The demand for speed and quality enhancement within the corrugated industry is increasing and there is a growing trend to act on the consumers awareness by replacing substances of high concern. Borregaard’s new Exilva concepts has proven to deliver on both productivity and sustainability.
Stability and strength are key attributes in corrugating adhesives. Several leading companies in the industry have tested Exilva in their board making process. Borregaard says that full scale factory trials have documented speed increases by between 20% and 67%. The development focus has been to reduce speed limitations when applying glue for the most complex multiwall board types at the double backer glue stations. Most improvements have been documented in relation to the slitter-scorer, due to the synergy and stable network between the Exilva cellulose fibrils and the starch. The new speed came from improved bonding where less de-lamination, less waste and flatter boards was a part of the picture. Further learnings have been a consistent glue stability with less retrogradation during longer distance pumping, as well as glue viscosity stability over a significantly longer storage time.
Glue with Exilva being applied at Glomma Papp
Borregaard is also developing a concept that gives an adequate performance in glue without using any borates. Borates are listed by the European Chemicals Agency as Substances of Very High Concern. According to the CLP (The Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation (EC No 1272/2008) they are notified as ‘may damage fertility and the unborn child’. Innovative corrugator plants and brand owners with ESG focus are currently working on borate-free glue innovations with the important benefit of protecting consumer confidence. Borregaard’s results enables development of good production and qualities using borate-free glue.
Exilva is a wood-based microfibrillated cellulose technology. During 2016-2020, Borregaard’s Exilva project received funding from the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation Flag ship programme under grant agreement No 709746.
