Profol GmbH

Nuremberg / Halfing, Germany – Profol GmbH, a leading manufacturer of cast polypropylene (CPP) films, has been named a finalist for the coveted German Sustainability Award for its CPPeel® lidding solutions. CPP lids used on polypropylene food containers make the entire package easier to recycle.

The National German Sustainability Award was established in 2008 to encourage the acceptance of social and ecological responsibility and to identify role models in this area. The award is endorsed by the German Federal Government, local and business associations as well as numerous NGOs, among them UNESCO and UNICEF.

Profol was selected as one of the top three companies for the Special Prize Packaging category. Politicians, retailers and consumers agree that global plastic waste needs to be reduced. This award recognizes market-ready products that reduce, optimize or avoid packaging waste.

The 2020 German Sustainability Awards will be announced November 22, 2019 at a gala event held in Düsseldorf, Germany.

“We are honored to receive this recognition for our company’s efforts to produce sustainable packaging solutions,” said Philipp Schieferdecker,” Managing Director of Profol. “As our single-material CPPeel lidding film replaces aluminum lidding, consumers will not need to separate the lids from yogurt cups and other containers for recycling.”

About Profol CPPeel solutions:
CPPeel polypropylene lidding film is an alternative to lidding films containing aluminum, metallized PET or paper/polyethylene, and make food packaging easier to recycle. When polypropylene cups have any remnants of aluminum lids, they must be removed from the recycling stream. CPPeel lidding film used in conjunction with a cup made of polypropylene makes the entire packaging solution 100% recyclable according to the German Packaging law. Polypropylene lids also take less energy to manufacture and provide puncture resistance that helps lower food losses.

About the company:
Since its beginning in 1980 as Profol GmbH (Halfing, Germany), the company has specialized in the production of high-quality cast polyolefin films. As an environmentally friendly and versatile raw material, cast polypropylene (CPP) has increasingly replaced other plastic film products. Polypropylene is odorless, tasteless and does not react with skin and mucous membrane. Originally used mainly in the office supply industry, CPP is increasingly gaining acceptance in packaging, furniture and automotive industries.

Profol develops new product innovations based on CPP and other polyolefins, carries an extensive standard product line, and makes individual films to customer specifications. Profol supplies customers around the world through manufacturing sites in Europe, the Americas and Asia. With more than 26 production lines worldwide at its six production sites and approximately 500 employees, Profol has an annual capacity of over 120,000 metric tons of cast polyolefin film.

Profol actively promotes environmental protection and sustainability by striving to reduce the consumption of raw materials, producing with a minimum of energy (eg. through heat recovery) and using recyclable materials throughout the production process.

•  To find out more about CPPeel lidding solutions for food packaging, visit profol.com/cppeel »

Profol is innovating cast film and sheet development in ways that many in the industry did not know were possible. Look for photos of our unique zoo animals at K 2019 demonstrating the surprising ways Profol is improving traditional packaging and automotive manufacturing. The K show is the world’s number 1 trade fair for plastics and rubber. It features approximately 3,200 international exhibitors.

New Progano® lightweight composite organo sheet is a fiber-reinforced polymer made of glass fibers embedded in a polypropylene matrix. It is 30% lighter than aluminum and has similar strength as steel. Progano semi-finished sheet can be formed in many shapes using existing thermal presses and injection molding equipment. Functional elements such as threaded connections and inlays can be integrated directly into the production process, saving significant labor and handling costs. 
 
This innovative material is used by automotive and other component manufacturers to increase strength, decrease weight and reduce production costs. The lightweight material also has applications in construction scaffolding boards, concrete casting boards and drainage covers. Progano sheet is completely recyclable for environmental sustainability. 

“We are excited about the future prospects of the lightweight composites market, and seek to leverage our considerable knowledge about lean continuous mass manufacturing of thermoplastic materials,” said Dr. Philipp Schieferdecker,CEO and Managing Director of Profol. 
 
Progano is constructed in a specialized two-step process. Profol uses proprietary techniques to produce unidirectional (UD) tape that has embedded glass fibers running in either 0 degree or 90 degree orientations. Profol then composites multiple layers of UD tape to form a strong and lightweight composite material (other configurations are also possible). Profol produces and distributes UD tape and Progano sheet in a wide variety of sizes to meet the needs of component manufacturers. 
 
New manufacturing facility devoted to the production of Progano.  
To meet market demand, Profol is investing more than 45 million dollars in a new manufacturing facility in Greiz, Germany, to produce both UD tape and Progano sheet. The plant is scheduled for start of production in the second half of 2019. At full operation, the new Progano manufacturing facility will employ 45 people and will grow to an annual capacity of more than 20,000 metric tons. 
 
This plant will use a sequence of production processes strictly optimized for manufacturing efficiency to yield a unique product which allows for substitution of aluminum in high-volume automotive parts at significantly lower weight and cost. 
 
To learn more about Progano sheet, contact Oliver Rüsseler at +49 (0) 8055 181 130 or oruesseler@profol.de. 

•  View article at Profol.com

Sustainability continues to drive packaging innovation and simplification. In flexible pouch packaging, there is a push toward highly functional single-material solutions that can be more easily separated and recycled versus multi-material solutions that are prevalent today. 
 
There have been several recent introductions for all-polyethylene pouch film technology. These products tout the all-polyethylene pouch as recycle-ready. Though the all-polyethylene pouch solutions have their place in some packaging, they don’t work well for applications requiring performance attributes that polyethylene can’t meet. 
 
The narrow and mid web packaging format, driven by significant growth in digital printing, has helped lead the way to introducing new stand up and pillow pouch solutions. With the growth in flexible pouch packaging and advancements of digital printing technology, brand owners are willing to cater to the market trend of individualization, which typically requires shorter print times and multiple label designs for a single product line. Economical, smaller run volumes are one of the key advantages of digital printing. Narrow web converters are realizing that, with a low capital investment, their digital label converting can become package converting. 
 
Profol develops two new pouch technologies. 
To meet market needs, the Profol team worked with collaborative partners to develop two all-polypropylene CPPouch™ solutions that offer differentiated performance attributes versus existing all-polyethylene solutions. 
 
CPPouch solution: 100% recyclable all-polypropylene pouch. 
Profol introduced a recycle-ready coextruded all-polypropylene film as part of the CPPouch family of pouch solutions. Besides sustainability, one of the key objectives of this mono-material pouch development was to match the performance of traditional PET/PE laminate in terms of drop test, puncture resistance and moisture barrier. 
 
Among other advantages there is no lamination required, eliminating an additional process step. Printing will be applied on the surface versus reverse print. Profol’s printing partner, Engelhardt Druck, has demonstrated superb color-adhesion such that even ultra-sonic welding does not compromise the print along the sealing seam, easing concerns for scratching or other visual defects to the packaging during transportation. Trials carried out by Profol’s pouch converting partner, Widmann, confirmed that the film can be processed very efficiently. In order to expand the markets where this unique new solution can be used, a version suitable for retort applications up to 121°C (250°F) is being developed. 
 
CPPouch solution: Cast polypropylene sealant web for BOPP/CPP all-polypropylene pouch. 
Profol teamed up with ACPO and Inland Packaging to develop this recycle-ready, all-polypropylene pouch solution. The pouch consists of a reverse printed BOPP film, and a pressure sensitive adhesive-coated cast polypropylene film. An oxygen barrier coating can be added if needed for the application. For proof of concept, Profol produced the cast polypropylene sealant web with a wide sealing window, ACPO applied the pressure sensitive adhesive to the sealant web, and Inland Packaging reverse printed the BOPP and pressure laminated it to the sealant web to form the final pouch. 

All-polypropylene pouch value proposition. 
These collaborative efforts have produced all-polypropylene pouch solutions that offer excellent functionality and differentiated performance for the narrow web and traditional pouch markets. In addition to improved sustainability and recyclability, the all-polypropylene pouch offers operational efficiency, low haze and directional tear advantages versus an all-polyethylene pouch. 
 
To learn more about Profol and our pouch solutions, please contact us. 

•  View article at Profol.com

Nuremberg / Halfing, Germany – Profol, a specialist supplier of cast polypropylene films, has been awarded the coveted 2018 German Packaging Award in the category of “Sustainability” for its CPPouch™ technology. This award recognizes the outstanding characteristics of the Profol pouch, which is 100% recyclable unlike traditional soft pouches.

The German Packaging Award has honored the best solutions and innovations in packaging since 1963. This year, a total of 226 different types of packaging, machinery, displays, logistics solutions and new concepts were viewed and evaluated by the jurors. In the sustainability category, there were 29 submissions and a total of six winners. The award ceremony took place on September 25, 2018, as part of the FachPack packaging trade show in Nuremberg, Germany.

“Winning this prestigious award highlights the success of our research in sustainable packaging and demonstrates the marketability of CPPouch technology as an environmentally friendly and competitive alternative to laminated pouches made of PET/PE,” said Dr. Philipp Schieferdecker, Managing Director of Profol.

•  Learn more about sustainability award

Profol introduces the new CPPeel® family of lidding solutions. This new film gives manufacturers a better option for sealing, protecting and marketing food products. CPPeel is made with polypropylene resins in a cast film process – and is an alternative to lidding films made of aluminum, metallized PET or paper/PE lids. Our sealant layer is designed to be universal and will seal to a wide range of materials including polypropylene, polystyrene and PET. 

Non-corrosive 
CPPeel does not react with lactic acid, is solvent-free and generally more neutral towards packaged food. It is suitable for peelable lidding applications such as yogurt, cream cheese, instant soups, margarine, desserts, salads, sour cream or whipped cream. It can even be used with corrosive foods such as paprika or tomato spreads. 

Efficient 
CPPeel lids can be heat-sealed to food containers without applying solvent-based heat-sealing lacquers and do not need to be embossed after printing. The production of CPPeel requires 90% less energy to manufacture compared to aluminum alternatives. The sealing temperature is approximately 100°C (212°F) lower, allowing for additional energy savings during application. 

Vibrant 
Colors appear crisper and brighter on CPPeel lids thanks to the film’s white base, boosting the packaged product’s appeal on the refrigerated supermarket shelf and grabbing the shopper’s attention. 

Durable 
Damaged closures and leaked food contents are a thing of the past. CPPeel lids adhere tightly to the rims of food containers and have a high puncture resistance. Lids stay on, but consumers also appreciate how CPPeel lids peel off containers smoothly and residual-free. 

Recyclable 
In contrast to existing aluminum/PP laminate lidding films, where aluminum residues on the sealing edge prevent the cup from being recycled, a polypropylene cup sealed with CPPeel is 100% recyclable. 

Safe 
Brand owners value the ability to use metal detectors on products sealed with CPPeel, which gives their customers more security. CPPeel meets all food safety regulations and requirements. 
 
To learn more about Profol and our lidding solutions, please contact us. 

•  View article at Profol.com