Innovia invests in top-coating line for Graphic Arts films

Innovia Films has announced its investment in a new coating line to develop a new range of PVC-free films for the graphics sector at their site in Wigton, Great Britain. The new line has been specified with enhanced capabilities to allow the application of highly specialised coatings onto Innovia’s BOPP (Polypropylene) substrates.

“Graphics materials are used for wide-format high-resolution images, and this requires high-precision, defect-free coatings,” says Bron Hekkema, Market Development Manager Graphics & Linerless at Innovia Films.

“This coater will give us the flexibility to produce at customer-specific widths with rapid change-over times to minimise waste and increase efficiency. PVC-free graphic films are the future – because they are made from polypropylene that can be recycled and also has a significantly lower carbon footprint which benefits the environment.”

Innovia has partnered with Bobst on this project. “Over the past two years, Innovia’s Technical Team have worked closely with Bobst at their Competence Center in San Giorgio, Italy, to specify the design of the new coating line,” explains Steven Maude, who is leading the project at Innovia. Maude adds, “Extensive trials on the Bobst pilot line have confirmed the capability of the equipment to deliver the highest quality coatings required for graphic arts applications.”

“This project is a very important milestone for Bobst in its rapid growth on the market of coating lines,” says Alexandre David, Technical Sales Manager at Bobst Italy, “and Bobst is very proud to have been able to provide Innovia with the state-of-the-art technical solution that will enable the company to continue its development in the field of Graphic Arts products.”

The groundwork will start in Q3 2023, with a full production start expected in Q1 2025. Although primarily designed for the new range of graphics products, the new coating line will also give Wigton new and enhanced capabilities for Innovia’s existing flexible packaging and labels market.