Extrusion International 6-2021

44 Extrusion International 6/2021 FILM EXTRUSION RKWProVent ® thus stands for reliable product protection and three times longer shelf life compared to conven- tional bags. The water vapor barrier is even 40 times more effective than paper-based packaging. The bottom line is more durability and fewer loss- es due to incorrect storage. Above all, RKW ProVent ® contributes to greater sustainability and resource conservation. Unlike non-recyclable paper bags made of composite ma- terials, the innovative packaging so- lution consists of only one material, polyethylene. It can therefore be fully recycled. In addition, the RKW Group has been consistently reducing fi lm thickness for years – another contri- bution to the most economical use of valuable natural resources. In addition to the complete recycla- bility of ProVent ® , the packaging can also be produced in a CO 2 -neutral manner if required. In addition, the proportion of recycled plastics in RKW ProVent ® is currently increasing to up to 50 percent. To further improve the eco-balance of RKW’s products, the company uses only electricity from re- newable energy sources in Germany, France and Belgium. The other sites are also gradually being converted to green electricity. Products that, like ProVent ® , can be recycled and are made from recycled materials will in future be marketed by RKW under the Ecore label. Safe and fast processing For many customers, high throughput with a reliably stable fi lling process is important, as Axel Ritz, Sales Man- ager Export & Industrial Customers Knauf Building Products, con fi rms: “We have rebuilt our machinery and wanted to take this opportunity to increase output. The ProVent ® bag is supplied on a roll, it is possible to change bags more quickly, we can therefore produce much more fl ex- ibly and save storage space.” RKW ProVent ® is already being used successfully in the construction mate- rials, food and chemical industries – in other words, wherever moisture- sensitive bulk materials and powders are fi lled on an industrial scale. Since 2019, the main production site of RKW ProVent ® – Echte – has been BRC-certi fi ed and thus the bags are approved for food contact. The drastically better moisture barrier of RKW ProVent ® compared to paper bags gives users many advantages: “Another great advantage is that, un- like normal paper sacks, fi lled plastic sacks such as the RKW ProVent ® can also be stored outdoors. Even when stored in different climatic zones, the bags remain absolutely leak-proof; also in climatically challenging coun- tries with high humidity, outdoor stor- age is not a problem,” says Axel Ritz, Sales Manager Export & Industrial Customers Knauf Building Products. Plastic packaging with reliable self- venting system Packaging for powdery goods must master another challenge in addi- tion to product protection and sus- tainability: powdery goods bind a lot of air, which leads to the formation of air bubbles over time. These air bubbles impair transport stability and often damage the packaging. RKW ProVent ® has a reliable, integrated and patented self-venting system. RKW Group, RKW SE Havellandstr. 8, 68309 Mannheim, Germany www.rkw-group.com Plastic bags as a marketing tool In addition to physical protection, one of the key functions of packaging is to in fl uence end-user purchasing deci- sions and increase brand awareness through its eye-catching appearance. The younger generations of the RKW- ProVent ® packaging line feature the Air Vent 2.0 system. The system leaves plenty of room for branding opportunities because the vent system is fully integrated, making the front of the package completely seamless. As a result, the entire sur- face can be printed with up to eight colors. RKW ProVent ® thus meets the high demands of brand manufactur- ers who do not want to compromise either design or print quality. “As a premium supplier, it is important to us that we offer a clean solution at the point of sale, in other words: that our products are robustly packaged and dust-tight. You can buy our bags in a suit without getting dirty. The printed image is also high-quality and our products come across as premium goods,” says Axel Ritz from Knauf. Ultimate Product Protection, Especially Sustainable ProVent ® for Bulk Materials – 100 Percent Recyclable Sustainable because fully recyclable: RKWProVent ® is an innovative packaging solution for powdery goods that features reliable protection against moisture and high tear strength