The Root of the Problem

While adhesives are used across the board in all kinds of package printing, the rigid demands of flexible packaging are driving advances in the substances. "While adhesive development has usually kept pace with market need, the fast growth in flexible packaging has spurred packaging scientists to develop new films and packages that satisfy the need for higher performance at a lower unit cost," said George Papsin, flexible packaging lab manager at H.B. Fuller. "Flexible packaging adhesives must provide excellent adhesion appearance, strength, and finished goods resistance properties. They must also be extremely user friendly, allowing for ease in coating and laminating, and allowing for a wider range of processibility."