Originally Published EMDM November 2005
SPECIAL REPORT
Alcan Film Gets Rave Review from DuPont
Christina Elston
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In the medical industry, customer needs are often the mother of innovation. Alcan Packaging, Medical Flexibles (Chicago, IL, USA) takes full advantage of this source of inspiration for its products. The company’s emerging technology sessions with customers, part of an increased emphasis on R&D during the past three to four years, are designed around the key question: “How do we get closer to our customer, our customer’s customer, and better understand the market that our products go into?” says Rick Merical, director of research and development for medical flexible products.
These semi-annual visits with strategically aligned customers include discussion of end-user needs that customers have identified through focus groups and other R&D efforts. “Many innovative packaging solutions are initiated as a result of these emerging technology meetings,” Merical says.
One such breakthrough is Alcan’s Tear Anywhere film—designed as a packaging alternative to cellophane—which received a Flexible Packaging Innovation Gold Award from DuPont Packaging (Wilmington, DE, USA) in August. “Our customers identified issues with converting and processing laminations containing cellophane,” says Merical, adding that customers also expressed concerns related to performance consistency and functionality.
DuPont judges singled out the Tear Anywhere film because of the advantages of the proprietary olefin technology over cellophane, according to Heide Rowan, North American brand manager for DuPont corporate marketing. “The film is not moisture sensitive and does not become brittle over time,” says Rowan. “It does not yellow with age, which keeps the packaging looking fresh and new.” The product also offers reduced laminating waste compared with coated cellophane, and allows a 24% to 35% increase in printing and laminating process efficiency compared with cellophane, Rowan says.
Tear Anywhere film is typically used as the primary substrate on the outside of a foil lamination, and will tear in transverse and machine directions equally well without a notch, according to Merical. “This becomes particularly important in elder-friendly packaging applications,” he says. The film could also be used in easy-opening condom packaging, or for packaging creams, ointments, surgical lubricants, or towelettes in four-side-sealed pouches.
Even in nonfoil unsupported applications, the cast coextrusion still has excellent moisture barrier properties as compared with cellophane, Merical says. “Tear Anywhere is a 100% polyolefin coextrusion and as a result achieves the packaging enhancements and attributes our customers were expecting.” Adds Michael Rubenstein, president of global pharmaceutical packaging: “Alcan Packaging’s global reach enables us to share best practices across markets and continents. The development of products such as the Tear Anywhere film proves our dedication to anticipate the needs of healthcare professionals worldwide.”
The product is currently undergoing stability, shelf-life, and aging studies at several customer facilities, and its first applications will likely enter the market during the first quarter of 2006.
Copyright ©2005 European Medical Device Manufacturer
