The company claims IML offers a great photographic quality and it can see a clear improvement from old decoration technologies including higher quality which improves brand awareness and high output rates typical for the thermoforming process.
'Plans to grow this market segment'
Pekka Jokimies, sales director, Coveris Rigid Finland, told DairyReporter, IML offers so many advantages to a product.
“It was for this reason that we didn’t hesitate to start producing IML for thermoforming,” he said.
“We successfully started the IML-T project in 2012 thanks to our partners from Verstraete IML and our equipment suppliers, who made the development possible.
“There are already six thermoformed products with IML in our range and we have plans to grow this market segment.”
Challenges to start up IML-T
He added, Coveris had to overcome some challenges to start up IML-T and Verstraete IML helped the firm to find the correct label film and perfect label size.
“Thanks to a stronger brand positioning, Arla and Valio packagings have very good visibility on store shelves and they promote high quality products for consumers,” said Jokimies.
He said in general dairy products are particularly sensitive to light and temperature changes.
“The influence of light triggers a chain of chemical reactions in milk. These changes can also be accompanied by an off-flavour,” he added.
"Our packaging offers light barrier protection. The IML labels are characterized by opacity of more than 99% and less than 1% UV light transmission (200-400 nm).
"We use a light barrier to get rid of the preservatives that food products need to extend their shelf life, to preserve the food product’s flavour and aroma more efficiently and to extend food product shelf life.
“To this end, IML-T offers a nice combination of barrier packaging with the advantages of IML.”