Heatshrink labels on tin plate cans

May 11, 2014

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Commissioned by Friesland Campina, Irplast creates the first heatshrink labeling solution for tin plate cans. P.E. Labellers is the exclusive and strategic partner in an all-Italian technology project.

The agreement between the Dutch cheese & dairy giant and Irplast entails that, during the course of 2014, the Florentine concern (specialized in the creation of adhesive tapes and labels) make and print more than 300 million pre-glued polypropylene labels and no silicone support, and that P.E. Labellers manage application of the support (P.E. Labellers is a point of reference in the field of labeling processes, not to mention a longstanding Irplast partner.High seal, perfect adhesion even with dramatic shifts in temperature, economy of management, recyclability, simplified warehouse management and efficient application are the key factors to Friesland Campina’s decision to opt for this innovative and, in many ways, revolutionary solution in the field of tin plate containers.

The value of the project
300 million polypropylene labels with no silicone support are thus destined to customize cans of powdered milk which the Dutch multi-company exports worldwide.
The project is the result of F.C.’s wish to seek reliable specialized partners capable of finding a definitive solution to the inferior seal of traditional paper labels on metal cans, which often undergo “extreme” logistical conditions, including dramatic shifts in temperature and prolonged storage in non-climatized containers.

As Fausto Cosi, acting manager of Irplast, had occasion to comment, «This agreement arises from our determination in constantly seeking effective solutions for packaging’s constantly evolving demands. Today, with this new application, we have not only filled a functional gap in the sector, but we’ve also generated other important advantages: economic (energy savings and elimination of returns for defective packaging), environmental (complete recyclability of labels and cans without additional costs for the elimination of glue residues on the container) and concerning logistics and legality (unaltered readability of informational content). Practically speaking, our concern has managed to innovate in a moment of crisis, thereby enhancing the efficiency of production processes, as well as their sustainability».

And while Irplast’s experience in managing adhesives and their possibilities played a decisive role in researching this solution, the support of P.E. Labellers proved fundamental. That concern’s «specialization - stated its proprietor Bruno Negri - enabled playing as a team, accelerating the project’s testing and finalization phases.
Furthermore, our Group’s many locations in international markets guarantees ongoing specialized assistance, which, in the case of cutting edge systems like the one created for Friesland Campina, as well as the volumes of product managed, is indispensable to optimizing the labeling process and respecting delivery timing. This year - Negri adds - P.E. Labellers celebrates 40 years in business, and this new project perfectly fits our business strategy, which involves intercepting new market areas and offering ourselves not only as advanced technology suppliers, but also as specialized consultants for researching innovative functional solutions».

Protagonist: technology
Label Tape Shrink by Irplast is a pre-glued roll-fed linerless heatshrink plastic label suitable for application in the fields of beverage and food, detergents and wraparound labeling.
In addition to simplifying warehouse management, the substitution of traditional pre-cut paper labels speeds the labeling process by overcoming the problem of accumulating label reams rather than the damage due to uncareful handling of them.
These polypropylene labels, moreover, are not subject to deterioration caused by atmospheric agents or sudden changes in temperature, in such a way preserving readability of the informational contents. Given, then, the nature of pre-glued labels, glue application is completely eliminated from the process, thus guaranteeing considerable energy savings and a healthier work environment. Finally, this type of labeling represents a valid alternative to silkscreening, generally used to customize tin plate and aluminium packaging, since it enables storing anonymous containers that all look the same, simplifying warehouse management and limiting motion to the label rolls.

ADHESLEEVE® is the most innovative P.E. Labellers range labeling machine and currently the only one marketed internationally that is capable of applying rollfed plastic heatshrink labels onto tin cans.
Specially designed for the Campina project (labeling + heatshrinking), with Adhesleeve technology it is possible to obtain a heatshrink packaging solution with the same properties as a sleeve label.
The machine’s high production output (45,000 pieces/h compared to the standard 20,000 pieces/h) guarantees high yields on the line with resulting savings in costs that would normally have gone toward paying for new machinery. Indeed, it is the world’s top factory, with a productivity of 70,000 cans/hour, made by just two packaging machines. The versatility of Adhesleeve, with alternative labels to sleeves, also enables a significant reduction in raw materials costs (-40%), and consequently environmental impact.