SRF invests in Bobst Expert K5 with AluBond

With this investment, the company aims to further meet both the national and international market demands.

SRF’s president and CEO Prashant Mehra and Hari K Singh, executive VP and head of global operations and projects vice president, SRF, said, “Due to growth in the BOPP market, we needed to expand our capacity. We have invested in a second BOPP line in India and needed a metalliser to help meet our customers’ requirements.

“The AluBond process will allow us to produce high-quality BOPP film with high adhesion and high barrier levels to meet the demands in the market both in India and Overseas. We look forward to our new Bobst Expert K5 being installed early next year.”

The AluBond offering was initially developed by Bobst to increase the metal adhesion and dyne level on the most commonly used film substrates. This technology is now becoming the standard metallising process for polyolefin-based PP substrates due to its ability to increase barrier levels on these film types.

Bobst claims that AluBond can achieve metal adhesion values of up to 5N/15mm and has been shown to significantly increase dyne level retention which translates in improved ink wettability during printing and may eliminate the need for an additional surface treatment boost (corona refresh before converting).

“When AluBond is applied to BOPP and CPP films it also provides enhancement of oxygen and water vapour barrier performance. It is also starting to be used in the production of high barrier metallised CPP and BOPP mono-material laminates in response to the market’s demands for sustainable packaging films,” says Bobst.

SRF opened its first plant in Manali, near Chennai in 1974 and today has grown into a top chemicals conglomerate. With a turnover of Rs 8,295-crore, SRF is a market leader in the manufacturing of industrial and specialty intermediates. The company’s business portfolio covers specialty chemicals, fluorochemicals, packaging films, technical textiles, coated and laminated fabrics.

Its packaging films business offers a range of BOPP and BOPET innovations for both food and non-food packaging applications. The division follows a ‘Triple E’ approach to sustainability, comprising the pillars of environment, engagement and enterprise. Each of these pillars cover material issues for the company’s sustainability targets and goals.