Taghleef launches metallic IML film for 'luxury look' packaging

The film supplier said in-mold labeling of injection molded plastic containers became ‘the decoration method of choice’ during the latter years of the last century, providing a variety of post-molding finishes, from smooth and satin, to high gloss and transparent. ‘Yet there was one visual effect that had proved elusive,’ according to Taghleef Industries. ‘The “luxury look”, and the use of metallized BOPP film to really achieve premier “come and buy me” shelf presence.’

Previous attempts to provide such an option encountered issues with scratch resistance of the metallization, the adhesion of the inks to the metal surface, the build-up of static and the failure of the label to accept the static charge from the robotic system. The project to develop Titanium started 2.5 years ago, with a dedicated team investigating a workable product to satisfy the market need that had stretched back some 15 years or more. The multi-layer film has the metallic component as one of the inner layers, so removing issues associated with scratching and ink adhesion. The film is suitable for sheet-fed offset and rotary printing and does not require a prime coating, and is able to be printed on both sides. Over the development period Taghleef Industries worked with project partners in various countries and continents particularly Oceania, Europe, North America and Asia, to ensure that the film satisfies the demands of the supply chain.

Titanium is available in gloss and matte finishes, and has been molded into 500g screw top containers and large buckets of 20 liters as part of the development of the product. As such Taghleef Industries described Titanium as, ‘a film that will give 100 percent metallic coverage irrespective of label size, without any detriment to the anti-static and chargeability properties’.  

With a manufacturing footprint in nine countries on five continents, Taghleef Industries produces 410,000 tons of specialized and multi-purpose films for packaging, labels, industrial and graphic arts applications. Film types include OPP, CPP and PLA.

Titanium will be launched at Labelexpo Europe 2015, taking place September 29 to October 2 in Brussels, Belgium, following months of small scale commercialization and testing in various domestic markets in the Middle East.

Read more about new label and packaging materials to be launched at the show here