Chinese extrusion machinery maker Guangdong Jinming Machinery and US materials supplier ExxonMobil Chemical collaborated on a machine run at K2013, which is purported to lower costs and save on materials,. “The synergistic relationship is a combination of the latest machine technology with the resin technology with source reductions for customers,” said Larry Gros, ExxonMobil Chemical’s Global Polymers Product & Applications Development Manager.

While both companies have worked together for 13 years, the machine and resin technology has evolved over the years, added Gros, and thus the new application on display.

Jinming’s blown film machine was running a five-layer polyolefins structure for collation shrink multipack display film with ExxonMobil’s Exceed and Enable metallocene PE (mPE) resins. The shrink multipack display film included Enable mPE resin-based sub-skin sandwich layers and Exceed mPE resin-based outer layers. “The five-layer line is not totally new in the industry since barrier resins have been used before.” But now Gros said that Jinming’s five-layer die has been optimised for dedicated polyolefin film structures.

The Enable in the core allows for high density, improved shrinkage and strength as well as downgauging, thus leading to more sustainable flexible film solutions. “The formulation on display is also designed for excellent optical properties and print surface for retail marketing as well as excellent sealing with easy cut-ability, making the films well suited for multi-pack bundling applications that require good optical properties.”

Nevertheless, the two companies are targeting other applications and Gros said that Jinming’s line is able to cater to more combinations and resins. “The five-layer technology can also be applied for the production of heavy-duty sacks and other structures can be developed for agriculture film and stretch film.” Downgauging of 20% is possible when producing heavy duty sacks, said the ExxonMobil executive.

He also said that the five-layer shown at the fair had been optimised for Jinming’s machine and that “it has been running very well.”

Meanwhile, Ma Zhenxin, President of Jinming welcomed the opportunity to work with ExxonMobil. “It is a nice opportunity and we look forward to future co-operation.” Ma also said that with the advancement of new technology, application areas are expanding. “One main goal of this collaboration is to better serve our customers,” he added, explaining that both parties will conduct joint trainings for customers on the use of the new resin/machine technology. Gros also echoed that ExxonMobil had installed a three-layer blown film line from Jinming at its Shanghai Technology Centre, to allow for Asian customers to conduct trials on the materials. “It allows us to demonstrate and show to our existing customers the advantages the line can bring.”

Gros agreed that the five-layer line costs more due to two more extruders (compared to running a three-layer structure), but says that the pay-off comes in using less resins with a payback in less than a year (for the incremental costs of a five-layer line versus a three-layer line). Adding to this Ma said that the industry trend is to upgrade from a three-layer to a five-layer line and customers were keen on reducing costs when presented with the lower use of materials.

Ma also said that the firm had sold a number of five-layer lines based on the resin technology, after its showing at Chinaplas in Guangzhou this year. “Europe is leading in the upgrading of technology while customers in Asia are only just starting.” But Ma believes that it won’t be long before Asian counterparts see the benefits of a five-layer line and start upgrading too. “With this win/win situation, ExxonMobil wins, Jinming wins and the customer wins too!”