Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) and Solenis unveiled a new inline process for applying barrier coatings to flexible paper packaging at Fachpack 2025 in Nuremberg, marking a significant step toward replacing plastic packaging with recyclable fiber-based solutions.
The technology integrates Solenis’ barrier coatings into HEIDELBERG’s Boardmaster flexographic web printing system, allowing industrial and cost-effective application of coatings directly onto the paper web. This enables partial, registered coating only where needed, reducing material use while enhancing recyclability.
“Economic innovations are crucial if we are to replace plastic packaging with recyclable or compostable paper packaging. By collaborating with Solenis to develop coatings and inks and produce coated paper packaging inline, HEIDELBERG is reinforcing its claim to be a strong driving force behind paperization,” said Dr. David Schmedding, Chief Sales and Technology Officer at HEIDELBERG. “We are thus acting as a full-service provider of end-to-end solutions in the growth market of mass production of fiber-based packaging solutions.”
At Fachpack, the companies are presenting coated samples for visitors to test and are offering technical discussions with experts at their joint booth. The process is positioned to serve high-volume food, beverage, cosmetics, and non-food applications that require protection against water, vapor, oils, fats, and temperature extremes.
Flexible paper packaging, also known as “paperization,” is expected to grow by 4.5% annually until 2030, according to a study conducted by the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University Heilbronn (DHBW) together with HEIDELBERG. Study leader Prof. Dr. Carsten Kortum described it as “not a short-term trend, but a profound change driven by new legal requirements, increased environmental awareness in conjunction with changing consumer behavior, and technological innovations.”
The Fachpack announcement follows a 2024 statement in which HEIDELBERG and Solenis disclosed their partnership to develop print-applied barrier coatings. This latest rollout demonstrates the commercial readiness of the process for high-volume packaging converters.
