Heidelberg and Solenis have introduced an innovative method for producing cost-effective barrier-coated flexible paper packaging solutions. This advancement is particularly relevant to the food and beverage packaging sector as flexible paper packaging, often referred to as “paperization,” gains momentum as an alternative to plastics. The market for flexible paper packaging is projected to grow by 4.5% annually until the end of the decade. This growth trend is supported by a comprehensive survey conducted by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen (Heidelberg) in collaboration with the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University Heilbronn (DHBW).
According to Professor Dr. Carsten Kortum, the principal investigator of the study, “This is not a short-term trend, but a profound change driven by new legal requirements, increased environmental awareness in conjunction with changing consumer behaviour, and technological innovations.”
One significant challenge in this field is identifying suitable materials that serve as barriers against water, water vapour, hot and cold liquids, oils, and fats, while also adhering to the sustainability principles of a circular economy. Historically, paper packaging designed for food and beverages has struggled to meet essential barrier functionality.
Now, through collaboration, Heidelberg and Solenis, a leading manufacturer of barrier coatings, have achieved a breakthrough. They will unveil the results at Fachpack 2025 in Nuremberg.
The jointly developed process allows for the industrial, partial, and cost-effective application of barrier coatings onto paper packaging. As a system integrator, Heidelberg has seamlessly incorporated Solenis’ technology into its flexographic web printing process via the Boardmaster. Throughout the process, barriers are applied precisely at the required points on the paper web, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness.
Dr. David Schmedding, CSO at Heidelberg, emphasizes the importance of economic innovations, stating, “Economic innovations are crucial if we are to replace plastic packaging with recyclable or compostable paper packaging. By collaborating with Solenis to develop coatings and inks and produce coated paper packaging inline, Heidelberg is reinforcing its claim to be a strong driving force behind paperization.” He further notes that they are positioning themselves as a full-service provider of end-to-end solutions in the rapidly growing market for mass-producing fibre-based packaging solutions.
During this year’s Fachpack, from September 23 to 25 in Nuremberg, Heidelberg and Solenis will showcase this groundbreaking process at their joint booth (4A-342 in Hall 4). Visitors will have the opportunity to take home samples and evaluate the results of the coating process themselves. Furthermore, experts from both companies will be present to discuss the future of sustainable food and beverage packaging production.
