcor worldwide.

Amcor has installed Bobst Master D 1000 S multi-technology laminator at its Sustainability Centre of Excellence in Ghent, Belgium

Amcor’s global R&D efforts to manufacture more sustainable, flexible packaging is coordinated from its Sustainability Centre of Excellence in Ghent, in Belgium. In 2018, the global packaging leader announced its commitment to making all its packaging products recyclable or reusable by 2025. Along with 250+ other leading manufacturers and brand owners, it has also signed the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, which aims to eliminate plastic waste and pollution at the source.

‘Innovative packaging design, improved recycling infrastructure, and consumers playing their part is all key to protect the environment. For converters, this means starting from the traditional laminated products but reaching right across the entire converting process,’ said Kris Buysens, technical director at Amcor. ‘We were the first packaging producer in the world to set ourselves a specific target for making all our products recyclable or reusable by 2025. This pledge is driving all our research and development, and to succeed, we need to have the most advanced and flexible technology at our disposal.

‘The technical laminates that we develop require a stable and repeatable process, where the adhesive can be finely controlled and measured. We also need a machine where multiple adhesive technologies can be employed. We chose the Bobst Master laminator because it gives us the tools that we need to develop more environmentally friendly products that meet the challenging demands from our customers and end consumers.’

As a part of the laboratory equipment in Ghent, the new Bobst Master D 1000 S laminator has been built to Amcor’s exact specifications. It is a more compact version than the standard models in the range, as there is no need for wide web conversion, and the running speed is lower to accommodate the unique working requirements. The modular, high efficiency drying tunnel features three sections where the temperature can be individually regulated and the air recycled.

‘Although this is a highly productive machine, for our purposes, we were not looking for speed but rather technical prowess, accuracy and the flexibility to cover multiple types of applications,’ added Buysens. ‘Our new Master D 1000 S is an evolution of an older Bobst laminator that we have been using successfully since 2001, so we know and trust the technology.’

‘We are naturally very proud to support Amcor in its innovative work as it moves towards its 2025 pledge to make all its packaging products recyclable or reusable,’ commented Nanni Bertorelli, product line manager for coating and laminating at Bobst. ‘The Master D 1000 S is the perfect fit for producing the types of high-performance applications that Amcor has become known for worldwide. Sustainability is one of the four core pillars of the Bobst future vision of the packaging industry, and we are actively seeking to improve the carbon footprint of our technologies and our manufacturing processes. Working in unison with all parties involved in packaging production is the only way to make a real change and reduce the environmental impact of packaging.’