For more than three decades, the Emballator Group has relied on the expertise of Henkel Adhesive Technologies in the manufacture of metal and plastic packaging. One focus is on packaging solutions for the chemical industry. Here, metal buckets, cans, and lids are subject to particularly high requirements in terms of tightness, durability, and safety. A recent milestone in this partnership is the introduction of a phthalate-free PVC compound. This underscores both companies' strategy of promoting sustainability, safety, and quality in the packaging industry.
Packaging solutions with high quality and safety requirements
In the chemical and paint industries, packaging must remain reliably sealed even under aggressive conditions. Hermetic sealing not only protects against microorganisms, it also prevents liquids and vapors from escaping or penetrating. To ensure these functions, Emballator relies on sealants from Henkel Adhesive. These are characterized by high adhesion, chemical resistance, and elasticity.
Long-standing partnership with Henkel Adhesive as a success factor
Henkel Adhesive's Darex products have been used at the Tampere site in Finland and the Ulricehamn site in Sweden since the 1990s. The COV 53 compound in particular has long been used for sealing metal buckets. “Our collaboration with Henkel plays a key role in the quality and safety of our packaging solutions,” emphasizes Jim Petersson, product developer at Emballator. The company also uses polyurethane-based, halogen-free solutions from the Henkel-Sonderhoff portfolio, which are also suitable for products with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.
Switch to phthalate-free sealing material
In 2024, the switch was made to the new “COV 73” compound. This sealing material is phthalate-free and meets the requirements of modern production processes. The elimination of phthalates helps to avoid health risks for employees and prevent critical substances from entering the environment. With this change, Emballator and Henkel Adhesive are not only complying with the current requirements of the REACH regulation, but also proactively responding to future regulations.
Sustainable packaging solutions with Henkel Adhesive
The joint development of phthalate-free formulations shows how both companies are responding to trends in the packaging market at an early stage. “Together with Henkel, we are taking responsibility for people and the environment while responding to the growing demand for more sustainable and safer products,” says Petersson. Both partners plan to further expand their collaboration and bring additional sustainable solutions to market.
