FibreForm, the first 3D formable (stretchable) paper, which was launched by Swedish paper producer BillerudKorsnas in May for the first time in India, has received tremendous response from the industry, Zaheer Abbas, BillerudKorsnas Packaging India’s sales and marketing director said during the recently concluded PackEx event in Mumbai.
“The two seminars that we organized in Mumbai and Delhi created a lot of interest and traction among the industry participants. Brand owners have come to realize that they can now do things with paper which they earlier thought was possible only with plastic; and they are ready to pay the premium,” Abbas said.
In India, the Swedish company has tied up with TCPL and Suneja Sons for distribution and marketing of the product. Suneja Sons will be importing and distributing the FibreForm paper while TCPL will be making the FibreForm board at its facility in India.
Some of the salient features of the product are that the high formability of BillerudKorsnäs FibreForm enables unique shapes and up to ten times deeper embossing than traditional papers. FibreForm can be converted on existing packaging lines – thermoforming, pressforming and embossing. FibreForm is made from 100% primary fibers and is pure, renewable and approved for food contact. Cold-formable FibreForm paper can be used in a wide variety of packaging applications, including paper cups, stand up pouches, cards, cartons, formed containers, and trays and blisters.
Strong engagement with the industry
Having received a very encouraging response to FibreForm, BillerudKorsnas India is now working with premium alcohol, masala and perfume brands in the country.
“We expect at least five or six brand launches next year with applications of FibreForm. We are also talking to a retail chain for sandwich packaging as well as few frozen food suppliers. We foresee a very strong growth in demand for FibreForm in the next few years. It is far more than what we had initially anticipated,” said Abbas.
Talking about partnership with TCPL for manufacturing of FibreForm board, Abbas says that it was a brilliant decision by the company. “TCPL has all the latest technology and expertise and is a very innovative company. I feel we made a very wise decision by deciding to partner with TCPL for manufacture of FibreForm board,” he said.
Good response at PackEx
FibreForm was also the main highlight at BillerudKorsnas’ stand at PackEx, which was held from 27 to 29 September in Mumbai. “Most of the visitors who came to our stand wanted to know about the various applications of FibreForm, which we had displayed. We got a very good response at PackEx,” Abbas concluded.
