LG, Reifenhauser Combine on MDO Push

South Korea resin producer LG Chem and the extrusion machine builder Reifenhäuser have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to further develop and market aggressive machine route oriented (MDO)-PE blown films and flat films for recyclable packaging.

The companions are establishing on a worthwhile observe file: In Would possibly 2024, the companies had launched the world’s first MDO-PE film solely 18 micrometers (μm) thick, which had been produced on an EVO Extraordinarily Stretch blown film line from Reifenhäuser with particularly developed PE provides.

EVO (fast for Evolution) is a novel MDO that’s put in between the haul-off nip-roll assembly and turner-bar system, which Reifenhäuser maintains is an ideal place for stretching and flattening on account of the film stays to be warmth and additional malleable.

Regarding the MOU with LG, Bernd Reifenhäuser, CEO of the Reifenhäuser Group, says: “The demand for versatile monomaterial packaging is rising rapidly. Nevertheless MDO-PE films needs to be safe and economical to provide to have the ability to make the leap from a definite section to a broad market. With LG Chem and Reifenhäuser, we have got found the correct match of raw supplies, extrusion experience and course of know-how that may pave the best way wherein. For the first time, processors will likely be succesful to provide recyclable MDO-PE films at aggressive manufacturing costs in a safe course of that could be optimally further processed.”

Gives Dr. Lee Choong Hoon, vp and head of NCC/PO Enterprise Unit at LG Chem: “We’re more than pleased to have found an expert experience affiliate in Reifenhäuser to effectively combine sustainability and profitability. Our blended experience has achieved unprecedented information in downgauging MDO-PE film — and that was simply the beginning. We’ll proceed this path collectively to hurry up the recyclability for versatile packaging.”

Reifenhäuser took the wraps off the EVO Extraordinarily Stretch at Okay 2013. Provide: Reifenhäuser

The two companies are moreover engaged on further decreasing supplies consumption by downgauging in the direction of the extent of typical PET-PE laminates, which could make the manufacturing of MDO-PE films further worthwhile. Technically, that’s achieved on account of completely totally different densities of PET film and MDO-PE film by altering the standard 12-μm PET film with a 16 to 17-μm MDO-PE film. With the low cost to 18 μm, the companions are already very close to reaching this goal.

Nonetheless, the consultants see further potential: “The downgauging prohibit has not however been reached,” says Christoph Lettowsky, technical product sales supervisor at Reifenhäuser Blown Film. “Due to the patented place of our MDO Extraordinarily Stretch unit immediately throughout the line’s haul-off, the film is stretched from the first heat. This makes the strategy considerably safe, which is in some other case normally the limiting concern for supplies low cost. We because of this truth see way more scope, which we’re going to use along with further recipe developments for even thinner films ultimately.”