BASF presents innovations at interpack 2011

BASF is to present once again at the international packaging fair, Interpack, in Düsseldorf from May 12 to 18. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) March 30, 2011 - Visitors can find out more about the company's innovative and versatile solutions for the packaging industry at Stand B43 in Hall 10. The company's solutions are presented in five neatly divided themed areas: cost reduction, sustainability, differentiation at the point of sale, content protection and convenience.

BASF presents the following highlights:

Hexamoll® DINCH

BASF's Hexamoll DINCH is an innovative plasticizer made specially for sensitive applications such as toys, medical devices and food-contact products. With its excellent toxicological profile and low migration rate, as confirmed by studies conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging, Hexamoll DINCH is ideally suited for products such as cling film and O-rings for screw closures. Hexamoll DINCH is recommended by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and is listed on the EU 2002/72/EC food contact list.

The fascinating world of color: Aurora® special effect film

Aurora special effect film opens up a variety of optical effects for product designers, packaging and label manufacturers. The film is high-luster with intriguing reflections and comes in a wide range of colors. Aurora can be used for a variety of applications and in combination with a range of matrix materials such as paper and carton. The effect design options – from subtle to striking and sophisticated to playful – open up a wealth of opportunities for unusual packaging, eye-catching displays, film laminates, sachets and fanciful gift wrap. Aurora special effect film is exclusively distributed by BTC Speciality Chemical Distribution. BTC is BASF’s European sales organization for specialty chemicals.

Additive and pigment competency for plastic packaging

As the leading supplier of additives and pigments to the plastics industry, BASF offers its packaging customers a wide variety of products and solutions that enhance the appeal and functionality of packaging. With its unique industry platform approach, its broad product portfolio, and its extensive technical know-how, BASF is able to generate synergies and deliver extra value.

Whether cost efficiency or superior value-in-use being the key focus, a broad range of organic and inorganic pigments such as Cromophtal ®, Heliogen ®, Irgalite ®, and Paliotol ® help match specific customer requirements. In addition, BASF provides a wide range of alternatives to replace lead and diarylide containing pigments, helping customers fulfill increasingly stringent standards and regulations regarding product and consumer safety. Eupolen ® and Microlen ® pigment preparations allow new standards of consistency and reliability in coloration of plastics, leading to improved pro-cessing efficiency. A well established portfolio of effect pigments such as Xymara ®, Mearlin ®, and Firemist ® provide designers with exciting styling opportunities. The wide variety of attainable effects ranges from brilliant sparkling to pearlescent and satin.

Consumers often prefer transparent packaging, as it allows them to see and evaluate the actual product they are buying. Irgaclear ® XT 386, a clarifier for polypropylene, offers outstanding “see through” clarity at low concentration, and has excellent organoleptic properties.

BASF offers a broad portfolio of light stabilizers such as Chimassorb ®, Tinuvin ® and Uvinul ® designed to protect not only the plastic packaging itself from rapid aging but also its valuable contents from the harmful effects of ultra-violet radiation. With Uvinul ® 4050 FF, BASF has registered the first monomeric HALS light stabilizer for food contact applications in plastics.

Furthermore, BASF is leveraging its broad competence in regulatory affairs as well as pigment and additive formulation and application to provide industry-leading support to the packaging community on important aspects such as food contact approvals and peace of mind with regard to the responsible use of formulation components.

OnVu™ : temperature memory for chilled and frozen products

“Manufacturers, retailers and consumers will be able to tell at a glance whether ice cream, pizza, fish and any other products have been kept deep-frozen without interruption or should be discarded because of significant cold chain breach,” explains Martin Angehrn, Project Manager, BASF Future Business GmbH. OnVu time temperature indicators are intelligent indicators, which can be added as labels on the food packaging that monitor the cold chain for chilled and deep-frozen food, making the current state of the product visible. The indicator changes color in response to the duration and intensity of the temperature misuse. The darker the color, the better the cold chain has been maintained. Applied to the packaging, OnVu monitors the food on its way from the manufacturer to the retailer.

Steron ® - Transfer coating technology for high-quality surfaces

Steron technology offers extensive possibilities for coating a variety of different substrates such as nonwovens, leather, textiles, packaging material and plastics. BASF’s Steron technology can be used to create surfaces with a high-quality appearance and handle and a texture which can be smooth or silky, matt or gloss, in a suede look or with a fine embossed pattern. The design can be changed quickly and easily. BASF will develop Steron technology in its pilot facilities and in cooperation with customers to tailor it to their applications and needs.

Biodegradable plastics for food packaging

Biodegradable plastic bags provide a hygienic and energy-efficient means of converting organic waste to valuable compost using industrial composting plants. BASF will be presenting shopping bags and organic waste bags made of its biodegradable plastics, Ecovio ® F and Ecovio ® FS. The new type of film, Ecovio FS, con-tains an even higher proportion of renewables than the established Ecovio F film type.

The exhibition also shows paper cups featuring Ecovio FS Paper, the new Ecovio type created specially for coating paper. With Ecovio FS Paper, conventional PE processing machines can be used to apply a thin inline coating of biodegradable film to paper in the extrusion process. The method produces drinking cups with a robust waterproof coating that is easily recycled along with the paper.

Styrenic plastics for films and bottles

After Styrolux ® HS 70, Styrolution GmbH – BASF's new styrenics affiliate – has now developed another two innovative plastic types, to be sold under the Styrolux ® brand and designed for use in the production of shrink film for the consumer goods packaging market. The company offers a novel two-component system with the two SBC block copolymers, Styrolux T (T=toughness) and Styrolux S (S = stiffness), which manufacturing customers can use to create a performance profile to meet their individual needs. Films made from the resultant "Styrolux T/S" are equally suitable for applying shrink sleeves to complex bottle shapes and for use with the ROSO (= roll-on-shrink-on) method, which involves applying adhesive sleeve film for labeling. Film manufacturers and the packaging industry benefit from the consistency of shrinkage and high end shrinkage of highly transparent films made of Styrolux T/S. The Styrolux 3G 46 brand is also suitable for blow molded bottles. Its advantages versus PET include cost benefits during processing.

With its high elasticity and resilience coupled with very high transparency and luster, Styroflex ® , another SBC block copolymer from the styrene plastics family, is used for applications including stretch hoods and thin film.

Improved polyamide for multilayer film

BASF's Ultramid ® polyamides play a vital role in modern packaging solutions. Ultramid's exceptional barrier properties in multilayer film systems help keep taste and aroma intact while protecting content from outside impacts, such as migration of oil from recycled cardboard.

The new Ultramid B SL range features an extended processing window, facilitating higher processing speeds and more efficient processing. The new types provide enhanced process reliability (lower rate of film rupture, higher run stability), higher blow-up ratio, up to 25% higher perforation resistance, and improved esthetic appeal for unoriented film (cast film, blown film). For oriented film (BOPA, shrink bags, casings), Ultramid B SL enables reduced film thicknesses and higher shrinkage.

Foam packaging for electrical and electronic products

A live demonstration of a shock test on the BASF stand highlights the properties of BASF's new foam, E-por ® . E-por is the first tough-elastic, crack-resistant foam which can be transported, stored, pro-cessed and recycled like traditional Styropor. The material is noted for very good fusion of the surface, excellent resistance to solvents, and an appealing look and feel. Because of its high crack-resistance, the foam is exceptionally shock-safe and therefore well-suited to being used as transport packaging for high-quality, shock-sensitive electrical and electronic products, such as plasma televisions, laptops, refrigerators or washing machines.

Joncryl ® ADR – High-performance additive for recycled PET

Joncryl ADR plastic additives improve the elasticity, foaming behaviour, ageing resistance and tensile strength of polyesters. They are mainly used to improve the performance of recycled PET.Joncryl ADR makes it possible to restore the properties of the recycled PET to equal those of the virgin PET.

Apart from being used to improve the mechanical properties of polymers, Joncryl ADR additives are also used as reactive compatibilizing agent for immiscible polymers. They make it possible for stable polymer blends to be manufactured from various immiscible polycondensates.

Recycled PET from homogeneous returned PET bottles is used in the textile industry in the production of polyester fibers, in the automotive industry in the production of plastic components and in the packaging industry in the production of tape, film, bottles and packaging for foodstuffs. It also has applications in household and electrical goods and in the construction industry.

Effects for printing and packaging

Those who stand out from the crowd, who create a unique character and a unique image or who position themselves distinctively, will win through. Attention to detail is crucial. Metasheen ® vacuum-metallized aluminum pigment slurries complement the BASF range of effect pigments designed to offer access to new, spectacular and distinctive styling opportunities in a variety of end-user applications including flexible packaging, cosmetic packaging, beverage label printing, gift wrapping, metal can decoration and in-mold decoration inks. Metasheen products are supplied as a 10 % metal solids slurry in a range of solvents suitable for gravure and screen printing applications, ranging in shade from unique dark chrome to a clean white. Metasheen products offer ink formulators maximum flexibility in providing metallic effects to end-users and brand owners.

BASF will also present the complete portfolio of pearlescent pigments including Glacier™ Frost White, the whitest pearlescent pigment. Further, BASF will feature the effect pigment range Lumina ® which allows beautiful effects in different colors with high chroma and transparency, including the unique products Lumina Red-Blue, Lumina Aqua-Blue and Lumina Turquoise. Lumina Royal Blue is the latest addition to create majestic luxury blues with high chroma and brilliancy.

Pigments for sustainable solutions – Heliogen ® Blue D 7940

As an example of its contribution to eco-friendly applications such as compostable plastic bags, BASF will present Heliogen D 7940, a copper-free phthalocyanine pigment. In contrast to standard copper phthalocyanine pigments neither disposal of special waste is necessary nor are additional costs generated for water treatment at printing ink customers and printers. Heliogen Blue D 7940 has a unique color shade and is characterized by high chroma and high fastness to light and weathering and is suitable for aromatic-free solvent-based inks and offset inks. It is mainly used for food packaging and labels, biodegradable bags and paper bags.

Joncryl ® FLX Line – water-based technology for medium-duty film printing

BASF’s continuous development efforts have resulted in new products that make the next step in water-based film printing possible. High lamination bond strengths in film structures, even comprising of PET films, can now be achieved with water-based inks that are formulated with Joncryl FLX Line products. Our Eco-Efficiency Analysis shows that water-based ink systems have a lower environmental impact and lower life cycle costs in comparison with solvent-based ink systems.

Sicopas ® Antibloc 448 – Cost saving through faster production of PA cast films

Polyamide films tend to stick when rapidly cooled down in the production process. Sicopas Antibloc 448 is used to avoid this sticking, e.g., to metal rolls. The active ingredient is a special antiblocking additive that demonstrates a lower coefficient of friction and higher puncture resistance with less of a haze effect on transparent films than conventional products. Sicopas Antibloc 448 is an antiblocking-agent masterbatch based on PA6 designed for biaxialy oriented (BOPA) film, as well as for cast and blown non-oriented PA film. It is used as an additive for surface layers of film made of Ultramid ® B and C grades to improve static and dynamic friction properties.

Sicolen ® , Sicoversal ® , Sicopas ® – Tailor-made masterbatches

Plastics products are made more colorful with masterbatches by BASF Color Solutions. BASF Color Solutions offer tailor-made Masterbatches for nearly every kind of packaging application. The customer simply selects the color and BASF Color Solutions creates the most suitable masterbatch based on carefully selected pigments and carrier systems, perfectly aligned to the end application. Especially masterbatches based on BASF’s effect pigments make products unique at the point of sale.

LiquiKolor ® – Special liquid preparations for economic coloring

With LiquiKolor BASF Color Solutions offers special liquid preparations for the coloring of plastics which are processed by injection molding, blow molding or extrusion. According to customer requirements these tailor-made preparations can be loaded with additives such as light stabilizers or antistatic agents. Especially for transparent colorations LiquiKolor shows advantages in coloring costs. For transparent coloration a very homogeneous distribution of the colorant is a prerequisite. Compared to solid masterbatches, the dosage of LiquiKolor is much lower (up to 0.1 % - 0.2 %), which leads to more economic coloring together with a very good result. To obtain these advantages a dosing system can also be offered.

Biodegradable Sicoversal® B masterbatches

BASF Color Solution offers tailor made biodegradable masterbatches, according to the European norm EN 13432. E.g., with Sicoversal B Blue 70-140125 a masterbatch based on Ecoflex ® and copper-free Heliogen ® Blue can be offered which shows a brilliant color in biodegradable films.

Safety first! Detectable and magnetizable compound for the food industry

BASF Color Solutions has developed compounds based on magnetizable pigments. These compounds can be offered in different dark color shades and customer requirements regarding thermoplastic type can be fulfilled. Nearly each type of polymer is suitable to produce a magnetic compound. Besides the magnetizable property, these compounds are also detectable and can be recognized by regular metal detectors. This means that the compound can be used to substitute stainless steel in food production, e.g., transport crates, brushes, baskets, guiding profiles. Using the magnetizable, detectable compound, pollution of food coming from these devices can be avoided.

Epotal ® Eco for biodegradable packaging

Epotal Eco by BASF is the first compostable water-based adhesive certified by the German Technical Inspection Agency TÜV. It is particularly suitable for the production of multi-layer films for flexible packaging such as bags for potato chips. Epotal Eco is compatible with all commonly used biodegradable plastic films. Tests have shown that after 70 days 90 percent of the adhesive is broken down – without leaving any toxic residues and without any negative impact on the environment. This means that Epotal Eco meets the European EN 13432 standard for biodegradable plastics and allows, for the first time, the production of fully compostable packaging. Apart from this, Epotal Eco offers all benefits of water-based adhesives.

Water-based adhesives: safe and efficient

BASF’s water-based adhesives are an environmentally friendly and efficient alternative to solvent-based and solvent-free products: They are free from toxic components and consequently, they are particularly suitable for food packaging. In addition, multi-layer films that have been specifically produced based on these BASF adhesives can be processed immediately after lamination. This way, the adhesives help the packaging industry to save time and money.

Contacts:

For more about Hexamoll DINCH, please ask:

Max Kron, Tel. +49 621 60-59436, max.kron ( @ ) basf dot com

For more about Aurora, please ask:

Inga Kalin, Tel. +49 221 95464-140, inga.kalin ( @ ) btc-europe dot com

For more about Cromophtal, Heliogen and Irgalite, Eupolen and Microlen, Xymara, Mearlin and Firemist, Irgaclear XT 386, Chimassorb, Tinuvin and Uvinul, please ask:

Tobias Wölfing, Tel. +41 61 63-65646, tobias.woelfing ( @ ) basf dot com

For more about OnVu, please ask:

Vanessa Holzhäuser, Tel. +49 1520 9375862, vanessa.holzhaeuser ( @ ) basf dot com

For more about Ecovio, Styrolux, Styroflex, Ultramid, and E-por, please ask:

Dr. Sabine Philipp, Tel. +49 621 60-43348, sabine.philipp ( @ ) basf dot com

For more about Joncryl ADR and Steron, please ask:

Angelika Geiger, Tel. +49 621 60-99604, angelika.geiger ( @ ) basf dot com

For more about Metasheen, Lumina, Heliogen Blue D 7940, Joncryl FLX, Sicopas Antibloc 448, Sicolen, Sicoversal, Sicopas, LiquiKolor and SicoversalB, please ask:

Jürgen Jakob, Tel. +49 621 60-41769, juergen.w.jakob ( @ ) basf dot com

For more about Epotal Eco and water-based adhesives, please ask:

Agata Koziuk, Tel. +49 621 60-49181, agata.koziuk ( @ ) basf dot com

About BASF

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and agricultural products to oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of about €63.9 billion in 2010 and had approximately 109,000employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com or in its Social Media Newsroom at newsroom.basf.com.

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