Market-Machinery-Applications

Synopsis : Oriented films are known to have improved properties in comparison to non-oriented films.
Presently the production of oriented film is sub-divided into the following material groups:

	OPP - 58.3%
	OPET - 29.6%
	OPS - 7.5%
	OPVC - 1.4%
	OPA - 1.8%
	Rest - 1.4%

The share of OPE is so small that it appears under the category 'Rest' of the above table.

The PE market in North America is presently

	Films for general packaging (Consumer goods, carrier bags etc.) - 35%
	Films for food packaging - 42%
	Films for industrial packaging - 23%

The raw material manufacturers seem to have identified a potential for oriented PE films and offer blown film resins which after orienting have the same optical properties as OPP and partially even better stiffness and tensile strength. Monoaxial oriented lines are now offered by Hosokawa Alpine AG & Co., OHG to produce OPE films. The orienting process increases strength in machine direction, provides stiffness and barrier properties and has increased transmittance. Bread to bakery products are candidates for OPE films as are also snack foods. New developments on the raw material side, together with improved machinery technologies are able to meet the demand and offer cost saving production of film with improved optical and mechanical properties.