New Borealis BorShape Covers Several Packaging Challenges in One Solution

Based on the outstanding processability of Borealis' Borstar technology, BorShape delivers high throughput, excellent bubble stability, very good thickness distribution, and low energy consumption and scrap rates.

Nov 3 2010 --- Borealis provides a revolutionary solution to the packaging market's key challenges of cost competitiveness, advanced performance and sustainability with the launch of step-change film innovation BorShape at K 2010. BorShape from Borealis, a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions, is a new generation of film materials based on Borealis' Borstar bimodal technology and offers unparalleled performance without compromising operational performance.

The BorShape family of polyolefins (POs) consolidates the differing needs of the packaging value chain in a single product solution. It creates new opportunities to develop innovative films with less material, greater efficiency and improved environmental and lifecycle performance. Two grades have been recently introduced into the market and tested at pilot customers and several applications: BorShape FX1001 and FX1002.

Based on the outstanding processability of Borealis' Borstar technology, BorShape delivers high throughput, excellent bubble stability, very good thickness distribution, and low energy consumption and scrap rates. Film performance benefits include high toughness even at low temperatures in combination with very high stiffness. This allows for faster line speeds and enables material downgauging with consistently high film performance. BorShape's excellent hot tack further aids high packaging speeds and increased output.

This unique property profile allows BorShape based films to match or even outperform the features of comparable advanced metallocene based PE materials, targeting improved processability, in multilayer structures. BorShape supports sustainability within the packaging film industry, responding to demands for more considerate packaging development resulting in less packaging waste. The easy to recycle materials have low environmental tax impact and offer a light-weight alternative with less material consumption compared to other packaging concepts. This provides, in combination with ease of processing, knock-on advantages of lower energy usage during processing and transportation, in addition to environment-related benefits.

"BorShape sets a new reference in the PO film market with a down-gauging potential of 30%"comments Wim Roels, Borealis Senior Vice President for Film & Fibre. "This opens the door to advantages for our partners along the value chain: operational improvements and better film consistency for converters, improved efficiency for packers, and product innovation, reduced costs and a raised sustainability profile for brand owners."

The following applications demonstrate BorShape's ability to address the issues of cost-competitiveness, outstanding performance in advanced film solutions and sustainability demanded by converters, packers, brand owners and final end-users.

Multilayer film solution for transparent consumer packaging:

* BorShape retains excellent optical properties as core material in multilayer constructions and a "pure" appearance for food and hygiene applications, collation shrink and other packaging applications.
* High toughness improves abuse resistance.
* Stiffer film materials allow material downgauging of more than 30% without compromising on toughness.

Film solution for lamination:

* BorShape offers excellent toughness in demanding SUP applications such as pet food and detergent packaging, reducing pouch failure and the potential for product spoilage
* High stiffness for good web planarity and SUP stand ability
* High toughness / stiffness balance for lightweight laminated packages
* High hot tack properties for high pack speeds
* Optimised coefficient of friction (COF) for high filling speeds
* Excellent reel quality for optimal handling in lamination and conversion steps

Wim Roels continues: "We are delighted to debut this exciting step-change innovation at K 2010. We are looking forward to exploring new opportunities to support our customers in improving their business and enhancing their capabilities to bring this new film innovation to the packaging market."