We are continuing to expand our involvement in the UK flexible packaging market: as a Diamond Partner of the Flexographic Industry Association UK (FIA UK), we are strengthening our collaboration with packaging manufacturers across the entire value chain and bringing our expertise in water-based ink systems to the UK market in a targeted manner.
By joining the FIA UK as a Diamond Partner, we are marking another milestone in our growth strategy in the UK. This membership strengthens our dialogue with packaging manufacturers who are facing the challenges of changing regulatory frameworks, increasing sustainability requirements and volatile raw material markets.
For more than 40 years, we have been developing water-based technologies and supporting our customers in the introduction of high-performance water-based polyurethane printing ink systems. As a family-owned company headquartered in Minden, we develop and manufacture water-based printing inks, coatings and adhesives for packaging applications. We have been consistently focusing on water-based systems since the mid-1990s and are now among Europe’s leading specialists in this field.
Manufacturers of flexible packaging face the challenge of reducing VOC emissions, improving the recyclability of their packaging and finding alternatives to nitrocellulose-based (NC) and conventional solvent-based ink systems. With our water-based PU inks, we offer a sustainable solution to these challenges.
“The UK packaging and printing industry is undergoing a crucial phase of technological change,” explains Jacky Hoarau, Regional Sales Manager at Follmann. “Joining FIA UK as a Diamond Partner is a significant milestone in our commitment to flexographic printing and strengthens our engagement with packaging manufacturers across the UK.”
Our strategic focus is underlined by the findings of the Next Generation Sustainable Flexo Symposium, which took place in Minden and Herford in May. More than 120 experts from the packaging and printing industries gathered there to discuss recyclable packaging, efficient production processes and technological developments in flexographic printing.
During a live printing demonstration at Allstein GmbH, our water-based printing inks were successfully used on various recyclable and monomaterial packaging substrates – including films with a high recycled content. Using automated printing press technology, five different print jobs were produced within just two hours.
The results demonstrated that modern water-based PU ink systems already offer the necessary print quality, adhesion, flexibility and production efficiency for demanding packaging applications. At the same time, they help companies to reduce VOC emissions and achieve their sustainability and recycling targets.
“Many packaging manufacturers are currently looking closely at alternatives to nitrocellulose. In our view, however, the aim should not simply be to replace one solvent-based system with another,” says André Altevogt, Sales Director Packaging Solutions at Follmann.
“High-performance water-based PU printing inks are already economically viable for numerous applications in the flexible packaging sector. Companies that switch directly from NC systems to water-based printing inks are making a strategic decision: they are safeguarding their printing performance whilst at the same time preparing for future sustainability requirements and regulatory developments.”
As part of our partnership with FIA UK, we will actively contribute our expertise to technical discussions on the future of flexible packaging and further expand our collaboration within the UK supply chain. At the same time, our investments in our production and technology centre in Minden are laying the foundations for tried-and-tested ink systems and comprehensive application support for our customers.
