Press release
Paris, 28 October 2024
Coating is a process for treating various surfaces (paper, plastic film, textiles, metal, etc.) to give them specific properties, such as grease resistance, adhesion, anti-oxidation or protection against water.
The coating market currently offers three main processes:
Extrusion: This method involves melting plastic granules and applying them to a substrate.
Aqueous varnish coating: After being applied to a substrate, the varnish passes through an oven to evaporate 60% of its water, leaving only the dry extract on the surface.
Hotmelt coating: A layer of adhesive is applied directly to the substrate.
With the European directive on the use of single-use plastics, all sectors are having to review their practices. In France, the AGEC law, which comes into force in January 2022, bans the use of plastic film for single-use packaging.
The graphic arts sector, especially magazine and newspaper publishers, has been particularly hard hit, especially when it comes to routing their publications, which previously used plastic packaging.
Heat-sealable paper solutions have begun to emerge, but traditional processes, such as extrusion or aqueous varnish coating, require a final grammage of 30g/m², which increases postage costs because of the extra weight of the packaging, compared with 12g/m² for plastic.
Until now, only extrusion and aqueous varnish coating were used to create heat-sealable paper.
Building on its longstanding expertise in paper, the Riccobono Group has invested in its R&D unit, Lab Riccobono, to develop a new alternative to these processes.
In 2023, Lab Riccobono filed a patent with the INPI for an innovative paper coating process called ERS, Enduction Riccobono System. This process, which uses hotmelt technology, is unprecedented in the production of heat-sealable paper. It enables the application of heat-reactivatable adhesive without water, making the process less energy-intensive and eliminating the need for drying ovens.
Our ERS, Enduction Riccobono System offers new possibilities that were previously impossible:
Low grammage: We are now able to heat-seal low grammage paper, reducing packaging weight and postage costs, in line with CITEO's recommendations on reducing the weight of paper packaging.
Innovative properties: Our process produces heat-sealable porous papers, ideal for the breathable packaging needed in laundries and dry cleaners, or crease-resistant papers suited to certain sectors.
To capitalise on the results of our ERS process, the Riccobono Group has created the Coating Division with the launch of the Novatec Industry production centre at Mary-sur-Marne (77).
Under the management of Éric CARLE, this new division manufactures various types of heat-sealable and printed paper for eco-designed flexible packaging for all sectors of activity.
Novatec offers a range of six printable heat-sealable papers, called
SEP Seal Eco Paper, each with unique technical characteristics:
SEP Standard: heat-sealable kraft paper.
SEP Light: Lightweight, robust kraft paper to minimise packaging weight and reduce postage costs. Novatec can coat 18 g/m² paper.
SEP Translucent: refined paper with increased transparency
SEP SILK: heat-sealing silk paper.
SEP Silent : Heat-sealing cellulose wadding paper, designed to reduce crumpling noise, ideal for unit packaging of sanitary towels.
SEP Breath: Porous paper that breathes and allows moisture to pass through, a significant advance for laundries and dry cleaners.
Within five years, the Riccobono Group expects this new division to contribute 10% of its sales.
About the RICCOBONO Group
The Riccobono Group, which has been printing for five generations, is the French leader in newspaper printing, its traditional business. The Group is also a major player in rotogravure and offset heatset, for the printing of magazines, catalogues and leaflets. The Group is a key player in its core business of distribution and delivery in the Ile-de-France region, and as a press agent in the Oise region. Its Finishing division, which covers finishing, binding and routing, is an undeniable player in France.
The Group has the largest fleet of modern machines in the European graphics industry, perfectly suited to the needs of the market.
The LAB, an in-house R&D unit, fosters the development of new skills, such as the Coating division, which is dedicated to the manufacture of printable heat-sealing papers, while integrating an eco-design approach for packaging.
The RSED policy permeates all its strategic decisions. Its raison d'être, ‘to enable the transmission of knowledge to as many people as possible ’, reflects its strong commitment to social, societal, environmental and democratic initiatives.
Today, the Riccobono Group employs over 2,700 people and has a turnover of almost 250 million euros.
Find Riccobono Group on :
Press contact :
Jean-Clément TEXIER
Coficom : 06 60 68 93 95
Dorine FROMENTIN
Communication / RSE
Groupe Riccobono
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