Packaging films supplier TCL Packaging has developed a turnkey system in collaboration with Rofin-Baasel UK for high speed laser micro perforation and scribing of its printed packaging films.
The system has three scanning heads each with Rofin two-axis technology, said to make it capable of perforations down to 0.1mm in size and in any pattern.
Lasers operate along and across the web to facilitate fast, complex and highly flexible designs of micro perforations.
“This creates films that maximise shelf-life for an increasing variety of fresh food products, each with unique respiration rates and storage conditions,” the company says.
The same system also scribes packaging films through just one layer of laminated films, which is said to be ideal for tear off strips, offers and separate sections, while protecting the integrity of the contents.
Scribing also facilitates easy opening for consumer convenience.
TCL managing director Mike Golding says: “This new high-tech laser equipment will enable TCL to provide a much wider range of packaging solutions from one system.
“This will improve flexibility and turn round and increase our capacity by around 200 per cent.” The new system will be integrated into existing slitting equipment at TCL Packaging’s Telford factory early in 2014.