In order to meet growing demand for totally safe food packaging, Clondalkin Flexible Packaging Harlingen (Amsterdam / The Netherlands; www.clondalkingroup.com) has acquired a "Starpack CW" laser perforation unit from Germany’s Rofin (Hamburg; www.rofin.com).

Laser perforated holes are free of residue, eliminating the possibility of contaminating the food inside the packaging. The laser units also work much faster than mechanical pinfeed systems and produce a very controlled, uniform pattern which can be tailored to specific applications. The laser scribing system, which includes features such as perforation from 200 microns, cutting release flaps, scribing and scoring for easy opening, is optimised for various materials including PE, BOPP, PET, BOPA and laminates.

Jack van der Heiden, sales and marketing director at Clondalkin Flexible Packaging Harlingen, said food safety was a top priority for the company. He commented: “This recent investment together with our award-winning flexo printing technology, “FleXtreme”, means we can offer our frozen food customers the unique combination of high quality printed (up to 10 colours), laser perforated, 100% food-safe films.”

Clondalkin’s “FleXtreme” technology is said to be of equal quality to gravure printing with very high ink and colour density but at a more competitive cost, with the added flexibility of shorter production runs and lead times.

The group prints and converts a wide range of films and laminates for the beverage, food, frozen foods, breads, vegetable, fruit and pet-food markets.