News Release

INEOS Styrolution in Ludwigshafen, Germany, benefits from B+K stretch hood packaging solution based on Styroflex®

06/11/19

Frankfurt, Germany


  • INEOS Styrolution Ludwigshafen: Styrenics production site with capacity of more than 35,000 tonnes of packaged goods
  • Bischof + Klein: Leading supplier of flexible packaging solutions in Europe
  • Styroflex®: Optimised styrenic material for stretch hood packaging

INEOS Styrolution, the global leader in styrenics, and Bischof + Klein, a leading European full-service supplier of flexible plastic and laminate packaging and technical films, announce today the installation of a stretch hood packaging solution at the INEOS Styrolution production site in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Of particular interest is the fact that the packaging material used in the application is based on Styroflex®, an SBC copolymer produced by INEOS Styrolution.

The Bischof + Klein (B+K) stretch hood film is used today in the Luran® S [1] facility, a production line producing about 35,000 tonnes of packaged goods per year.

Peter Lakeman, Manager Engineering Ludwigshafen at INEOS Styrolution comments: “It is very motivating for us to see our own packaging material Styroflex through the eyes of a customer. The Styroflex based film has turned out to be exactly the right material for our purpose. It is very robust, yet light and thin, resulting for example in much less packaging waste than other solutions. Bischof + Klein was very instrumental bringing a lot of expertise to the table delivering a truly complete solution.”

Frank Heermann, Manager Product Development Industrial Packaging at Bischof + Klein, adds: “We enjoy the collaboration with INEOS Styrolution in Ludwigshafen. It is interesting to see that the company is using its own products. The Styroflex based film increases the flexibility for the users of the packaging machines. Overall, it allows us to better meet our customers’ requirements.”

Styroflex is a styrene-butadiene block copolymer (SBC) with the properties of a thermoplastic elastomer (S-TPE). In film applications, Styroflex provides excellent stretch recovery and superior transparency and puncture resistance. Styroflex PG77 was particularly tailored for packaging applications like stretch hood solutions. It combines maximum transparency with outstanding elongation and extreme toughness. Styroflex PG77 can be stretched up to 200% with enormous recovery capacity: It snaps back to its original shape, clings tightly to the load and holds it securely.

[1] Luran S: ASA (acrylonitrile styrene acrylate) polymers produced by INEOS Styrolution in Ludwigshafen. The material is used for example in automotive interior and exterior applications. Due to its UV resistance it is also the material of choice for outdoor applications including wind turbines and gardening equipment.


ABOUT BISCHOF + KLEIN
Bischof + Klein is a leading European full-service supplier of flexible plastic and laminate packaging and technical films, and is represented around the world by a strong network of sales offices. Industrial packaging from B+K is used world-wide by major players within the chemicals, agriculture and horticulture, construction and housing, high-purity products and foodstuffs industries. The product range encompasses open sacks and valve sacks, liners, shrink films, bale wrapping films, flat films, label films, stretch hood films, hazardous material packaging and FFS films. Packaging for high-purity products is manufactured under clean room conditions in a separate production facility.

In the consumer segment, B+K offers highly-converted products for well-known brand manufacturers in many different industries. Focus in the Technical Films division is placed on the production of surface protection films, technical laminates and films for lamination.

B+K customers can rely on top-class service around the world. Successful long-term relationships with many well-known customers confirm the corporate philosophy, which focusses on customer orientation.

The B+K-GROUP employs a total of around 2,800 staff at five production plants in Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Poland. In 2018, the B+K-GROUP generated turnover of around 567 million Euros.