Amcor Flexibles Wins Two Alufoil Trophies 2013!


Amcor Flexibles is proud to announce that we have received two Alufoil Trophies at the 2013 prestigious competition organised by the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA) which recognise both our resource efficiency and technical innovation expertise. This reinforces Amcor Flexibles' commitment to innovation and providing more sustainable packaging solutions to our customers.



In the category of Resource Efficiency, Amcor Formpack® Advanced Blister Design was awarded an Alufoil Trophy for a major advance in its Formpack® blister pack. The Advanced Blister Design is based on an existing blister pack, which was re-engineered such that the material consumption has been reduced by more than 30%, while simultaneously improving the moisture protection of the drug by over 40%.



Professor Dr. Markus Prem, head of judging and principal of the Department of Food Packaging Technology at the University of Applied Sciences Kempten said: "There is a clear functional improvement of the pack through greatly enhanced moisture control, as well as a marked reduction in material use. To achieve this greatly enhanced performance with 30% less material is a major achievement."



Advanced developments in the design software allowed for an accurate simulation of moisture diffusion. In the previous blister design, the simulation software assumes the same level of humidity ingress for all cavities due to the perforation lines resulting in each cavity having four open sides. In the new blister design, as the perforations between the single cavities have been removed, there is a significant reduction in the possible edges where the humidity can diffuse into the cavities. As a result of this improvement six tablets, rather than the previous four, are able to be packed in a blister with identical dimensions. This design simulation tool is a critical component in the full suite of packaging design and development tools innovated by Amcor Flexibles, which allow the optimum selection and design of blister materials.



Andrea Della Torre, R&D Pharma Director at Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas, explained the significance of the award, "Amcor Flexibles is particularly proud to receive this Alufoil Trophy as it recognizes our continuous effort in developing sustainable packaging solutions. Our customers acknowledge Amcor Flexibles' commitment in this field and we are honoured that an independent panel of experts have now chosen to distinguish this product.”



In the category of Technical Innovation, Amcor Flexibles was awarded an Alufoil Trophy for Amcor Alufix® Dry Smart, the new greatly improved peel-off end membrane which is suitable for sealing any type of non-retortable cans. It can be used for a large range of products, such as powdered infant formula, instant drinks, powders and snacks among others. The membrane offers an improved level of efficiency on high speed sealing machines without the need of modifying them.



Additionally, the membrane features several environmental advantages without loss of performance.



Professor Dr. Markus Prem further commented on this entry, "This is a major step forward in reducing the carbon footprint without any loss of performance or efficiency during production. The company has worked hard to overcome all the technical challenges and come up with a very well thought out and well executed product, showing alufoil at its best."



The membranes are BPA and melamine free, and the specific challenge in the development of Alufix® Dry Smart was the conversion to a new solventless and PVC-free lacquering system while retaining the excellent mechanical properties of the membrane, such as burst-pressure, smooth peel and heat/temperature resistance.



Upon hearing of the award, Dr. Christoph Dietrich, Product Development Engineer at Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas said, "Winning an Alufoil Trophy for Alufix® Dry Smart, our latest innovation in the range of easy opening membranes for cans, is a great recognition for Amcor Flexibles. The membrane is the result of the close co-operation between the cross-functional Alufix® team, our supplier and our customers to help us anticipate market needs and deliver the best solution in terms of consumer convenience, safety and industrial efficiency. Moreover, the application of a solventless lacquering process allows us to reduce the carbon footprint of the Alufix® solution from today 2.12 to 1.96 kg CO2e/sqm, as calculated with ASSETTM, Amcor’s in-house life cycle assessment tool."



Alufix® Dry Smart represents a significant progress in its overall effort to increase packaging convenience while reducing the carbon footprint of packaging materials. More importantly it fulfils the market requirements of eco-designed packaging, while at the same time guaranteeing a safe closure of the can and providing the highest protection of the product thanks to the use of aluminium.



About Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas

With 68 plants in 21 countries, Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas, a division of Amcor, is a market leader and the world's largest supplier of flexible packaging. We deliver innovative packaging solutions and provide enhanced quality products for the food, beverage, pharma, personal care, medical and industrial markets. Its award winning approach towards sustainability makes Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas the preferred partner for customers looking for responsible packaging solutions. For more information visit www.amcor.com.



About Amcor

Amcor Limited is a global leader in responsible packaging solutions, employing more than 30,000 people worldwide, operating in 40 countries across 300 sites. Amcor supplies a broad range of plastic (rigid and flexible), fibre, metal and glass packaging solutions to enhance the products consumers use in everyday life. Amcor also provides packaging-related services that help customers succeed through collaboration and innovation driven by art and science. Amcor is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. For more information visit www.amcor.com.



Re. Formpack®

John Forsyth

Global Product Manager Formpack®

Global Pharma

Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas

Tel: +34 637 468 291

Email: john.forsyth@amcor.com



Florence Rocq

Marketing Communications Manager

Global Pharma

Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas

Tel: +33 1 5700 3619

Email: florence.rocq@amcor.com



Re. Alufix® Dry Smart

Guillermo Escrigas

Marketing Manager High Performance Foil

Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas

Tel: +41 79 382 36 93

Email: guillermo.escrigas@amcor.com



Cyra von Mueller

Marketing Communications Manager

High Performance Foil

Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas

Tel: +41 71 677 72 50

Email: cyra.vonmueller@amcor.com




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