INEOS Styrolution, the global leader in styrenics, and Bischof + Klein, a leading European full-service supplier of flexible plastic and laminate packaging and technical films, announced the installation of a stretch hood packaging solution at the INEOS Styrolution prodution site in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Of particular interest is the fact that the packaging material used in the application is based on Styroflex, an SBC copolymer produced by INEOS Styrolution.
The Bischof + Klein (B+K) stretch hood film is used today in the Luran® S [1] facility, a production line producing about 35,000 tonnes of packaged goods per year.
Peter Lakeman, Manager Engineering Ludwigshafen at INEOS Styrolution comments: “It is very motivating for us to see our own packaging material Styroflex through the eyes of a customer. The Styroflex based film has turned out to be exactly the right material for our purpose. It is very robust, yet light and thin, resulting for example in much less packaging waste than other solutions. Bischof + Klein was very instrumental bringing a lot of expertise to the table delivering a truly complete solution.”
Frank Heermann, Manager Product Development Industrial Packaging at Bischof + Klein, adds: “We enjoy the collaboration with INEOS Styrolution in Ludwigshafen. It is interesting to see that the company is using its own products. The Styroflex based film increases the flexibility for the users of the packaging machines. Overall, it allows us to better meet our customers’ requirements.”
Styroflex is a styrene-butadiene block copolymer (SBC) with the properties of a thermoplastic elastomer (S-TPE). In film applications, Styroflex provides excellent stretch recovery and superior transparency and puncture resistance. Styroflex PG77 was particularly tailored for packaging applications like stretch hood solutions. It combines maximum transparency with outstanding elongation and extreme toughness. Styroflex PG77 can be stretched up to 200% with enormous recovery capacity: It snaps back to its original shape, clings tightly to the load and holds it securely.
Luran S: ASA (acrylonitrile styrene acrylate) polymers produced by INEOS Styrolution in Ludwigshafen. The material is used for example in automotive interior and exterior applications. Due to its UV resistance it is also the material of choice for outdoor applications including wind turbines and gardening equipment.
