The two new topcoats help reduce barrier performance loss when the films are put through the conversion process. One acts simply as a protective coat and the other is a barrier-enhancing coat.

Alox transparent films are mainly used for packaging end-user products, such as baked goods and microwaveable products. They have a vacuum-coated clear barrier coating, which, according to Bobst, is a replacement for EVOH, PVOH and PVDC and combines the benefits of a clear barrier coating with the additional advantages of a vacuum-coated barrier layer.

The project to develop the topcoats was part-funded by Manchester Metropolitan University.

According to Bobst sales director Juan Cano, the technology has been in development for approximately the past three years and for the final one and a half years of that period, Bobst worked with Belgian-based material manufacturer Michelman.

Even with the enhancements, the price of Alox will remain the same.

Cano said: “When you put Alox through certain complex conversions such as printing and lamination processes there is a risk you can destroy the barrier, as the aluminum oxide is quite brittle. Putting it through rollers on gravure or flexo printing for example can destroy the barrier.

“To solve this, there is a need to apply a water-based protective topcoat to prevent barrier loss. We apply the topcoat and that actually seals the barrier properties of the Alox and prevents damage.”

Cano said it had taken a while for Bobst to settle on Michelman as a partner. Initially, it wanted to develop a solution without having to apply a topcoat and was working with its sister companies in Italy and Germany.

When it became apparent a topcoat was required, Michelman was agreed on as the best partner.

“Once we apply the Michelman topcoat, the product is robust, stable and can be sold anywhere in the world. It will retain its barrier properties, which is the unique selling point of what we have developed,” added Cano.

Also on show at the open house, which will take place on 18 October at Bobst’s Manchester demo centre, will be its K5 Expert vacuum metallliser, which it says is the world’s highest productivity metalliser of its type. It will also launch its Alubond process feature for metallised films.

Cano said around 100 people are due to attend.

“We didn’t want to dilute the open house too much, the centrepiece will still be the K5 Expert. We will be talking to people about converters on a one-to-one basis and also throughout the K trade show in Düsseldorf,” he said.

Bobst used Drupa to launch a number of new printing and converting kits.