Participating at the Indiaplast 2019 show in Greater Noida, Uflex has come with multiple solutions for all segments of the packaging industry. Apart from other solutions, Uflex film division has innovative products for flexible packaging on offer at the show.
DK Dosi, joint president – Film Division of Uflex said to Packaging South Asia, “Uflex as a company has put up a big stand here. We are presenting all our products and innovations at this show. From our film division we are specifically targeting six new products here. In the polyester segment, we have three new products. The latest one that we are offering today for the first time in India is the easy-to-tear pouch. This film is yet to be commercially launched but it will hit the market in the coming month. Starting from this month we will be fully equipped to supply to the market. This will address a very large unfulfilled need that has been there. Overall, it is a very unique product that we will launch in India for the first time.”
Talking about the product, Dosi said, “Normally in laminate, we use polythene as a sealing layer, polyester as a barrier layer and printing layer, and metallized film. For same applications it will work but all the representing components have to have the same properties. We have facilitated to convert all the films in such a manner that they can be used in food solutions.”
Referring to the other products on display, he said, “The next product that we are showcasing is bulk packaging film typically for large bags of atta (flour) or rice. To produce that we primarily use 12 micron or 15 micron polyester film along with 85 micron poly. If we go thinner, the bags tend to burst. So we are giving the solution in the new film which is designed to take care of tearing. In this combination, we can take 12 micron polyester reverse printed film along with 60 to 62 micron poly. So the net GSM would come down from 100 to 170.”
The next product that Uflex is showcasing at Indiaplast 2019 is a film which can be thermoformed. Regarding the product, Dosi added, “We have come out with a polyester film, in the range of 23 to 36 microns which can be printed and thermoformed so that the brand identity is retained. For example, on a tray there is a label that is the only brand. And when that is thrown away you will only have a bare box. So with this solution we can fulfil that need.”
In the BOPP segment, Uflex is showing one product in two variants, which is basically an ultra high barrier film. Talking about the product Dosi shared, “This solution would have two layers – one being a high barrier metallized BOPP film along with a reverse printed film. Primarily it is used for the specs market. It also has properties of high constraint to retain the laminate at a low sealing temperature for faster packaging lines. So we have one variant with less than 10 Oxygen Transmitting Rate (OTR) and another with less than 15 OTR. Similarly, we have a product in CPP. This is also a high barrier, which is named as CLMPX. High barrier and CPP possess a very high sealing property, which can be used as it is. It can be printed; it offers excellent bond strength and low sealing temperature, which is very good for faster sealing lines.”
Talking about the packaging industry Dosi said, “The industry is growing very fast. This year we are expecting a new addition in our capacities across India as many new machines are coming. Still Indian packaging consumption is very low. As society upgrades, and as more and more people go into the service sector, packaging consumption is bound to grow.”
Regarding the exports of new products, he said that Uflex will not export these products from India but from its five film units at overseas. He added that the company is in the process of installing more units in other foreign locations. About the market for its products he said that Uflex is getting a very good response from overseas markets. The reason behind this, according to him, is the Indian market, which is extremely price sensitive. He further revealed that price would not be an issue for its new products. He thinks that resistance to change has affected the Indian market until now but in future the scenario will change and it will be able to get a good market response locally.
At Indiaplast, Uflex expects to meet new customers, contacts and leads for its products, especially in the recycling segment.
