Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB), Filmtec LLP and ExxonMobil Signature Polymers have developed a 17-micron nano cast stretch film intended to reduce material consumption in pallet wrapping while maintaining mechanical properties.
The project downgauged HCCB’s conventional cast stretch film from 23 microns to 17 microns, cutting film thickness by 26%. Filmtec produced the film using its nano cast stretch technology and three ExxonMobil polyethylene grades: Exceed Tough m 3812, Exceed m 3518 and Exceed Flow m 1716.
According to the case study, the thinner film achieved a stretch ratio exceeding 300%, compared with 200% for the conventional 23-micron film. Both formats used 24 wraps per pallet, but film weight per pallet declined from 470g to 280g. This represented an estimated material reduction of up to 40% per pallet.
With both rolls weighing 15kg, the number of pallets wrapped per roll increased from 32 to 53, a rise of 65%. The companies said the higher pallet yield could reduce roll-change frequency and support logistics and inventory management.
Despite the downgauging, the 17-micron film matched the conventional film’s performance in containment force, puncture resistance and wrapping consistency, based on validation tests conducted by HCCB. It also passed the beverage producer’s 500km transit trial.
The development was designed to improve plastics material efficiency in HCCB’s industrial packaging operations without compromising load containment or stretchability. Filmtec’s technology can produce stretch films containing up to 55 layers, according to the published case study.
ExxonMobil noted that the reported data apply specifically to this application and that results may vary according to operating conditions, equipment and materials. The company also stated that the project’s figures were based on representative samples and did not constitute guaranteed performance values.