Weilburger Graphics GmbH created a cooling coating for food preservation. In this case it is waterproof beverage packaging, specifically for use with Loscher Brewery GmbH & Co. bottles.

The company, an international manufacturer of coatings, flexographic inks and adhesives based in Gerhardshofen, Germany, is trying to “find environmentally friendly solutions by making waterproof cardboard packaging without the use of films, PE and similar materials,” says Arno Dürr, head of sales.

This four-piece folded cardboard container contains a cooling drawer and can hold up to 500g of crushed ice or cold water. The box is designed so that the removable lid achieves a durable, continuous, hermetic cooling chamber for food preservationwhich contains two 330 ml bottles of the Loscher brewery drinks family, namely Club Mate and Club Mate Cola.

In creating this innovative packaging The cardboard factory Martin Spiegel GmbH participated, which took care of construction, printing and finishing; and graphic design company RIEKER GmbH + Co. KG, which was in charge of finishing the screen printing.

The lid and the bottom of the main body of the refrigerator are made so that they can be joined together without gluing. During this time, the tray, which has no edges on the inside in order to be as waterproof as possible, is glued on the outside with a special adhesive for food packaging. This is mainly done to avoid mistakes when assembling the drawer.

The future of barrier packaging for food preservation

The report “The Future of Functional and Protective Coatings for Paper and Paperboard to 2022”, by Smithers Pir, reveals that growth in this sector will be driven by a renewed global outlook and greater penetration into transition economies.

According to the document, the Asia Pacific market will account for more than 54% of global use of functional and protective coatings in 2022. This is up from 46% in 2012, with Japan the only major economy in the region expected to reduce demand . China leads with 3.4% of world consumption.

The food and beverage market will continue to dominate the demand for paper and cardboard packaging and the need for functional and protective properties.

• Aseptic packaging: They continue to expand the use of aluminum foil as a protective coating for cardboard packaging.
• New alternative solutions based on water and silicone: These applications are growing in bakery products.
• Microfibrillated cellulose and functional coatings: Using these materials will reduce the amount of fiber needed. This simultaneously maintains the integrity and safety of the packaging. Laminating paper and cardboard will be more difficult for these types of applications.

Market of e-commerce will also play a role in the growth of the sector. The functional and barrier coating technology is expected to provide the properties needed to deliver more products to customers around the world.

The study predicts that food products especially need insulating materials and low prices. They will look for sustainable products to replace unsustainable materials, such as expanded polystyrene, wax, polyethylene and polyvinylidene chloride (PVdC). The potentially expanded use of drone delivery will also require stronger and more innovative packaging alternatives.