Flex Films, the global film manufacturing arm of flexible packaging giant UFlex, has launched its new avant-garde patented BOPET high barrier film F-UHB-M, designed to replace aluminium foil in flexible packaging applications. To be manufactured in Flex Films Kentucky plant and supplied across the world, F-UHB-M addresses challenges of the converting industry that has relied for long on aluminium foil for packaging despite several of its limitations including material availability, high material cost, weak integrity, propensity for in-use pinhole formation and difficulty in recycling.

Talking about the benefits of this innovation, Vijay Yadav, Business Head, Flex Films USA Inc. said, “Gathering market intelligence, the need to find a better replacement for conventional aluminium foil was established which otherwise comes with quite a few limitations besides being highly sensitive to damages often compromising the barrier performance of packaging. While developing high barrier F-UHB-M, priority was given to upscale the barrier properties matching that of an aluminium foil to deliver the best packaging experience to our customers. This film will act as a game-changer in the packaging industry, giving the industry a product like never before.”

 With its new specially formulated bi-axially oriented, polyester (BOPET) structure, F-UHB-M  comes with superior gas and water barrier while achieving one of the lowest oxygen and moisture barrier values (0.1 cc/ m2-day & 0.1 gm/m2-day respectively) and industry-leading metal adhesion of 1200 gm/25mm that aids improvement and extension of product shelf-life.  Barrier performance is retained after incorporation of F-UHB-M into a multi-layer laminate structure demonstrating excellent handling, machinability and resistance to pinhole formation.

 Flex Films’ novel film offers a thickness of 12 microns and coating technology together with a very high optical density is compatible with a wide range of inks and adhesives, has better machinability and handling during processing, generates lesser scrap during production, comes with good flex crack resistance, has 20% increased puncture resistance vs BOPET grades, an advanced in-line inspection mechanism in place to ensure consistency in barrier properties; and far less pinhole density than aluminium foils making it less susceptible to gases and water vapour leakages. All of these lend the new BOPET film a strong competitive edge and makes it suitable for a whole host of flexible packaging applications particularly the ones dominated by laminate comprising of aluminium foil, placing it among the best in the packaging film industry.

 The film which is FDA compliant has been made to suit customer needs for applications in medical packaging; packaging for dried and powdered items like dried meats, coffee, yeast, snacks and nuts; energy drinks packaging; vacuum insulated panels; bag-in-box and many more.