Adhesive with many advantages

Text: Nina Colliander-Nyman
Photo: Herman


UPM Raflatac's labelstock facility in Wroclaw, Poland, has now been producing hot melt adhesive for more than a year.  "The hot melt adhesive has been very well received by our customers and has excellent converting properties," says Noel Mitchell, Vice President, Global Business Development at UPM Raflatac.


The new hot melt adhesive is used both for the food industry and for general packaging. It has excellent cold temperature performance and moisture resistance. It runs better and faster through the printing press, and the formula also has very good adhesive performance.


UPM Raflatac has always used hot melt adhesive, but purchased it from an adhesive supplier.  "We made a decision to start manufacturing the adhesive ourselves, as we wanted a better performing product," says Mitchell.


The project started in 2007 and then it took some 18 months to develop the right formulation and implement the new coating technology. The whole process was the result of cross-functional know-how within the company.


"Initially the formula was introduced on glassine liners in early 2009. In late 2009 it was introduced on
polypropylene liners, which has worked extremely well. The new adhesive has been very well received by our customers. They appreciate that they are now able to run the printing press very fast and have no problems with die-cutting," says Mitchell.


The new adhesive RH 9 is a general-purpose product. More products with slightly different features will be introduced, thus broadening the range of UPM Raflatac's hot melt adhesives.