Henkel Corporation, a technology leader in adhesives and coatings for flexible packaging, has announced a major product advance:  The Liofol UR2790-22/UR5026-21 adhesive system allows converters to produce laminate films, then roll, slit, pouch and ship to food processors faster than current industry standard products. 

“This is truly a unique offering,” said Guenther Hering, Henkel vice president of flexible packaging, North America.  “Performance is crucial for high-end converting applications, and the Liofol UR2790-22/UR5026-21 adhesive system achieves performance levels superior to previous offerings for this market before and after the retort process.” 

“Equally important,” according to Doug Apicella, Henkel’s director of marketing, flexible packaging, North America, “this two-component, solvent-based polyurethane adhesive brings unparalleled levels of productivity to converters producing adhesive laminated rolls, pouches and bags based on its exceptional curing profile. It enables manufacturers the speed they desire in shipping products to meet customers’ needs quickly.”

Developed for high-performance laminations exposed to pasteurisation, boiling water, sterilisation and retort conditions, the Liofol UR2790-22/UR5026-21 adhesive system can also be used for general-purpose food packaging laminations, as well as health care, pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.

The Liofol UR2790-22/UR5026-21 adhesive system exceeds all food safety requirements, the company said.

Multiple benefits
With an accent on speed, the Liofol UR2790-22/UR5026-21 adhesive system has been formulated to deliver multiple benefits to converters. These include enhanced manufacturing throughput based on faster slitting and faster cure without the need for a hot room; higher running/application solids relative to conventional retort systems; faster compliance for food safety.

Other benefits are: fast shipment, with full cure in half the time of standard retort-capable adhesives; lower internal costs due to reduced inventory, reduced space for a hot room and warehousing, and reduced energy costs; very high bond performance and heat seal strength on film/film as well as film/foil retort, with performance maintained before and after retort and during filling.

The system also provides strong heat and chemical resistance and good cured properties – optically clear, odour-free and elastic.