AKULON XP FOR IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY IN PACKAGING FILMS

DSM Engineering Plastics has introduced Akulon XP, a high productivity grade of PA6 for film applications. Akulon XP offers a broader processing window leading to more flexibility and more uniform thickness distribution in cast film, more melt strength and better parison stability leading to optimized LDPE/LLDPE ratio in multi-layer films without sacrificing the mechanical properties, more shear thinning than with standard PA6 enabling thus higher coating velocities possible and still absolutely gel free.

Akulon PA6 is well-established for food packaging applications. Amongst the benefits for producers are thermoformability, printability, transparency and heat resistance. Key user benefits include oxygen barrier, aroma and flavour barrier, mechanical protection, puncture resistance.

Today, more than three quarters of PA6 film is being used for food packaging applications such as meat, cheese, fish, sausage skins and coffee packs. Non-food applications include medical & pharmaceutical films, protective packaging (bubble film), agricultural film and industrial films.

The development of Akulon PA6 for packaging applications is in line with DSM’s investment program for PA6: in 2000 DSM opened state-of-the-art PA6 polymerization plants in Emmen (Netherlands) and Augusta (USA). In 2005, the company extended its polymerization unit in Emmen dedicated for film. Recently the company announced the start-up of a new production facility in Jiangyin (China) in 2008. With its backwards integration to Caprolactam across the globe DSM Engineering Plastics is one of the leading PA6 film resin suppliers in Europe today.

Reader enquiries

DSM Engineering Materials
30 Pasir Panjang Road #13-31
Mapletree Business City
Singapore 117440
Singapore

Notes for editors

DSM Engineering Plastics

DSM Engineering Plastics is a Business Group in the performance materials cluster of DSM, with sales in 2006 of EUR 1005 million (which number includes the sales of DSM Dyneema) and approximately 1300 employees worldwide. It is one of the world's leading suppliers of engineering thermoplastics offering a broad portfolio of high performance products including Stanyl® PA 46 and Akulon® 6 and 66 polyamides, Arnitel® TPE-E, Arnite® PBT and PET polyesters, Xantar® polycarbonate, Yparex® extrudable adhesive resins. These materials are used in technical components for electrical appliances, electronic equipment and cars, in barrier packaging films as well as in many mechanical and extrusion applications. With Stanyl®, it is the global market leader in high heat polyamides.

About DSM

DSM is active worldwide in nutritional and pharma ingredients, performance materials and industrial chemicals. The company develops, produces and sells innovative products and services that help improve the quality of life. DSM’s products are used in a wide range of end-markets and applications, such as human and animal nutrition and health, personal care, pharmaceuticals, automotive and transport, coatings and paint, housing and electrics & electronics (E&E). DSM’s strategy, named Vision 2010 – Building on Strengths, focuses on accelerating profitable and innovative growth of the company’s specialties portfolio. The key drivers of this strategy are market-driven growth and innovation plus an increased presence in emerging economies. The group has annual sales of over €8 billion and employs some 22,000 people worldwide. DSM ranks among the global leaders in many of its fields. The company is headquartered in the Netherlands, with locations in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Americas.

More information about DSM can be found at www.dsm.com .

Akulon®, Arnite®, Arnitel®, Stanyl®, Xantar® and Yparex® are registered trademarks of Royal