Labelexpo: Herma will launch new label films for self-adhesive materials

The new Herma PP flex label films boast properties usually associated with classic PE films, but use considerably less material. Herma will present them for the first time at Labelexpo in Barcelona.

Herma PP flex white (grade 840) and Herma PP flex clear (grade 847) have a thickness of just 45 µm — around 40% less than standard PE films. Thanks to their special, easily wettable outer layer without a top coat, however, both PP films can be flexo-printed just as well as conventional corona-pretreated PE films — or classic PP films with a top coat — after corona pretreatment. Despite their low film thickness, Herma PP flex films are comparable to standard PE films in terms of rigidity and dispensability. This means that reduced material usage contributes to greater sustainability without compromising processing speeds, production efficiency or printability. These two films have been specially developed for applications in which significantly thicker white or transparent PE films are usually used. The two new films are therefore additional components in the existing Herma Thin Range. This range now includes a variety of self-adhesive materials that save resources thanks to their significantly reduced weight.

Herma PP flex films can be used to produce attractive white or transparent glossy labels. These are ideal for use on polyolefin plastic surfaces for recycling purposes. They are suitable for labelling a wide range of products, including cosmetics, household products, cleaning products, beverages and food. Thanks to the high transparency of the film, labels made from it are visibly transparent, offering a clear advantage over transparent PE films.

The Cyclos-HTP Institute has confirmed the following regarding the two Herma PP flex films in combination with adhesive 72HPW: They can easily be separated from HDPE- and PET-based packaging during the recycling process. This means that these films are also suitable for wash-off applications involving rigid HDPE packaging — even in cold washes — or PET bottles. Herma already has five different self-adhesive materials with this certification for HDPE packaging alone — a considerable number given that there were previously very few solutions to this challenge.