The top five disruptive technologies in flexible packaging are forecast to be intelligent (smart) packaging, recyclability, packaging openability, biobased polymers and digital printing, according to a new market report by Smithers Pira.

On the day of its 10th anniversary, the Kazan-based Danaflex group of companies has opened a new factory where Danaflex-Nano, a RUSNANO project company, will use a proprietary nanotechnology process to manufacture improved flexible packaging material. RUSNANO is co-investor in establishing the new facility. Total budget for the project is 2.45 billion rubles.

The printing of flexible packaging, cartons and tubes using narrow-web conventional and digital presses will be the focus of a new Package Printing Zone at Labelexpo Europe 2011. Live demonstrations and seminar sessions will all be part of this new visitor attraction. Mike Fairley looks at the evolution of this fast evolving sector.

In June 2010, AMI organized a conference in Newark, New Jersey on the latest developments in materials and production technology for Multilayer Packaging Films, which facilitate low weight product protection with longer shelf-life, thus reducing waste. Andrew Reynolds, Consulting Director at AMI described the growth in convenience packaging to cater for more single families, and the move to having both partners in employment. Currently global film markets consume 68 billion pounds of polyethylene, 13.3 billion pounds of polypropylene and other materials including polyester account for 7.7 billion pounds. The latter group is expected to grow at 7.7% per year.

All varieties of flexible metallized packing materials can be conditionally split into four large groups: monolayer metallized package, composite metallized package, multilayer foiled package, and thermoformed blister trays. Research of the Academy of Conjuncture of Industrial Markets

In addition to its presentations in Düsseldorf, the company had invited existing and prospective customers from all over the world to concurrent Open House events at the BOBST Technology Centres in Bielefeld (Germany), Manchester (UK) and San Giorgio Monferrato (Italy).

Once again this year on November 18th, Comexi Group held their Open House at Comexi facilities, which gathered more than 150 attendees in just one day.