Innovation and sustainability with CDTI support

From 2019 to the current date, at Controlpack, we have been extremely happy and pleased to have been beneficiaries of the grant that is supported by the financial backing and resources provided by the CDTI -Center for Technological Development and Innovation-, coming from the Ministry of Science and Innovation, aimed at supporting research, development and business innovation (R+D+i).

Through this grant, we have been able to test a system for sealing parcel packaging that is sustainable, 100% recyclable and suitable for food components, as the first direct objectives. In addition, we have been seeking to guarantee the inviolability of the packaging after sealing and to enable practical sealing in reduced time.

Throughout the research, there have been many advances that we have managed to obtain and enjoy, guaranteeing results and conclusions that will allow us, in the future, to obtain finished machinery for its commercialization. So, at the moment, and since we started to enjoy the ministerial subsidy, we are in a context of continuous learning, being right now in the final part of it, training ourselves to be able to translate the conclusions in finished machines for the market.

Experimentation:

As we have just mentioned, during the study we have been experimenting with different machines and techniques in order to achieve a significant advance in the recycling of adhesives used in packaging. As a result, we have been experimenting with an invulnerable sealing system, characterized by its high thermal versatility.

The specific objectives of the project included obtaining a sealing tape with high strength and excellent adhesion on corrugated cardboard and boxes at temperatures below 100˚C. It also sought to guarantee the integrity and safety of the packaged products, develop a tape with 100% recyclable paper backing and allow its customization through different printing techniques.

In addition, work has been done on the creation of a sealing system that does not alter the properties of the products during refrigerated transport. Both a tape, as mentioned above, and a prototype sealing system have been developed to allow rapid application, both automatically and manually.

The project has also involved the development of three prototype sealing systems: linear, manual and automatic, according to the specifications of the new tape. To ensure proper operation, a heat activator block for the tape has been comprehensively designed, which activates the adhesive zone using less energy-consuming thermal sources.

Thus, we are facing innovations in the field of packaging, as we seek to promote sustainability, recycling and the safety of packaged products. With the implementation of this new sealing system, we expect to contribute significantly to waste reduction and environmental care.

Advantages:

Seeing the explanation of our experimentation for self-improvement, being a great incentive for the discovery of new processes and capabilities that will be of great help for the future, we must refer to the advantages it has provided us:

Recyclable: are made of fully recyclable material.
Reduction of package recycling times: thanks to the recyclable feature, the packaging will be 100% recyclable, without having to separate the sealing or closing part.
Security against tampering with the contents: if tampering occurs after closing, the box is broken.
Food safe: in addition to being suitable for refrigerated and even frozen environments, it must also be suitable for horticultural foods.
Quick application, both manual and automatic: Will allow to reduce the productive times of closing and sealing of the boxes.
Withstand high temperatures.
Perfect match between application time and adhesive activation temperature: so far, if the activation temperature is low, the application time is high.
Sustainable: ensure minimal material waste.

In conclusion...

It has been 18 months of hard work, continuous research, hard concentration and moments of enjoyment as a result of the different advances achieved. We are grateful to the CDTI funding for allowing our development as a company and our creative capacity to improve our machinery, as well as our teamwork, while continuing with the research process and facing the final process - the development of machinery with the objective of its commercialization.

So, in conclusion, even though we are already in the final part of the experimentation, we are still in the process of developing the different machines, proud of our progress, of our team and, above all, proud of everything that Controlpack encompasses and of all the people who have made possible our business development to get to where we are, who are and have been part of this great company.