Hubergroup's Garber shares insights about fast-expanding world of coatings
Hubergroup recently invested in state-of-the-art production facilities for coatings and continues looking at other manufacturing technologies. André Garber, head of business development for water-based systems and UV coatings, says “We are extremely particular when selecting raw materials for our coatings, whether barrier or food packaging coatings, and ensure compliance with all necessary regulations.”
12 Sep 2024 | By André Garber
Hubergroup offers a broad portfolio and can provide the appropriate coating for a wide range of applications. The minimum gram of coat weight depends entirely on the desired effect. For example, a quantity of 6–8-g (wet) per square metre may suffice for a pure protective coating applied over ink on the coated cardboard side, while a double layer of coating may be necessary for barrier coatings on the reverse side of the cardboard.
The main component of our coatings is acrylic. Progress has been made in developing bio-based raw materials in recent years, but it is not yet complete.
Compared to coating, lamination tends to be more attractive owing to the relatively favourable availability of raw materials. However, in terms of sustainability, cost is not the only consideration.
Lamination allows for a wide range of applications. If it is to be replaced by coating, the product selection must be based on the required performance (like resistance to filling goods, and water or oil resistance). A coated product offers an advantage in terms of sustainability due to its potential for recycling, which is not possible with lamination.
In addition to fulfilling legal requirements (EuPIA, GMP), most coatings are Cradle to Cradle certified. Hubergroup also has a coating series and an offset ink series in our portfolio that is suitable for direct food contact (DFC)), and the coatings are authorised for export.
In terms of sustainability standards, part of the energy used to manufacture our products is obtained from alternative energy sources such as solar energy, reducing the carbon footprint. Furthermore, our water-based coatings have little impact on the recycling process.
Based on feedback from converters that controlling the viscosity of coatings and ensuring their consistency is burdensome, it is advisable to check the viscosity before and during longer print jobs and adjust it if necessary. The water-based varnishes, for example, can be easily adjusted to the desired viscosity using water or a mixture of water and solvent.
Barrier coatings can maintain a temporary barrier property, unlike films. There is no single barrier coating that fulfils all requirements. All factors must therefore be taken into account when selecting a coating. Some important questions are, which medium is the barrier against, what properties does the medium have, how long is the possible contact time, et cetera
The share of polymers in sustainable food packaging applications is expected to fall by half over the next two decades. Meanwhile, fibre-based materials are projected to contribute to 40% of all materials in use for food packaging.
Hubergroup has been focusing on offering solutions for the market for some time now. Many barrier coatings have been developed in recent years. For example, oxygen barrier coatings and grease or water barriers, to name the most recent developments. The company is in the final stages of developing a coating that provides a barrier against water vapour. Additionally, Hubergroup is not exclusively focused on fibre-based materials. For example, it has an oxygen barrier coating for use on polymer films, enabling the production of recyclable mono-materials.