Massimo Santini highlights Bandera’s high-barrier film at Plastindia

The Italian Trade Agency (ITA) organised the Italian Technology Day during the Plastindia show, showcasing the latest advancements in Italian technology for plastic and rubber processing. The conference consisted of nine eminent speakers from the Italian group of companies for plastics processing and technology.

Starting with Massimo Santini, sales and marketing director, Bandera, who highlighted the company’s portfolio designed to help Indian converters achieve international standards in food and medical-grade packaging.

High-barrier blown film: The Barrier flex series is a primary focus for Bandera at the show is the barrier flex blown film technology. These lines are engineered to produce complex film structures with 7, 9, or 11 layers. The technology utilises an EVOH central layer paired with PA middle layers to create a high-performance barrier against gases and water vapour.

The barrier flex system is specifically designed to produce both symmetrical and asymmetrical films while minimising the "curling effect." This makes the resulting material suitable for top-tier technical applications in the food, medical, and pharmaceutical sectors. For standard high-tech multi-layer films, the company continues to offer its Technoflex (3 and 5 layers) and Smartflex series, which focus on modularity and reduced power consumption.

Rigid sheet and flat die: FDA-approved recycling in the rigid packaging segment, Bandera is showcasing the Alpha series of flat die lines. The Alpha PET and Alpha PP lines are capable of processing PET, PP, and PLA with outputs ranging from 600 kg/h to 3,000 kg/h. These lines can produce thicknesses from 80 microns for lidding films to over 2mm for heavy-duty trays.

A key technical highlight is the integration of twin-screw extruders that have achieved FDA approval. This capability allows converters to produce food-safe sheets from recycled flakes, facilitating entry into highly regulated global markets.

Recycling: Closing the loop with Trim flex To address production waste, Bandera is featuring its in-house recycling solutions, notably the Trim flex system. This system is designed for the immediate recovery of flexible film edge trims and scraps, re-feeding them directly back into the extrusion process to ensure a “zero-waste” manufacturing cycle.

For PCR and post-industrial (PIR) recycling, the company offers Twin PCR and Twin PET units. These co-rotating twin-screw units can handle up to three tonnes per hour, providing a scalable solution for high-volume recycling operations.

Digital control: Managing these complex lines is the modular Any Ma platform, a modular system for managing the entire machine. Santini describes Any Ma as a solution that goes “beyond automation,” providing a smart interface for operators to collect reports on machine performance, consumption, and quality. Key digital packages include the system sentinel for line monitoring, auto-pilot for automated format changes, and predictive maintenance tools.

Coating and lamination: The Alpha coat Bandera is also introducing its latest extrusion coating and laminating technologies, including the Alpha coat, to the Indian market. These lines are designed for flexible packaging, paper, and aluminium applications. A notable achievement includes reaching a coating weight of 4 GSM on a 30 GSM substrate, offering material savings and improved recyclability for paper-based packaging.