P&G and KFC find favor with UFlex’s latest flexible packaging solutions

18 Aug 2021 --- UFlex is highlighting a range of innovative launches from its flexible packaging, chemicals and holography businesses. Leading brands are adopting the solutions, including a global chocolate brand, who chose UFlex’s recyclable mono-material structure with a cold seal for its premium chocolates. 

Meanwhile, P&G brand Vicks Action 500 took on the Indian packaging giant’s paper-based structure, boasting “a redefined appearance” in its pharma packs while significantly reducing the CO2 emissions. 

Also targeting the pharma sector, UFlex has developed holographic lidding foils with a special invisible ink.

“While it is interesting to analyze which packaging application outshines the other, it is equally important to realize that overall permutation of packaging varies from one product to another,” UFlex tells PackagingInsights. 

Innovations come about depending on brands’ needs and priorities, focusing more on functionality, sustainability or aesthetics, for example. 

“UFlex believes in striking a balance that best meets sustainability and packaging goals without compromising on virtues such as product shelf life and other indispensable technical attributes,” the company adds.

Flexible packaging prowess
Supporting the spirit of going local by the international chocolate brand, UFlex developed a BOPP film-based packaging laminate structure with a cold seal for the Indian launch of its premium chocolate brand. 

Delivering various sizes of the chocolate for the launch, this mono-material structure makes recycling easy, helping the brand achieve its environmental sustainability goals.Holographic lidding foils with a special invisible ink help prevent counterfeiting in pharma packs.

In the pharma sector, UFlex replaced conventional high metal content foil and poly-structure packaging in Vicks Action 500 with paper. The paper structure comprises 40 GSM OLB paper, LDPE and foil, supporting cross-linking of inks and high gloss coatings. 

The cross-linking reactions ensure scratch resistance, chemical resistance and color brilliance. UFlex stresses this process is environmentally friendly, considering it does not emit carbon dioxide, in contrast to the traditional process in which solvents are used. 

UFlex also shared its experience in foils when Radico Khaitan unveiled its blended whisky brand Triple Eight in UFlex–Asepto’s foil-stamped aseptic carton in March.

Honing in on holography
According to UFlex, counterfeiting forces have always been a deterrent to the pharma sector. Combating this, UFlex’s holography business developed holographic lidding foils with an invisible ink to help prevent product duplicity. 

The invisible ink is visible only under UV light, making it easy for brands to identify product originality throughout their value chain.

On the other hand, the feature helps consumers identify the genuine brand before purchase. “Since this development is viable on the current packaging set-up, it brings no additional cost burden on existing packing lines,” asserts UFlex.

Earlier this year, PackagingInsights spoke with Dr. Paul Dunn, chair of the International Hologram Manufacturers Association, about the latest trends in the holography sector. 

“Consumers want ever-more stylish but sustainable packaging solutions, produced using low carbon technologies and very eco-friendly materials and processes,” he shared.

BOPP films and beyond
Aesthetics play a big role “in writing the story of a product’s success,” says UFlex. The company launched a new PU resin for 1K matt coating Flexpak 2765, which offers matt finishes on the surface of printed PET and BOPP films.The new PU resin for 1K matt coating provides a matt finish on printed surfaces of PET and BOPP films.

This coating resin offers high heat and chemical resistance due to its high cross-linking densities, lending an enhanced look to the pack and building an instant consumer connection.

While there is an increased focus on safe food packaging that meets recyclability goals, Flexpak 2765 PU resin meets high-quality performance standards, as per packaging demand.

Sealing mono-carton boxes
Meanwhile, also in the chemicals segment, UFlex unveiled its water-based synthetic adhesive technology Flexbond SF Wet LAM–1178. It is designed for side pasting and inner liner pasting in cartons and can be used on all standard nozzle or roller applicators. 

This adhesive is recommended on various laminated substrates like BOPP, PET and also on metalized PET with paper board. It offers “excellent bonding” with fast setting time and stability and has already found takers in major brands such as KFC and MDH Spices.

“This development has not just ensured strong seals but has also eased out the tedious application areas and has enabled the possibility of customization, which was earlier not an easy task,” UFlex tells PackagingInsights.

PE, PET and BOPP films are taking UFlex by storm. Anantshree Chaturvedi, UFlex’s vice chairman and CEO, shared in a video interview earlier this year how FlexFilms managed to expand its presence with different plants globally.

By Anni Schleicher