Improve Quality and Throughput - Exterior Through Die Design and Ceramic Surface - Interior, 1998 Polymers, Laminations & Coatings Conference Proceedings

Flexible packaging has become technically most sophisticated plastic converting technology in plastics industry. Flexpack materials are developed as sophisticated and important for our interplanetary ambitions, and as simple as domestic refuse bags. In this very complex industry new changes are foreseen: new polymers, source reduction recycling and more use of plastics. All industry will change, machine producer especially extrusion equipment is one of most important factors for success of flexpack in the near future. Flexible packaging industry is aggressively consolidating and boosting technological improvements in attempt to increase profitability and continue to price products on functionality versus raw material input and manufacturing costs. Paper covers short review market situation and economy of processing. Possibility to downgauge, reduction of technological scrap, and increase of profitability of new polymers is in close relation with development of new more sophisticated equipment is discussed. Importance of proper equipment is covered in short form and development of new die types and die surfaces as most sensitive production part for better quality and profitability is described.