Food packaging is a segment of the plastics industry that is evolving quickly to provide better solutions for the world's rapidly changing food packaging needs, as well as meeting the demand for food safety and reduced food and packaging waste. DSM Engineering Plastics (Geleen, Netherlands) is playing a major role in these developments with its Akulon polyamide 6 and Arnitel thermoplastic copolyester for flexible food packaging.

Last year DSM announced plans to invest in a new plant for high-viscosity Akulon grades for film and other extrusion applications in North America. The company showcased a range of its food packaging materials, including Akulon and Akulon XS, at Pack Expo 2014. At two upcoming symposia, DSM will present its latest packaging solutions using Akulon XS.

Akulon materials were developed for the production of food packaging film that delivers benefits such as reduced food waste. To solve the problem of excessive crystallization of traditional PA6 in multilayer barrier films, DSM developed Akulon XS. This modified polyamide crystallizes up to six times more slowly in the film bubble than standard PA6, matching the crystallization rate of other material layers. This helps improve the stability of the bubble in blown film production, reduces energy consumption and increases yield. Additionally, because of the delayed crystallization, it avoids wrinkles in lay-flat blown films. Films made of Akulon XS have better stretching capability and offer more flexibility in food packaging design.

At both of these upcoming events, Harrold Goertz, Global Technical Product Manager for DSM Engineering Plastics, will outline how Akulon XS makes it easier and more cost effective for processors to make polyamide 6 blown films for flexible food packaging by leveraging the material's unique barrier and mechanical properties.

The Multilayer Packaging Films conference will be held June 2 and 3 in Chicago, IL, and the TAPPI Flexible Packaging Symposium takes place on June 10 in Miami, FL. This event is co-located with the Global Pouch Forum.