In a market scenario where manufacturers and consumers are increasingly focusing on sustainability, packaging also plays a primary role for companies that want to stay competitive in an evolving industry such as that of Tissue. When it comes to purchasing, the growing concern about the management of plastic waste, especially in wrapping, has become a crucial aspect for 54% of consumers[1]. Relying on technologically advanced solutions that are able to guarantee more sustainability is thus paramount for industry businesses and, in this, Körber Business Area Tissue is leading the way. In addition to providing high-quality tissue converting lines and remarkably competent customer service, the technology leader complements meticulous and ongoing research dedicated to revolutionizing product and service offerings in order to make them more sustainable. Specifically, Körber has recently developed a product innovation that makes it possible to replace all polyethylene packaging materials with simple kraft paper, bypassing the need for pre-coated paper with heat-sealing glue, resulting in a solution that respects the environment and contains costs.
“We wanted to go beyond the first steps that we had taken by upgrading the Kit Bio Pack full and Kit Bio Pack light systems, two established and already successful technologies that allow the use of pre-coated paper and bioplastics. Although these solutions make the packaging of converted tissue products more sustainable, Körber has decided to further evolve its offering in order to make customers’ investments even more beneficial,” says Nicolò Squarzoni, Product Manager – Packaging & Digital Körber Business Area Tissue.
The future of paper packaging: Kit Bio Pack plus
Kit Bio Pack plus, developed and tested in the R&D of the Körber Business Area Tissue packaging division is an add-on system on the unwinding section of the wrapper. Before reaching the perforation, the packaging paper goes through a double step consisting of an encoder and a set of nozzles. Therein lies Körber’s inventiveness: the encoder synchronizes the reel with the glue application operated by the nozzles. The technological innovation is thus able to apply glue on a reel that unwinds at a speed of up to 200 sheets per minute, ensuring extreme precision in targeting the exact application areas, avoiding smearing and ensuring rapid drying of the adhesive. The ability to dictate the required amount of glue for each specific package format therefore means minimizing waste and costs, and ensuring more sustainable products, making the entire packaging process even more eco-friendly.
“This unprecedented patented solution, which can be installed on all wrappers with existing Bio Pack Kit, represents both a technical upgrade for old-generation equipment and an optional for new machines, promoting high quality and speed, reduced packaging costs and higher sales margins on the final product,” concludes Nicolò Squarzoni.
Another significant benefit is, indeed, the approximately 45-50% lower price of kraft paper compared to pre-glued paper, 3€/kg versus 5.5€/kg, respectively. Taking into account the several variables in terms of tissue converters’ needs and production conditions of the lines, a wrapper that works under certain circumstances – such as operating for 16 hours a day/300 days a year at a speed of 120 ppm, with a 70% machine availability and paper wrapping for 30% of the total, and a paper grammage of 50 g/m2 – for an estimated paper consumption of 72.500 kg of paper, the use kraft paper with glue instead of pre-coated paper translates in more than 42% cost savings. For customers, this means potentially halving procurement costs and therefore maximizing return on investment.
[1] Source: Euromonitor International
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