Tub produced with Trexel's MuCell® process bags 2008 German Packaging Award

10-Jan-09

The Unilever 500 gram Rama margarine tub has been awarded the 2008 Deutscher Verpackungs Preis (German Packaging Award ) and a WorldStar Packaging Award. The innovative tub design was developed by Veriplast Solutions and uses Veriplast's super-light injection molding technology (SLIM), which combines the MuCell® microcellular foaming process along with Veriplast's Extra Slim Label, an innovative down-gauged in-mold label. SLIM® technology utilizes Trexel's MuCell® process, which involves the use of precisely metered quantities of atmospheric gases (nitrogen or carbon dioxide) in the injection molding process to create millions of nearly invisible microcells in the end product. The gas nucleates cells during injection and allows the thin wall cavities to be filled with reduced pressure and with reduced clamp tonnage. This permits additional thin walling. The microcells then replace their equivalent volume of plastic, resulting in a cumulative reduction of up to 10% in packaging weight without any perceptible difference in the final tub quality. Veriplast combines this with its own Extra Slim Label technology, which is significantly thinner than the market standard and provides an additional environmental benefit by reducing the CO2 footprint by 30% compared to standard labels. SLIM® technology provides outstanding benefits in terms of packaging weight reduction and carbon footprint reduction.