An innovative stretch sleeve label that wraps around containers like a second skin has been unveiled by Dow Europe (Horgen / Switzerland; www.dow.com) and PetroplastVinora (Andwil / Switzerland; www.petroplastvinora.com). Trials of the label, called "Visique", which integrates a blown extrusion film, have shown exceptional processability, enabling the films to retain their stiffness while staying soft and offering a snug fit. The companies said the high gloss look and tight fit of Visique addresses many needs of brand owners who label highly contoured bottles and containers.

The label was initially developed for the beverage market, but can be adapted for a variety of applications. Thomas Galatik, a project manager with PetroplastVinora, said: “Stretch sleeve labels are a strongly growing market segment and we see significant potential for expanding their use in the future into a broad range of applications including personal, household and healthcare products.” Dow Europe’s technology leader Sustainable Packaging, Kurt Brunner, added: “This state-of-the-art technology helps to answer the call from the marketplace for thinner films that maintain their mechanical properties and optical appeal.”

Properties of the Visique labels, which integrate Dow’s Elite enhanced PE resins, include excellent elastic recovery of about 95%, great machining and mechanical capabilities, very high resistance to impact and tear, as well as exceptional optical possibilities for both transparent and colour-printed versions.

Family-owned PetroplastVinora, which employs 360 people and has a turnover of CHF 130m (EUR 106m), announced a series of measures to streamline production last year – see Plasteurope.com of 29.06.2012.