Sustainable packaging requires more than paper alone. Functional barrier coatings are what enable paper-based packaging to become a high-performance alternative to multi-layer plastic packaging.
At the same time, increasing environmental requirements, stricter regulations, and growing cost pressure are transforming the packaging market worldwide.
Paper is considered a key material for the future of sustainable packaging. However, without functional barriers, paper quickly reaches its technical limits — especially in food packaging and applications involving grease, moisture, or liquids.
The solution: modern barrier coatings combined with efficient printing and production processes. This enables sustainable, recyclable packaging solutions with high product protection and industrial-scale efficiency.*
With the Boardmaster, HEIDELBERG offers an industrial process for integrating barrier coatings directly into packaging printing.
The Boardmaster is a highly automated flexographic printing press designed for high-volume packaging production. Barrier coatings can be applied during the printing process — without additional converting or coating steps.
What makes the technology unique:
The barriers are applied inline and with precise registration to the front or back of the paper web, and are used only where functional protection is required.
This enables:
The combination of flexographic printing and functional coating technology makes the Boardmaster an industrial solution for modern packaging production.
By integrating barrier coatings directly into the printing process, packaging manufacturers benefit from:
HEIDELBERG combines equipment, process integration, and application expertise into one integrated solution for packaging printing.
Instead of sourcing individual components, packaging manufacturers benefit from:
What are barrier coatings?
Barrier coatings are functional coatings that protect paper packaging against grease, moisture, liquids, and other external influences.*
Why are barrier coatings important?
They enable more sustainable paper-based packaging solutions as an alternative to plastic laminates and multi-material packaging structures.
What does inline application mean?
The coating is applied directly during the printing process — without additional production steps.
Which machine does HEIDELBERG use for this technology?
Barrier coatings can be integrated directly into the flexographic printing process of the Boardmaster.
Which packaging applications are suitable for barrier coatings?
Typical applications include food packaging, beverage cups, folding cartons, flexible packaging, and corrugated packaging.
*Disclaimer: The performance of barrier coatings is influenced by multiple factors, including substrate properties, print design, converting processes, drying conditions, production environment, and application-specific requirements. Actual results may therefore vary from one production site to another. Furthermore: these solutions are engineered to be recyclable, but are not guaranteed to be recycled in all circumstances, particularly where food contamination is present. Barrier performance should be verified under the customer's specific production and end-use conditions.
