Extrusion International 4-2025

10 Extrusion International 4/2025 INDUSTRY NEWS Barrier Laminates – Expert meeting 2025 The two-year conference at the SKZ-Modellfabrik Würzburg on 1 and 2 July 2025 offered a comprehensive insight into current developments and trends in barrier laminates. The focus was on new material solutions and innovative manufacturing processes for monomateri- als. In addition, the performance of modern films was impressively demonstrated and precise measurement methods for permeation measurement were presented. All those working on the future of barrier laminate films found access to the latest developments at this con - ference. The event provided valuable input on current trends in film extrusion and sustainable packaging con - cepts with innovatively produced polyolefin films. The two-day event also offered a first-class exchange with experts from the packaging industry. Karsten Schröder moderated the programme. Here is a brief summary of the presentations. In his presentation, Dr Thomas Gröner from TG Pack Solutions demonstrated the effects of the Packaging & PackagingWaste Regulation PPWR on barrier packaging. In his presentation, Florian Reiter fromBorealis showed how the properties of monoaxially oriented polyolefin films can be significantly improved through targetedma - terial selection and process control. As part of his presentation, Hendrik Steen (Windmöller & Hölscher) presented innovative concepts for retrofit - ting MDO units for more efficient barrier film produc - tion. 5-layer PE blown film lines are particularly suitable for such a retrofit. The presentation by Dr Benedikt Hauer from the Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Tech- niques IPM dealt with the metrological requirements for the inline quality control of ultra-thin inorganic barrier layers (< 50 nm) on polymer substrates. Norbert Runn from Polytype Converting presented sus- tainable production targets with innovative technologies. Marco Schmidt from Bobst Meerbusch presented the oneBARRIER concept as a sustainable solution for flexible paper-based packaging with a high barrier effect. In a joint presentation, Thomas Lunz (Mondi Function - al Paper & Films) and Marissa Schwinn (Traceless Materi- als) showed which possibilities recyclable barrier papers already offer today and what can be expected in the fu- ture. Mondi has all the technologies, including extrusion and dispersion coatings as well as metallisation. In his presentation "Less is more - sustainability, life cycle assessment and consumer behaviour", Dr Phil Rose - now from the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineer- ing and Packaging IVV emphasised that sustainability in packaging is not achieved by simply saving on materials. Underpackaging increases food losses, while overpack - aging causes unnecessary environmental impacts. In his presentation "Using bacterial cultures as a natu- ral oxygen absorber for sausage products packaged in mono-PET", Andreas Dietrich, Weber Food Technology, pointed out that the oxygen in sausage packaging comes from the packaging process, the product and the inad - equate barrier effect of mono-PET. Dr Ferdinand Somorowsky (Fraunhofer ISC) present- ed a fibre-based stand-up pouch with a barrier function based on bioORMOCER® hybrid polymers developed in the EU project InnPressMe. In his presentation, Dr Philipp Okle from Amcor Flex - ibles Kreuzlingen AG showed the advantages of SiOx barriers for PP/PE-based, high-barrier and sterilisable packaging. In her presentation, Dr Ulrike Helmstedt from the Leibnitz Institute for Surface Modification explained how UV radiation opens up new ways of producing transparent, flexible barrier coatings. In his presentation, Christoph Zerwas from Ametek, Business Unit Mocon, showed new approaches to bar - rier measurement for flexible packaging. They are be - coming increasingly important, particularly in view of the growing variety of materials and increasing require- ments for accuracy and reproducibility. In his presentation "Leak testing as a supplement to permeation measurements", Alexander Tovar from In - ficon GmbH pointed out that permeation can only be measured correctly if the packaging is completely sealed. Dr Kristina Eißenberger from the Albstadt-Sigmarin- gen University of Applied Sciences presented recyclable metallised multilayer films with an innovative protein barrier layer. Karsten Schröder concluded the conference with a concise summary of all the presentations. It is time to think about packaging independently of the material. Depending on the application for which a packaging material is better suited, this may be paper, but for an - other application it may be (laminated) film or possibly even biomaterial. It is important to use the most suitable material in each case and not to think ideologically in one direction. This is what the PPWR demands and the big slogan is "Minimise"! In its compactness, the confer - ence showed that minimal packaging is not a trend, but the future. Innovation, dialogue and collaboration are driving sustainable solutions and shaping the packag- ing world of tomorrow. www.innoform-coaching.de By: Dieter Finna, pack.consult d.finna@pack-consult.org www.pack-consult.org Examples of optimised packaging design by DfR (Source: Borealis Polyolefine GmbH)