ITW Auto-Sleeve says its metallised film allows manufacturers to decorate stretch sleeves and labels used in packaging their products.
The sleeve was developed by ITW Auto-Sleeve Brazil. It was first used by Brazilian manufacturer Rubi S/A Comercio Industria e Agricultura for 900ml polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles of its leading Clarion Contuedo drink brand.
The film is manufactured from 50 micron low density polyethylene (LDPE). It can be flexo printed in up to 10 colours, all of which take on a metallic effect to create a distinctive appearance. This allows packagers to achieve "maximum on-shelf impact, brand positioning and enhancement", ITW stated.
Stretch sleeves are used for labelling PET, high density polyethylene (HDPE) and hot fill bottles.
"Application of the sleeves does not require heat or glue and they fit perfectly around the bottle," ITW stated in a press release.
"The new metallic sleeve adds a further decoration dimension to our sleeves and offers an excellent means of creating further product differentiation in competitive markets," stated Reinhard Streit, Business ITW's European development manager for ITW.