Huhtamaki's flow wrap will be used on all Kraft Foods' Milka chocolate bars. Intensive cooperation has resulted in a wide scale introduction of the innovative Milka packaging.
Huhtamaki's new flow pack innovation, that replaces the old aluminum and paper wrapper, is made of oriented polypropylene (OPP) plastic. Flow wrap packagings bring advantages for the customer and consumer. The plastic film used for the flow pack upgrades the packaging quality by increasing the barrier properties towards odor and contamination and by attracting consumer attention through an improved look and feel of the packaging.
The "Value Added Flow Pack" guarantees not only easy opening but also hygienic reclosure of the pack. A new emblem on the pack, developed by Huhtamaki's product design team, symbolizes the major new benefit for all chocolate lovers. The new symbol will be spread to the confectionery shelves of supermarkets and other retail outlets.
The market launch was preceded by numerous basic tests to determine the material structure, several years of consumer testing with different bar sizes and, finally, a gradual switch on the individual markets in Europe. Huhtamaki, the world's biggest supplier of film packaging for chocolate bars, was able to contribute its extensive know-how in this field to the project actively.
Huhtamaki starts to operate the biggest printing machine in the company's history
To serve flow pack customers better, Huhtamaki has invested in a new printing machine. The new printing machine is the largest in Huhtamaki's history and has been installed at the flexible packaging manufacturing unit in Ronsberg, Germany.
"This investment is a logic continuum in serving our customers with the most efficient and innovative solutions of the industry", says Ulf Wienböker, Senior Vice President, Huhtamaki Flexibles & Films Europe and Americas. "Kraft Foods and other key customers can capitalize on Huhtamaki's expanding and developing global organization serving them on a local level throughout Europe, Asia and Americas".
The 11-colour printing machine for packaging film has inline laminating facilities. The use of an electronic printing control system for web inspection ensures that maximum quality is maintained at all times. A specially automated make-ready process guarantees short machine stoppages when the gravure printing cylinders are being changed.
For more information on flow wrap packaging, please contact Martin Hauck, Marketing Director Flexibles Europe, Huhtamaki Ronsberg Germany, tel. +49 (0) 8306 77-346, e-mail: martin.hauck@de.huhtamaki.com
For more information on Huhtamaki, please contact Minna Staffans, Communications Manager, Huhtamäki Oyj, tel. +358 10 686 7863, e-mail: communications@huhtamaki.com
Huhtamaki Group is a leading manufacturer of consumer and specialty packaging with 2006 net sales totaling EUR 2.3 billion. Consumer goods and foodservice markets are served by over 15,000 employees in 66 manufacturing units and several sales offices in 36 countries. The parent company, Huhtamäki Oyj, has its head office in Espoo, Finland and is listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange. Additional information is available at www.huhtamaki.com