Berry Global has inaugurated its “Circular Innovation and Training Center” in Tulsa, Oklahoma with the aim of advancing the development of groundbreaking products rooted in superior materials science and engineering. The new 12,000 square foot center is envisioned to serve as a collaborative space for training, as well as an incubator for cutting-edge stretch film projects that contribute to keeping materials in use and out of the environment.
According to Phil Stolz, EVP & general manager for flexibles, “Now more than ever, the ability to access premium films with tailored performance and circularity benefits is crucial for our distributors, as they strive to meet the evolving sustainability demands of consumers and the market at large. This new center represents a significant investment in education, technology, and sustainability to help our customers unpack complexities and understand what’s possible for the flexible packaging market.”
Stretch films, which consist of thin, light-weight, extruded plastic wrapped around a product to ensure load integrity, assist in promoting sustainability by minimizing breakage, damage, and loss of products during shipment.
Berry’s new center showcases a variety of state-of-the-art pallet wrapping machines and film evaluation equipment, aimed at spurring the development of new circular solutions across ultra-high-performance films that support a circular economy through the use of recycled content, material down-gauging, and more.
The facility utilizes cutting-edge film characterization and performance testing technology to assess the variable properties and behaviors of stretch films, including film characterization and quality measurement – analyzing fundamental film properties like thickness, width, length, weight, density, modulus, elongation, tensile strength, puncture resistance, tear resistance, and cling force, as well as performance testing to evaluate how film properties will perform in the field, including pre-stretch ratio, force-to-load ratio, neck-down ratio, roping ratio, film memory, film relaxation, load deformation, load shifting, and load failure.
Moreover, the center will also provide a space for distributors to enhance their knowledge of Berry’s stretch film products and applications through educational and immersive training sessions led by internal subject matter experts. These training courses will cover a range of topics such as Stretch Film 101, Wrapping Dynamics and Optimization, the Benefits of Berry’s Ultra and Premium Circular Films, Partnership Building, and more.
