MATERIALS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS

(identified by the abbreviation PE-LD 04): is transparent, has good mechanical strength, good elasticity, good resistance to tearing and puncture (tips, edges etc.), repeated bending and impact, that is not a fragile material. It resists low temperatures, has high gas permeability (that is, it does not act as a barrier) but not water vapour. IT IS NON-TOXIC, therefore suitable for food and 100% RECYCLABLE

We have materials with HIGH TRANSPARENCY and surface gloss, with good mechanical properties, and materials with lower optical characteristics but higher resistance

The film can also be COLOURED at customer's request, MICRO-PERFORATED to allow oxygen exchange but not the entry of powder, and additive with various MASTERBATCH, for example:
ANTI UV
BIODEGRADABLE OXO
FRAGRANCES
SLIP PROTECTION

In particular we have technology and a certification, so we can provide ANTISTATIC DISSIPATIVE products for the protection of electronic products

(identified by the abbreviation PE-HD 02): It is remarkably opaque. It is stiffer than low density polyethylene; therefore it has a greater mechanical and tensile strength but poor resistance to tearing and puncture compared to tips and edges, repeated bending and impact

Does not scratch the content. Thanks to its mechanical properties, it is possible to obtain the same product strength as low-density polyethylene with significantly lower thicknesses, allowing a lower use of raw material and consequent savings

The production of coils, sheets, envelopes and bags may have the same characteristics as specified for low density

(identified by the acronym PP 05). It is processed in different types:

• PP CAST is used for the production of envelopes. It has a very high elasticity, is not suitable to hold weights or to contain sharp objects, unless you use medium-thick; does a certain barrier effect. It is a packaging with high aesthetic qualities. In some cases (no bellows and hinges) PP cast is a good alternative to PVC, which allows savings of 25-30% since it can be disposed of and recycled with lower costs. It also prevents the content of the packaging from turning yellow and does not stick.

• PP BOT (bi-oriented) is rigid, not at all elastic, with a medium slipperiness, and is required for its extreme transparency and brilliance, superior to that of the cast. It is used particularly in textiles (foulards, ties, shirts, fine knitwear). The disadvantage of this material is the poor tenacity and resistance of the weld, however sufficient not to affect the normal use of the envelope.

• PP PLAIN: Non-weld film, generally used for coupling for its rigidity and mechanical strength. Very transparent and bright film, rarely used for the realization of envelopes.

• PP COEXTRUDED: welding film on both sides. The main application concerns horizontal packaging (HFFS - Horizontal Form Fill Seal Machine), but can also be used for vertical packaging machines (VFFS - Vertical Form Fill Seal Machine) and in overwrapping (Over Wrapping Machine).

• OTHER PP COEXTRUDED: pearled, lacquered, matt, metallized.

• MICRO-DRILLING AND MACRO-DRILLING: the holes are made on coextruded polypropylene (for the automatic packaging of products that need to be breathable). Holes of mm 0,2, 0,3, 1 and 5 with density per cm2 of 1, 4, 8, 16 holes. It is also possible to drill strips. Thicknesses from 15 to 40 my.

We briefly present some of the "structures" most used in food and non-food industries. The materials used and field of application are indicated in the presentation of these structures.

PAIRED MATERIALS  1    FOOD USE: ice cream and snacks
STRUCTURE : paint release / ink / metallization / OPP coextruded (or lacquered or metalized) / register cold weld

PAIRED MATERIALS  2    FOOD USE: fine pastry, chocolate-covered biscuits, wafers
STRUCTURE: Polyester 12my / ink / adhesive / metallization PVDC side / OPP bilacked acrylic side

PAIRED MATERIALS  3    FOOD USE: bakery, snack, biscuits
STRUCTURE: Paint release / OPP plain / adhesive / ink / metallization / polyester

PAIRED MATERIALS  4    FOOD USE: pastry, wafer, bakery products
STRUCTURE: Polyester / ink / adhesive / metallization / coextruded OPP

PAIRED MATERIALS  5    FOOD USE: Snacks, fries
STRUCTURE: Co-extruded OPP / ink / adhesive / metallization / co-extruded OPP

PAIRED MATERIALS  6    FOOD USE: Loose biscuits, shortbread
STRUCTURE: Protective varnish / ink / single-colour paper / metallization / coextruded OPP

PAIRED MATERIALS  7    FOOD USE: pastries, biscuits
STRUCTURE: Polyester / ink / adhesive / single-layer paper / adhesive / metallization / co-extruded OPP

PAIRED MATERIALS  8    NON-FOOD USE: liquid products, detergents
STRUCTURE: Polyester / ink / adhesive / polyethylene

PAIRED MATERIALS  9    FOOD USE: salami, cheese
UPPER FILM STRUCTURE (top): Polyester / ink / adhesive / polyethylene
BOTTOM FILM STRUCTURE (bottom): Polyethylene / adhesive / nylon (polyamide)

PAIRED MATERIALS  10    FOOD USE: coffee, frozen, milk powder
STRUCTURE: Polyester / ink / adhesive / aluminium / adhesive / polyethylene

PAIRED MATERIALS  11    FOOD USE: dry products sensitive to oxygen such as nuts, peanuts, pistachios, almonds
STRUCTURE: Acrylic lacquer / Polypropylene bilacked / PVOH coating / ink / adhesive / white polyethylene

PAIRED MATERIALS  12    FOOD USE: Pre-cooked, frozen foods
STRUCTURE: POLYESTER / ink / adhesive / POLYESTER / peelable layer

Paper is a hygroscopic material, composed of raw materials mainly vegetable, joined by felting and dried. It comes in the form of thin sheets. It can be enriched with adhesives, mineral fillers, dyes and various additives.

The paper, both bare and polythene, is processed and printed according to the different fields of application, and is used in coils. There are different types of paper which are classified according to the grammage (which is the ratio between the weight of the paper and its surface area and is expressed in gr/m2):

• Paper (10÷150 g/m2 with a thickness of 0.03 0.3 mm)
• Cardboard (150÷450 g/m2 with a thickness greater than 0.3 mm)
• Bristol board
• Cardboard (450÷1,200 g/m2 up to 2 mm thick)
• Corrugated board
• Tissue paper
• Crepe paper
• Paper glassine
• Toilet paper
• Wallpaper
• Carbon paper
• Rubberized paper
• Adhesive paper
• Kitchen paper
• Velvety paper
• Straw paper
• Single-coated paper
• Coated paper
• Polythene paper
• Amalfi paper
• ECF Card
• Chemical paper
• Thermal paper
• Baking paper
• Silicone paper
• Paper for polishing
• China-collé
• Sugar paper
• Paper from origami
• Abrasive paper

GEAL is specialized in the sugar sachet sector.

Adhesive tape (sometimes called Scotch) is a plastic or paper tape to which an adhesive substance is applied. The tape can be adhesive on one side or both (double-sided tape). It is used to glue objects together, mostly temporarily but also permanently. Adhesion occurs by simple contact with the object.

There are various types of adhesive tape, but GEAL treats adhesive tapes for packaging. They are made of plastic (PVC and PP), transparent or Havana color, 50 mm wide, used for packaging or closing boxes. They also differ in the type of glue. The most sticky glue, suitable for all types of materials (paper, plastic, glass...) is natural rubber. Otherwise, acrylic glue is generally used.

Adhesive tape in polypropylene "PP" with natural rubber glue: it is the cheapest type, it is noisy when unrolling, it must be cut with a draught iron or a blade.

Polyvinyl chloride "PVC" adhesive tape with natural rubber glue, thicker than PP and very rigid, it is more expensive, it is silent to unrolling, can be broken more easily, even by hands without using a blade

Stretch film is a self-adhesive plastic film (linear low density polyethylene), mainly used in pallet packaging. The film is cold-drawn and wrapped around the product to be packaged, exploiting its elastic properties.

The four properties required to assess the characteristics and good quality of the product are:

• Elastic modulus: indicates the resistance to elongation opposite from the material in its elastic phase (measures film stiffness).
• Yield point: is the point which indicates the limit of elasticity of the film beyond which the sample no longer regains its original shape.
• Stress to break: is the maximum tension that the film can withstand. It expresses the load containment power, therefore the ability to ensure the stability of the packaged goods when the film is brought to maximum prematurity.
• Elongation at break: measures the maximum extensibility of the film under tension and is expressed as a percentage of its initial size.

The stretch film can be designed for manual or automatic use (or semi-automatic). It can also be standard or pre-stretched.

GEAL mainly trades:

• Standard stretch film, both manual and automatic (neutral, 23 micron, with 30-40% elongation)

But we also have the possibility to supply pre-stretched film (12 microns) and mini roll film (h 12,5cm)

Bubble wrap, also called airball is a type of cushioning packaging.

It is widely used to protect fragile objects from impact. There are different types and categories of bubbles available on the market depending on the weight (30 g/m2 - 300 g/m 2) and size of the bubbles (small ø10mm, large ø30mm or micro-bubbles).

The standard grammage is 115 gr/m2 and can be produced in coils up to 300 cm high. The standard bubble wrap can also be supplied in sheets or pre-cut rolls. The "light" weight, ranging from 30 g/m2 to 90 g/m 2. The advantages of light weight are a lower weight and a smaller reel size, a lower cost per square metre, and a lower input of packaging materials into the recycling cycle (resulting in less expenditure on waste disposal contributions).

The light weight bubble is also combined with a high density polythene sheet, to create a three-layer bubble, with the bubble sandwich between two smooth layers: this application is used to make envelopes and bags.

In addition to HD polyethylene, the grammage millebolle is also coupled with other materials such as paper, cardboard, foam (expanded polyethylene), fabric or aluminum, so that it can be better adapted to the user's needs.

In industrial packaging, a pink colored bubble is also used, which has the additional feature of being antistatic, protecting as a package cards and electronic or computer equipment from electrostatic charges that could damage them.

GEAL markets various types of bubble wrap.

Foam (or expanded polyethylene) is the name that polyethylene acquires when it is transformed through a chemical or physical expansion process.

The cellular structure of foam makes it particularly light and suitable for use in packaging and thermal-acoustic insulation.

Expanded polyethylene is mainly divided into two large families: open cell and closed cell. The difference consists in the characteristic of the foam to allow or not the passage of air, gases or liquids.

The one obtained through the process of chemical expansion is "open cell", that has a sponge structure, porous to moisture, soft to touch. The range of applications is really wide, ranging from upholstery for furniture to soundproofing, sealing up to the realization of orthopedic articles.

Conductive polyurethane, available in soft and hard versions, is used for example in the packaging industry or for thermal and acoustic insulation. It can be found inside boxes to protect and hold items such as watches, crystal glasses, prestige bottles, test tubes and cosmetics.

Antistatic is a material used to pack electronic boards, so as to prevent the build-up of electrostatic charges.

The one obtained by the physical expansion process is made of "closed microcells", which make it waterproof, resilient, with a good resistance to compression. It is mainly used as an acoustic insulator, as a condensation-proof insulator in air conditioning and refrigeration, as an industrial seal for water, dust and noise.

Polyolefin is a co-extruded multi-layer film composed of polypropylene and polyethylene. Extremely versatile, it can be perfectly processed on any type of packaging machine, both manual and automatic.

Glossy and transparent, it differs from PVC for greater softness and less fragility when finished. It is also eco-friendly as it does not produce toxic fumes during welding. Polyolefin films, compared to PVC films, are used with lower thicknesses at the same seal, making them cheaper.

Due to its characteristics, polyolefin is particularly suitable for food and display products.

Different types of co-extruded films are available with characteristics of low shrinkage temperature, high puncture resistance and high welding speed.

Generally the most common have thicknesses: 15 - 19 - 25 my and heights in the range 200 - 700 mm