kp i.center Spain

Klöckner Pentaplast introduces the company’s newest kp i.center in Spain. The kp i.center provides a collaborative space to help global food and consumer products (FCP) customers bring products to market more quickly and effectively. It is located in Sant Cugat, 30km with direct highways from Barcelona – one of the Spanish food industry’s most vibrant destinations.

The high tech laboratory includes several instruments for analyzing and creating different packaging solutions. Customers can make use of the form, fill, seal machine and thermosealers in the trial area. Working together with the kp team, customers will be able to test and assess designs in real-time. An Ulma thermosealer machine for MAP and vacuum skin packing, a Multivac MAP (modified atmosphere package)
and an Erca Dairy Line dairy product line are already available.

Project 1

LINPAC Packaging Pravia S.A.U. conducted an investigation to extend the performance of PET packaging and thermoformed containers across a wider temperature range, suitable for food applications. The products boast a variety of global solutions across a number of applications, from frozen to fresh, and those involving the use of moderate and high temperatures.

Funded by the Institute of Economic Development of Asturias (IDEPA),the 2016 project "Research of polyesters with modified molecular structure for the improvement of its mechanical and thermal properties" addresses the research in technologies based on the use of modified polyesters and additives for the manufacture of extruded PET film for the subsequent thermoforming of a PET container with increased resistance to temperature and higher impact resistance at low temperatures. The research addresses hot fill applications due to the increase of the glass transition temperature (TG) and the heat deformation temperature (HDT). Further research was also conducted to increase the impact strength at temperatures below -23ºC.

The technical objectives of the project ranged from a focus on how to reduce the weight of the containers through improved design, resolving the accumulation of residual tensions that can cause potential distortion and fragility of the containers, as well as the evaluation of recyclability in line with circular economy objectives.

Project 2

YPACK is an EU-funded project with a total duration of 36 months. The project aims to scale up and validate two innovative food packaging solutions based on polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) with active properties and a passive barrier to reduce food waste by prolongingshelf life.

There is an increasing awareness of the need to develop innovative packaging materials that maintain or extend the shelf life of food products to reduce food waste and minimize the environmental footprint of packaging materials.
The ideal packaging involves lower carbon and water footprints, is biodegradable and/or compostable, makes use of wastes or by-products, is properly eco-designed, safe and has the right preservation properties to minimize food waste.
YPACK, a 3-year EU-funded project will use a holistic approach and methodology involving different knowledge areas to produce the appropriate packaging solution:

• Development of packaging solutions (Production of PHBV layers, compounding, prototyping, Industrial Validation)
• Product Validation (Quality / Shelf life)
• Social approach (Customer profiling, Dissemination, Policies & Regulatory)
• Market Assessment (Business study and Risk assessment)

YPACK will scale up production and commercially validate two innovative food packaging solutions based on polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). The new packaging will make use of food industry by-products (cheese whey and almond shells), assure biodegradability and recyclability as well as reducing food waste, in the frame of the EU Circular Economy strategy. A rough estimate shows that an improvement of shelf life by 20% and 50% respectively, has a potential to reduce food waste with 12.5% to 30% respectively.
Specifically, YPACK will develop a :

• Fully renewable flow pack film
• Fully compostable tray

The validity of these two packaging solutions will be assessed in fresh products (meat, fruits & vegetables and fresh pasta), which are the most significant contributors to food waste. A consumer profiling and market study will be performed to identify consumers ́ preferences and market needs, and match them with the new EU regulations and packaging materials development.

www.ypack.eu

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 773872.

The center is designed to support commercial, technical and operational leaders as they immerse in idea sharing, ultimately leading to the discovery of innovative packaging solutions. The kp i.center hosts a customer inspiration area, a supermarket and a kitchen.