Around 230 customers and 50 representatives from all over the world came to the SML headquarters in Upper Austria on 9 and 10 October 2024 for specialist presentations, expert discussions and live demonstration runs about future trends in extrusion technology.
 

The topics covered on SML Innovation Days were varied and diverse; they ranged from new technologies for recyclable, flexible packaging to innovative stretch film products, and from coating lines for liquid packaging board to solutions for data-based process optimisation.

Revolutionising mono-material packaging: MDO-PE film as thin as 15 µm 
A thickness range from ultra-thin 15 µm to 60 µm, production speeds up to 300 m/min, a perfect thickness profile across the entire film width, and the possibility to manufacture various mono-material PE film types are the main advantages of SML’s latest cast film line with an integrated MDO unit. The line was designed to manufacture MDO-PE film as thin as 15 µm. Naturally in an absolutely stable process, and with no compromises in performance, functionality and printability. 

Live Demonstration: Manufacturing mono-material PE structure for stand-up pouches 
A highlight at the SML Innovation Days 2024 was the live production of films for easy-to-recycle mono-material stand-up pouches from PE. A highly innovative 17-micron MDO-PE film for the surface layer and a 65 µm CPE sealant film for the stability of the pouch were manufactured on SML’s latest state-of-the-art cast film line with an integrated MDO unit. In a subsequent process, the two films were laminated on a high-performance FlexPack coating and lamination system.

World premier: Inline pre-stretch production live 
For the first time, SML presented its inline pre-stretch unit live in operation to a wider public. Integrated in a state-of-the art SmartCast Infinity stretch wrap film line, the market-tested and approved system is setting a new standard for efficiency in production. With the integrated pre-stretch unit, ready-to-sell-products can be manufactured straight from the line. At the end, the inline manufacturing of pre-stretch film means significantly lower production efforts, less space requirements and logistics – and lower costs.

SML EcoCompact II: High-speed winding for 2-m stretch film line 
Live demonstration runs were also performed with a 2-m EcoCompact II stretch film line. Visitor interest centred on the high-performance winder W4000-4S 2T. Its short winding shafts make significantly higher production speeds possible. At 2” hand rolls, production speed can be extended to 700m/min and more, leading to a significant increase in output - and line efficiency.

Redlham, 14.10.2024