Sustainable packaging solution provider Coveris has announced an expansion of its barrier films capabilities with an investment in vacuum skin packaging (VSP) production.
This development is taking place at the company's specialist extrusion site in Winsford, Cheshire, which is claimed to be the UK's largest blown extrusion facility for polyethylene (PE) films.
The investment at the Winsford site includes the establishment of a dedicated manufacturing hall and the installation of an advanced VSP conversion equipment.
Coveris Winsford is leveraging its industry-leading co-extrusion expertise to manufacture nine-layer EVOH barrier film, catering to the meat, fish, and dairy sectors.
Vacuum skin packaging offers a skin-like appearance around products, enhancing their visual appeal and extending shelf-life by up to 25 days compared to traditional packaging methods.
This packaging solution also improves product security.
Coveris' VSP films are compatible with major standard skin packing lines and can seal to various materials including PET, PE, PP, aluminium, and cartonboard.
At the forefront of Coveris Winsford's innovation drive is its Film Science Lab, where technologists are dedicated to the advancement, optimisation, and validation of its films.
The company is currently planning to downgauge the thickness of Coveris VSP films below the industry average, while minimising environmental impact.
Coveris Winsford managing director Sujoy Bose said: "Coveris continues to be at the forefront of developing high-performance, technical films. The addition of VSP films to Coveris Winsford’s product portfolio is an exciting opportunity to draw on our existing capabilities in multi-layer barrier films, supported by significant investment and innovation expertise.
"Complementing our current product range of specialist films for food sectors requiring EVOH barrier properties to prolong shelf-life and provide product safety and protection, the introduction of VSP films aligns with a key pillar of Coveris’ No Waste vision: no product waste."
In February 2024, Coveris invested in its labels business with the acquisition of the Czech Republic-based enterprise S&K LABEL.
