Focus

New 692 UL-recognized polyester film, in pressure-sensitive adhesive roll-label form, can be used for indoor and outdoor applications. It has excellent resistance to moisture, acid, oils, sunlight, weathering and aging. Co. offers 692 film by the roll or slit to customer specification with 5,000- or 10,000-ft roll lengths. Custom roll lengths are also available.

ACPO LTD., 877/412-TAPE, fax: 877/675-5344, www.acpo.com

A favorable outlook for manufacturing, along with the need for protecting goods during warehousing and distribution, are leading contributors to the increase in demand for stretch and shrink film. According to Cleveland-based market research firm The Freedonia Group, Inc., stretch and shrink film demand in the US is projected to increase 5.3 percent annually to $4.1 billion in 2009, requiring 3.1 billion pounds of resin.

Shrink film is predicted to exhibit slightly faster growth than stretch film, with demand rising more than 5 percent a year through 2009 to $1.9 billion. This growth is a reflection of heightened manufacturing and retail activity, plus the growth of multipacks in wholesale club stores, supermarkets and other mass retailers.

However, don't count out stretch film. Though demand is not anticipated to grow as fast as shrink film, it will remain dominant in the market, with sales projected to rise nearly 5 percent annually through 2009 to $2.3 billion. Increased demand will be aided by material improvements in terms of strength and stretchability.

Packaging will remain the leading market for these films due to the cost-effectiveness of films compared to corrugated containers and other packaging formats. However, rapid growth is anticipated for storage and distribution markets. Particularly good growth is expected for stretch hoods in pallet unitizing.

Co.'s Polymer Division has designed a roll-fed shrink-label film with a shrinkage capacity of 40 percent. This film enables converters to provide end users with the 360-degree label look on contoured containers, but with the line speeds, economics and convenience of wraparound labels. The roll-fed shrink film is also recyclable.

AVERY DENNISON, 800/944-8511, fax: 440/358-4712, www.fasson.com

Designed to give trouble-free performance on sheetfed presses, co.'s white opaque cut-and-stack label film is an alternative to paper labels for cut-and-stack labeling applications. The film offers exceptional whiteness and moisture resistance. SynCarta® synthetic media for water-resistant tags and labels and shiny metal roll-fed film which provides a chrome-like appearance are also offered.

APPLIED EXTRUSION TECHNOLOGIES, INC., 800/688-2044, fax: 302/326-5501, www.aetfilms.com

The Pentaprint® E749/22 high-shrink polyester film has multiple characteristics for all full-body shrink-sleeve labels, particularly highly contoured containers. Combining high-shrink properties with little to no machine-direction shrinkage and low shrink force, the film creates labels that remain uniform across the container, particularly the bottom portion. Engineered for 75 percent shrink and suitable for flexo or gravure, these films prevent the “smile” typically seen with polyester, co. says.

KLÖCKNER PENTAPLAST OF AMERICA, INC., 540/832-3600, fax: 540/832-5656, www.kpfilms.com

Made according to customer-specific colors and clarity, new Colored Questar biaxially-oriented polyester film can be metallized and is FDA-compliant. Available in many colors including red, blue, green, gold and black, it can be produced from 24- to 500-gauge. The film color is not coated or dyed so the color is uniform throughout the film and cannot wear or scratch off, co. says. It retains its original thermal history and properties to eliminate heat-related distortion and shrinkage.

FILMQUEST, 888/PET-FILM, fax: 630/584-1786, www.petfilm.com

The ParaSTar PET resins are produced using IntegRex technology, which reportedly eliminates the solid-stating step, reducing energy use. These resins enable converters to create PET bottles with enhance clarity, improved bottle-to-bottle consistency and acetaldehyde levels lowered by 25 percent or more, co. says. They are 100 percent recyclable and can be recycled with traditional PET resins. They will be commercially available in the first quarter for 2007.

EASTMAN CHEMICAL CO., 423/229-2000, fax: 423/224-0502, www.Eastman.com

Co. announces two new grades of styrene block copolymers as alternatives to traditional plasticized polyvinyl chloride for film-based packaging applications. The MD6932 and MD6945 are enhanced rubber midblock SEBS (styrene-ethylene/butylenes-styrene) polymers and are plasticizer-free. These polymers also have excellent clarity, 8 percent haze, for easy visual flow monitoring and processing.

KRATON POLYMERS US, 800/4-KRATON, fax: 231/504-4953, www.kraton.com

Co. offers full-service film enhancement capabilities such as deep-dyeing, vacuum metallizing and coating and laminating, including ClearSil® specialty silicone, non- and low-extractable silicone and fluorosilicone release films. Any of these processes can be combined to meet industry-specific requirements. For development of new materials, pilot coating services are also available.

CPFILMS, INC., 888/273-4567, fax: 276/627-3406, www.cpfindusprod.com

Ends “smiles” on complex container curves

High-performance Bonpet 8A PETG film reportedly eliminates unsightly sagging smiles or frowns on containers with complex package contours. A characteristic MD growth permits use of smaller cut lengths, which in turn requires less material and cuts costs for end users. Bonpet 8A is made from Eastman Embrace LV PETG resin.

BONSET AMERICA CORP., 336/375-0234, www.bonset.com

Co. releases its next generation line of Torayfan® oriented polypropylene coextruded metallized and clear barrier films. The Torayfan PC5 and PWX5 metallized PP films offer 10 times the oxygen barrier of metallized films from previous generations. They also offer exceptional moisture barrier, co. says. The Torayfan CBS-2 is a high-barrier clear film that also offers oxygen and moisture barrier. These films can be used for a variety of packaging applications including snack food, baked goods, confections and pet foods, among others.

TORAY PLASTICS (AMERICA), INC., 401/294-4511,fax: 401/294-1480, www.torayfilms.com

The EarthFirst® PLA film is an environmentally-friendly plastic substrate made from corn. Said to be 100 percent compostable, it has high gloss and optimum clarity, provides an odor barrier, is FDA-compliant and meets USPS standards for haze. Other features include outstanding twist retention, deadfold retention, and it can be heat-sealed and die-cut. This film can be used for a variety of applications including windowing, packaging, laminating and lidding.

PLASTIC SUPPLIERS, INC., 866/ERTH-1 ST, fax: 614/418-3890, www.earthfirstpla.com

Valéron DT™ direct thermal printable high-strength film eliminates the need for multi-substrate laminations for tag and label applications. Instead of laminating thermal-receptive materials such as coated paper to high-strength films to achieve the durability needed, the heat-sensitive thermal topcoat on DT film allows it to be imaged as it passes through the printhead, also eliminating the need for thermal-transfer ribbons. It can also be flexo printed.

VALÉRON STRENGTH FILMS, 800/VALERON, fax: 713/690-2746, www.valeron.com