More efficient and sustainable is the target of the new five-layer-stretch film for silage made by Austrian packaging manufacturer Coveris, in Kufstein, Tyrol.

Made in its recently commissioned new extrusion facility, the new product aims to keep Coveris as one of the top five silage film manufacturers in the world and partially re-uses old silage film.

But it's a complex process. The production of stretch films fr agricultural use is inherently subject to seasonal fluctuations and is also extremely time-critical. This results in high demands in terms of efficiency.

"In the northern hemisphere, we sell our goods starting in February, and by the time the dandelions have faded in May, delivery to customers must already have been completed," said Jan-Torsten Vollmer, head of operations in Kufstein.

"Thanks to our new five-layer-stretch-film for silage facility and the resulting increase in capacity, we will be able to better serve this demanding market and further expand our market position."

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The range expansion is focussed on sustainability, he added. Multi-layer stretch films allow for the combination of several different functional material layers, an important basis for the development of future-oriented product innovations.

This buys in to Coveris' drive towards a 'no waste' vision. This is achieved, for example, by integrating a recyclate layer of PCR material into film solutions.

"We have successfully turned recyclate material from old films into a component of a new silage film without compromising performance," said Mr Vollmer. "In addition, we only use electricity from renewable energy sources for our production.

"Both factors contribute to resource conservation and make a small yet not insignificant contribution to CO2 reductions in the agricultural sector."