Delivering barriers without frontiers Supravis Group

Delivering bArriers witHout frontiers

The Supravis Group is a remarkable company that specialises in the development of unique, barrier packaging solutions. Founded in Poland in 1985 it has since seen dramatic yearon-year growth. Philip Yorke takes a closer look at some of the company’s many outstanding achievements and its aspirations for the future.

After almost 35 years of dynamic growth, the Supravis Group remains 100 per cent owned by the entrepreneurial family that founded it. Today Supravis is the only European company that has developed and produced such a comprehensive range of high-tech barrier packaging products from flexible films used in the processing of fresh food. Its high-tech solutions are also working worldwide to protect vital medical and healthcare products. In addition, the company manufactures highly specialised packaging products developed exclusively for the electronics and automotive sectors.

Innovation as standard

From the outset, the company has been clearly focused on providing added value to customers through product innovation and the development of uniquely targeted solutions. It was the first to venture into polyamide casings and today is the largest producer of this type of packaging in Poland.

Since 1998 the company has specialised in the development of a broad portfolio of barrier packaging films, which now includes thermoforming foils, laminates, heat-shrink sleeves and the latest printing and lamination technologies. Coinciding with the company’s 20th anniversary of its first move into film extrusion, Supravis has launched a new 11 layer, high-barrier cast line for film production. This is the most technologically advanced installation of its type in the world.

“We previously had two cast lines for the production of special barrier films, so the investment in a third line was a natural step for us to increase our capacity and meet the on-going demand for this product. We not only have a lot of experience in the process

itself, but our unique know-how has enabled us to work with the line manufacturer in order to refine the smallest detail of the new line, so that it is perfectly suits our needs” said Tomasz Konczal, Production Director at Supravis. The new high-tech installation adds a further 10,000 tonnes of value-added performance for thermoforming film, thus doubling the company’s current capacity.

It will also allow the development of completely new film structures that are not yet available on the market. A strategically important move for Supravis, this latest 11 layer line is only a small part of an ambitious investment programme that includes a 10 colour flexo printer, a high-performance laminator and most importantly, a 9 layer blown-foil production line that enables the company to manufacture all its barrier foils on site. Recently the company added an 11 layer heat-shrink tubing line, thus bringing the total value of this recent investment programme to more than €25 million. Innovative structures & visual effects

The Supravis Group operates one of the most advanced and sophisticated packaging production plants in the world. As a result, it is in a privileged position to meet the latest market challenges and provide solutions that not only satisfy its customers, but also dramatically reduce the impact of its businesses on the environment.

The on-going investment programme has also enabled the company to design packaging that offers better functionality with reduced use of natural resources and to focus on energy-saving production processes. Recently Supravis reached a new milestone in its history with the completion of its development work on specialised, high-performance flow-pack machines branded as – Supralam™. The advanced technical capabilities of the machine for the production of film, also enables the production of multi-layer laminates in which its raw material components are dispensed with precision to individual layers.

This solution delivers excellent strength parameters, gloss haze and most uniquely, excellent heating parameters, which in turn provide optimal ‘hot-tack’. This is responsible for the quality and speed of welding on flow-pack machines. All these benefits are achieved with a significant reduction in the thickness of the laminate, even up to 42 um.

Trending laser technology

New trends and standards in the production of soft packaging have forced manufacturers to invest in new technologies in order to improve their product’s functionality and appearance. The use of laser technology is therefore ideal for the implementation of modern packaging that meet any new requirements set by the market.

The most popular is the “easy-open” cut that enables consumers to easily open packages. In the case of the barrier laminate sector, it is important to maintain the barrier of the packaging, which is why only the outer layer is cut in order for the packaging to 100 per cent retain its protective properties. The laser device also has the ability to perform: microperforation, macroperforation and perforation in any shape. Thanks to this laser application, the company can improve the gas exchange of the packaging. In addition, it is also possible to engrave simple shapes that have a decorative function that can furthermore protect against counterfeiting. n

For more details of the Supravis Group’s latest innovative packaging products and services visit: www.supravis-goup.pl