UFlex launches new products

Flexible Packaging Business created packaging formats for big brands like Nestle, AgroTech Foods and Olam Agro for its product variants.

a. For Nestle’s launch of new Maggi Chilli Garlic Fried Rice Instant Spice Mix, UFlex designed a structure comprising of 10 micron polyester pack with 6.35 micron aluminum foil and 50 micron EVOH poly to provide moisture and oxygen barrier to pack seasoning that needs the aroma to be retained till its consumption.

b. For Agro Tech Foods Sundrop Duo Twist Wrap, the requirement was to pack confectionary in a 23 micron metallized polyester pack with twist grade that allows surface printing and anti-static coating for smoother running of the pack through the machine. 

c. For the launch of dry fruits, spices and rice of global food and agri-business brand Olam Agro, UFlex created laminates and pouches with a structure of 12 micron PET, 12 micron window MET PET and 90 micron PE to pack contents with requirement of a strong barrier to retain aroma, nutrients and taste within shelf life. These packs with single web laminates have side gusset window that offers a view of actual product. Company used white ink separation with lacquer that lends a fusion look of metallic and matt on the pouch, while the registered matt coat makes the brand name and image of the product shine with its surrounding looking matted.

Films Business launched metal textured film which is derived when textures are incorporated on a specially formulated BOPET substrate that is availed with the use of special polymers and nano materials, to impart good reflectance, depth and ease of processing. It is available in 23, 36 and 50+ micron thickness. F-Brush-M, available in silver, gold and rose colour, is used to achieve a fine brush like effect on a metallized polyester film to give a steel look on the shelf with excellent gloss and shine. Whereas, F-LIN-M is a special coated metallic linen textured polyester film that gives excellent gloss and design with seamless impressions. Both variants are compliant with the EU and FDA standards. The manufacturing of the film involves no use of solvents or UV radiation which makes the film sustainable.

Another product launched by films business is ultra-low OTR PET film for food packaging. Patent pending film F-ULP is a coated transparent BOPET film with barrier layer coated on one side that provides an ultra-high oxygen barrier. According to the company, F-ULP has the highest level of barrier achievement with one of the lowest OTR in the world. The standard film has the OTR values of less than 0.4cc/m2/day which can be reduced further down to 0.08cc/m2/day or even lesser depending upon the coating thickness. The coating has an excellent adhesion on the substrate which gives it good bond strength with all types of adhesive systems in multi-layered laminates. The film also offers strong barrier against moisture, and supreme crack resistance transparency.

Films business also launched mono-extruded matte finish F-MSH grade BOPET film for printing and lamination, sealable and peelable BOPET film with water-based coating for lidding and high oxygen barrier BOPET film for dry and chilled food packaging. 

Holography business introduced digital foil for ink and varnish through process of applying hot stamping foil to an ink or varnish without the requirement of a die. These foils have been specifically manufactured to bond on ink, toner or varnish whilst still using heat and pressure. The business also launched registered lens label for edible oil packs. The packaging of this customized holographic substrate is recyclable / biodegradable. The business further developed labels for hand sanitizers. 

Engineering business launched collar-type form fill seal machine for snacks packaging, and rotary machine for spice packaging. 

Chemicals Business introduced toluene-free inks for food packaging to comply with revised guidelines issued by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS IS 15495:2020). Other products by the business included single solvent-free adhesives with multiple hardeners, and side and bottom sealing adhesive for paper bags.

Ashok Chaturvedi, chairman and managing director, UFlex said: ‘This quarter has witnessed a resurgent UFlex, despite all the COVID-19 challenges, achieving highest ever quarterly production, sales, revenue, EBITDA and PAT. We have been pivotal in providing packaged products to the end consumers during the pandemic period. To ensure that we are future-ready and have a better outreach of sustainable solutions to our clients located globally, we have been scaling up our international operations. We are glad to announce that during the quarter, we commenced commercial operations from Russian facility which will help bring us closer to our customers in Russia & CIS markets.’

’We are eagerly waiting for a COVID-19 problem to be over which will bring focus back on sustainability in flexible packaging as we are ready to commercialize our various biodegradability initiatives.’