Michelman is a global developer of water-based barrier and functional coatings for flexible film packaging, paperboard, and corrugated cartons; and water-based surface modifiers, additives, and polymers for numerous industries, including wood and floor care, industrial coatings, inks, fibers, composites, and construction. We spoke to Yogesh Pitake, Technology Head at Michelman India, about the company’s latest development and innovation at the Elite Plus Specialty Films and Flexible Packaging Conference.
He said, “Michelman is into specialty coatings; we offer products that make packaging structure more sustainable, we offer product that replaces additional plastic layer to make it more sustainable. We have a wide range of products like Oxygen Barrier product, Moisture Barrier product, which are applied on films and papers to deliver the desired barrier performance. We also have a few products that can replace plastic and provide additional heat sealability. We focus on a sustainable segment and offer water-based products to make the planet greener.”
The new Oxygen Barrier Coating
About the latest development, Yogesh said “We will be launching a high solid content Oxygen Barrier product. Although we already have a product in that category with a low solid percentage, but the latest technology can offer a high solid percentage that makes the product easier to handle in different machines and offers desired oxygen barrier performance. Hopefully, it will be launched in the next couple of months.”
“We are also developing a few products that can give the desired barrier and additional retort property. It is currently available only in the traditional packaging structure like polyester or aluminum foil. But we are developing a product which can replace aluminum layer in packaging.”
Replace Plastic with Paper packaging in E-commerce Industry
Michelman is leading the industry in terms of innovation. They were the first to replace plastic with paper packaging structure in the e-commerce industry, where they had collaborated with multinational brands. Through this effort, India became the first country in e-commerce to successfully implement paper packaging in e-commerce, and Michelman was the main contributor, along with the converter and the brand.
Giving his perspective on the flexible packaging industry, He said, “Flexible packaging market is growing in double digits, the new plastic waste management regulation still has uncertainty and unclarity in the market. Although, there is much buzz about mono-material packaging structure. Big brands like Unilever and Nestle have pledged to replace their non-recyclable structure with recyclable structures and emphasize the converters to implement the changes successfully.”
“Some companies have successfully established recycling facilities where the converter can collect the waste plastic and recycle again in film form. With more of these collection and recycling facility five years down-the-line, the packaging industry will be more sustainable and commercially viable.”
The Innovation Centre for R & D
“We are committed to work with different brands. We continually add new equipment and assets at Michelman Technology & Innovation Centre for coating (MICC) where various stakeholders like brand owners, converters, can collaborate with our team, and we could offer them desirable solutions to develop recyclable and sustainable products. They can use the Michelman facility to develop new products without relying on their converters for trials. We offer our state-of the-art coating machine and labs for research and development, which is complimentary and we deliver products as per the customer’s expectations.” Concludes Yogesh.
India has changed rapidly in terms of the packaging structures. The converters are keen to invest in research and development where Michelman can offer different products. It is an emerging market where people are ready to try new things, and that’s where Michelman contributes.
