Pliant Addresses Unmet Need with GlideFast Films

Pliant engineering has developed a family of films with unique properties designed to improve converter and packaging processes. The company, based in Schaumburg, IL, took its knowledge of component films like polyolefin and addressed the need for film with low surface energy and low coefficient of friction (COF).

The new GlideFast® films provide the most consistent coefficient of friction available, minimizing the costly changes in COF that occur during production. GlideFast is ideal for use in end products as diverse as confectionary or lawn and garden packaging in both VFFS (vertical form, fill and seal) and HFFS (horizontal form, fill and seal) applications.

This innovation should produce a greater use of these films as manufacturers are more likely to use films that reduce downtime and impact the bottom line. "Converters are very interested in consistency if they can get it," explains Randy Scott, v.p. of global marketing for Pliant.

Pliant's mainstay products are value-added component films, such as polyolefin, used in packaging for personal care, medical, food, industrial, and agricultural markets. Pliant has a dedicated R&D technology center and over 20 manufacturing facilities around the world, and it provides printed products for flexible packaging applications.

"We have essentially developed a proprietary additive that makes film more stable," says Dean Baker, Pliant's technical director for Engineered Films. "GlideFast addresses the factors affecting slip performance. The new films feature increased stability from the outside of the roll to the core, and at elevated temperatures as well."

"Ultimately, GlideFast films will improve converter throughput and minimize waste, " explains Scott. "For years, we have developed dozens, if not hundreds, of custom formulations for the flexible packaging converter base simply because of the complexity related to COF issues. GlideFast is a different technology which will greatly simplify how we and our customers can work together."

Ordinarily, sealant comes in contact with film and transfers from one film to another, causing increased slip. A two-year dedicated program at Pliant developed the new film so that it would always stay within a certain COF range. "This has been the unmet need," says Scott. "One of the benefits will be the replacement of more rigid structures."