Michelman inaugurated its state-of-the-art packaging incubator in Mumbai on 31 January 2018. Inaugurated by Steve Shifman, president and chief executive officer at Michelman and Edgard D Kagan, the US Consul General in Mumbai, packaging incubator is strategically designed to assist immensely the flexible packaging converters, film producers, paper converters and brand owners in innovating a sustainable future for packaging and allow for fast and efficient development of sustainable packaging solutions. The inauguration event was also attended by many material suppliers, film manufacturers, converters and distributors of Michelman coatings around the country.

Located in Andheri East, this cutting-edge-technology packaging incubator – Michelman Innovation Center for Coatings (MICC) – houses most sophisticated application and formulation laboratories with human assets to match it. The centerpiece of this innovation center is a state-of-the-art dual station coater/laminator from Kroenert Germany; a highly capable asset which will help the packaging industry in India to prototype, test and try new packaging structures.

The features of the packaging incubator include multifunctional coating heads for various coating methods or adhesive application; multiple printing process; ability to coat a wide range of substrates up to 400 micron thickness; UV Top and Heat Nip Lamination capability; and formulation lab and application testing lab.

Shifman said that Michelman’s holistic approach of dedicated space, technical capability and technology will allow for collaborative innovation between brand owners, film producers, converters, packaging institutes, and others involved in the research and development of sustainable packaging. “With the use of Michelman products, one can develop packaging structures that offer recyclability, improved shelf life and food safety, increase productivity and efficiency, compostability, waste reduction, down gauging and more,” said Shifman.