Garware highlights new high-shrink films

Garware Polyester, a Mumbai-based public listed company engaged in the manufacturing of plastic films showcased its newly launched high-shrink film. Also at display were polyester films, themal lamination films, BOPP films and PP films. The company was also showcasing two new introductions Gardigi and velvet lamination films.

02 Nov 2014 | By Anand Srinivasan

Renowned as one of India's leading polyester suppliers was established 50 years ago. According to Milind Tilak, general manager-exports, Garware accumalated experience with its technical know-how since 2009 to come-out with the PET-based shrink sleeve film. The product was officially launched in 2009. Garware claims it to be the sole producer of PET-based shrink film in India.

The hi-shrink film, which was the highlight of its stall, is basically made up of PET. It has a tendancy to shrink upto 75% which is 25% higher when compared to PVC.

According to Tilak, PVC is the dominant segment in the shrink sleeve market in India. "500 tonnes of PVC are being converted in a month as compared to 150 tonnes of PET shrink films. And four to five years, PET will see an upsurge and will replace PVC," he said. The disadvantage which he claims in using a PVC based film is its recyclability. "PVC is difficult to recycle when compared to PET."

Garware manufactures 2500 tonnes per annum of PET shrink films at its manufacturing unit in Aurangabad. "The idea of setting up a PET shrink film unit in India is to make PET films readily available to the customers which is when the trend of using PET films will increase."

Garware's manufacturing plant is equipped with  five converting lines out of which two co-extrusion lines are dedicated for high-shrink film production and has the capacity to produce upto 10,000 tonnes a year. 

The other interesting product at Garware's stall was Gardigi which is a non-tearable sheet designed for label stocks and use on photoalbums and educational sector usually for marksheets and certificates. The sheet is available for a size of 12x18-inch and 13x19-inch and the USP of this product is that its thermally stable at high temperatures.

In addition to this, velvet lamination films were on display. These are typically velvet coated BOPP films where the velvet coating is a polymer which gives velvet touch to the substrate after lamination.

The update is that Garware Polyester has added a new converting poly propylene line to its manufacturing facility.