At the end of April – June 2021 quarter, UFLEX announced a host of products and solutions across its businesses that are set to make packaging a better experience for brands and consumers alike, especially in the wake of changing trends in packaging.

In order to enhance the look and feel of pharma packaging, the Flexible Packaging business replaced conventionally used high metal content foil and poly structure packaging in Vicks Action 500 with paper structure comprising of 40 GSM OLB paper, LDPE and foil. This packaging format uses emerging high energy curing chemistries for delivering high performance, low migration product system that supports cross-linking of inks and high gloss coatings. The cross-linking reactions ensure scratch resistance, chemical resistance and color fastness.

Spout pouches formats have gained worldwide acceptability for packaging due to their multiple attributes such as convenience, easy storage and dispensation, and cost reduction in transportation. The recent development for Wipro Softouch Fabric Conditioner has a 3-ply structure of polyester combined with the virtues of BON (Bi-axially Oriented Nylon) and Natural Poly against the earlier conventional 4-ply structure, thus enabling material reduction at source.

Aesthetics play a big role in writing the story of a product’s success. The newly launched PU resin for 1K matt coating FLEXPAK 2765 offers an excellent matt finish on the surface of printed PET and BOPP films.

Packs with compromised sealed ends can shatter the faith of the consumers. Water-based synthetic adhesive technology FLEXBOND SF WET LAM–1178, another new launch by in this quarter, is designed for side pasting and inner liner pasting in cartons, and can be used on all standard nozzle/roller applicators. This ready-to-use adhesive offers excellent bonding with fast setting time and stability and has found takers in major brands such as KFC, MDH Spices and more.

Counterfeiting forces have always been a deterrent to pharmaceutical sector. In order to prevent pharma brands from the menace of counterfeiting; UFLEX Holography Business has developed Holographic lidding foils with a special invisible ink. This novel offering was conceived, developed and engineered to increase the degree of difficulty and prevent duplicity but at the same time make it viable for the current application set-up at the user end.

This first-time development for holographic blister foil substrate includes an addition of new layer of security that includes covert features by incorporating the invisible ink which is visible only under UV light, thus making it easy for brands to confirm product originality throughout their value chain.

The Flexible Packaging volumes were affected due to the second COVID-19 wave that struck India in April-May-June 2021 quarter. Despite the headwinds, the company continued with a streak of good performance and introduced a host of new innovations. It also commissioned its 10.4 mt wide BOPP film line in Hungary with a production capacity of 42,000 TPA.

“UFLEX has been on the path to fulfill its vision to get closer to its patrons with manufacturing units across the world with BOPP line in Hungary commissioned and Nigeria set to be commissioned,” Ashok Chaturvedi, chairman and managing director, UFLEX Ltd said. “With consumers getting more mindful of what and how they consume, the packaging industry needs to be proactive in developing sustainable packaging without compromising on convenience and functional attributes of plastic. UFLEX has progressed in developing green products and solutions such as biodegradable packaging, water soluble bags and more, which will not only meet the approval of consumers but also uplift their perception of flexible packaging industry.”