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South Korea\u2019s leading global chemical company, LG Chem<\/a>, and the extrusion machine manufacturer Reifenh\u00e4user<\/a> have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), confirming further extensive cooperation.<\/p>\n The aim is to further develop and market competitive Machine Direction Oriented (MDO)-PE blown films and flat films for recyclable packaging. The partners are building on a successful track record.\u00a0<\/p>\n In May 2024, the companies had presented a MDO-PE film measuring only 18 micrometers (\u00b5m), which had been produced on an EVO Ultra Stretch blown film line from Reifenh\u00e4user with specially developed PE materials (Polyethylene).<\/p>\n Bernd Reifenh\u00e4user, CEO of the Reifenh\u00e4user Group, says: \u201cThe demand for flexible mono-material packaging is growing rapidly. But MDO-PE films must be stable and economical to produce in order to make the leap from a niche to a broad market. With LG Chem and Reifenh\u00e4user, we have found the perfect match of raw material, extrusion technology and process know-how that will pave the way. For the first time, processors will be able to produce recyclable MDO-PE films at competitive production costs in a stable process that can be optimally further processed.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Lee Choong Hoon, Vice President and Head of NCC\/PO Business Unit at LG Chem, adds: \u201cWe are very pleased to have found an experienced technology partner in Reifenh\u00e4user to successfully combine sus<\/span>tainability<\/a> and profitability. Our combined technology has achieved unprecedented records in downgauging MDO-PE film \u2013 and that was just the beginning. We will continue this path together to accelerate the recyclability<\/a> for flexible packaging.\u201d<\/p>\n With perfectly coordinated system technology and formulation, processors in the future will receive a tried and tested, complete package for immediate market access in the field of flexible mono-PE packaging. LG Chem and Reifenh\u00e4user are also working on further reducing material consumption by downgauging towards the level of conventional PET-PE laminates and thus making the production of MDO-PE films more profitable.\u00a0<\/p>\n Technically, this is achieved due to the different densities of PET film and MDO-PE film by replacing the standard 12 \u00b5m PET film with a 16 to 17 \u00b5m MDO-PE film. With the reduction to 18 \u00b5m, the partners are already very close to achieving this goal. However, the experts see further potential.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe downgauging limit has not yet been reached,\u201d says Christoph Lettowsky, Technical Sales Manager at Reifenh\u00e4user Blown Film. \u201cThanks to the patented position of our MDO Ultra Stretch unit directly in the line’s haul-off, the film is stretched from the first heat. This makes the process particularly stable, which is otherwise often the limiting factor for material reduction. We therefore see even more scope, which we will use in combination with further recipe developments for even thinner films in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n The 18 \u00b5m MDO PE film without PFAS additives was produced stably and reproducibly over many hours in test runs at the Reifenh\u00e4user technical center and then printed and processed into finished pouches. The demand for PFAS-free materials is growing mainly in Europe as PFAS does not decompose in nature and has negative impacts on the environment. International guests were able to see the reliability of the process and the performance of the film for themselves at an open house on November 7.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nFurther downgauging for competitiveness<\/h4>\n