Ideal alternative to rigid packaging

At PlastIndia 2015 held in Gujarat, India,  Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics received the Best Innovative Finished Product/Process (International) award. In the 7th  Edition of the Plasticon Awards competition, Dow was recognised for its technologically advanced solution - PacXpert™  Flexible Packaging Technology – which was one of the many innovative  packaging  solutions  by  Dow  featured at PlastIndia 2015.

Plastindia Foundation instituted the ‘Plasticon Awards’ to facilitate excellence and innovation in the field of plastics.  The Plasticon Awards is the most prestigious award  competition for India’s plastics industry, practicing professionals and students. The Awards are sponsored by industry stalwarts and cover a wide range of activity including industry, academic, research,  entrepreneurship,  etc. The  winners for  each category are selected by an independent panel of jurists, who again, are achievers and pioneers in their respective fields.  

India is an important geography to Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics as the business continues to develop differentiated and game-changing innovations that meet the evolving needs of Dow’s customers as well as support customer growth with the company’s Sadara joint venture project that will bring new capacity of high performing Dow products to the Asia Pacific region later this year.  

PacXpert Packaging Technology is an innovative technology that enables the transition from larger traditional rigid containers to flexible packaging options. The distinctive flexible stand-up pouch is durable, lightweight, and cost effective. While flexible, the cube-shaped package is shelf stable and can stand equally well upright or on its side.

The design also features integrated durable handles that offer easy handling and precision pouring. It has a re-closable cap and different fitment options for a variety of dispensing and re-closing options, while offering potential for eye-catching shelf appeal with broad billboard space; graphic design options include four printable sides, see-through windows, etc. The structures allow for increased product yield by reducing content waste.
Available in a range of sizes (1L – 20L), the innovative packages made possible through PacXpert Packaging Technology hold the potential for use in numerous household, institutional, and industrial applications.

Advantages over traditional rigid packaging
When compared to traditional rigid packaging alternatives, packaging made utilising PacXpert Packaging Technology uses less raw materials to make each package. It also increases transportation efficiency with empty packages shipping flat, potentially lowering CO2 emissions. The packaging offers a higher product-to-package ratio and lowers waste removal costs. With reduced size, it occupies less receptacle space and landfill space.

After opening, the flexible packaging made using PacXpert Packaging Technology can be compacted as its contents are dispensed to enable reduced space needed for storage. Such packaging can prolong shelf-life of air-sensitive products and improves ease of dispensing the contents. Moreover, the packaging allows easy visual identification of the amount of product left.

PacXpert Packaging Technology is licensed globally by Dow through an exclusive agreement with Smart Bottle Inc. Dow is sub-licensing the technology to select converters who may then leverage the technology to promote differentiated flexible packaging solutions to the marketplace.

 
 Dow representatives received the Plasticon Award  

Flexible alternative
PacXpert Packaging Technology has provided practical alternative to jerry cans, which have been considered ideal for transporting both solid substances and liquids. Jerry cans are stackable, suitable for Euro pallets and most of the time even made of food-compatible plastics. The only drawback is that after use, they could not be stored or disposed in a space-saving manner.

With PacXpert technology, the pouch has many applications. It can be used for both food and non-food goods and is ideal for stacking. According to current packaging tests run by the Technology Centre for Load & Transport Securing “DUO LAB” in Thuringia, the flexible jerry cans when wrapped with stretch film can even be transported on pallets without any further secondary packaging. The possible filling volume varies from product to product and currently ranges from two to 20 litres. With an integral handle, the foldable jerry can is very easy to empty and can be re-closed with screw cap when not emptied 100% and then only takes up as much room as the remaining quantity it contains.

The key advantages of these cans over classic, rigid plastic jerry cans become especially visible when transporting the empty pouches. For instance, in the European market, up to 50 billion jerry cans are transported empty while taking up the same storage space as filled containers. By contrast, the PacXpert requires ten times less space for transport thereby saving both the budget and the environment. It cuts the disposal costs since less material needs to be disposed off than with comparable rigid packaging.  

To date, Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics has granted licenses for packaging companies to use the PacXpert Packaging Technology. For instance, Ampac is now a licensee of  and is authorized to sell packages in North America. Ampac packages produced utilising the PacXpert™ Technology are under the Ampac CubePak™ name.

The lightweight packaging design offers a fitment closure and integrated ergonomic dual handles, enabling precision pouring, easy reclosing and convenient carrying. While flexible, PacXpert™ Technology is shelf stable and can stand upright or on its side once filled. The functional performance of the product is enhanced with visually-transparent packaging that allows consumers to see the contents within and the opportunity to print on all four sides.

The PacXpert Technology manufactured and sold by Ampac in North America under the brand name Ampac CubePak, has the potential for use in numerous household, institutional, food service and industrial applications including liquids and dry good products.