Greiner Packaging has announced the launch of the new coextrusion barrier foil facility at the Johannes Kepler University (JKU) in Linz, Austria.
Co-financed by Greiner Packaging, the coextrusion barrier foil facility has been launched as part of the Greiner Packaging’s competence headquarters launched to further develop essential plastics processing technologies for the manufacture of low-migration, multi-layer plastic barrier packaging.
The coextrusion facility will be used for testing and research to explore realistic production technologies for the packaging foils manufacturing.
Greiner Packaging R&D department project manager and head Bettina Schrenk said: “Barrier packaging made of plastic is increasingly gaining importance, since its numerous advantages make it an attractive alternative to packaging made of glass or tin plate. Plastic packaging is particularly light.
“Compared to conventional packaging, this saves on costs as well as emissions occurring during transport.”
Greiner Packaging plans to invest over €2m Euros in this research project in the next few years.
The research activities involves the Institute for Polymer Extrusion and Compounding (IPEC) university institute and Research Center for Non-Destructive Testing (Recendt).
Greiner Packaging managing director Franz Reitbauer said: “The market for plastic packaging with barrier properties is growing in Europe at up to seven percent each year.”
“Our objective is to establish and ensure Greiner Packaging’s position as the innovation leader in the market in the long term.
“Moreover, the knowledge gained from the project should also help create jobs for highly qualified employees at our competence center for barrier and material development at the Kremsmünster site.”
Employing around 4,000 employees at 30 locations, Greiner Packaging manufactures plastic packaging in the food and non-food sector.
Recently, Greiner Packaging said it has designed and produced unique fish-shaped plastic bottle for new yogurt sauces from AS Põltsamaa Felix.
