Grupo Plastilene develops a local high-barrier packaging solution alongside ExxonMobil and Windmöller & Hölscher

In the food industry (especially in markets such as meat, poultry, dairy and frozen food) the packaging plays a key role: to preserve freshness, support the supply chain’s requirements, guarantee an attractive presentation at the point of sale, and maintain a reliable performance during the forming and sealing process.

For years, many of these needs have been covered through imported structures, particularly in applications that require a high barrier, excellent transparency, mechanical resistance, and process stability in deep forming.

With this in mind, Grupo Plastilene identified a strategic opportunity: to develop a high-barrier packaging solution in Colombia that can respond to the highest performance standards and offer a competitive and local alternative solution for the industry.

It was an ambitious challenge. The film had to guarantee a hermetic and reliable seal, high puncture resistance, excellent thermoforming behaviour, efficient barrier properties, and superior optics that allowed to exhibit the product with better clarity and appeal.

Betting on making a high performing local solution possible

The starting point was an ambitious question: could a locally made film meet or exceed the performance of the imported solutions for these types of applications?

With this vision, Grupo Plastilene pushed for a strategic collaboration with ExxonMobil, a key ally in the development of high performing raw materials, and Windmöller & Hölscher, the manufacturer of the machines.

For Grupo Plastilene, incorporating this capacity meant broadening the design and production possibilities for high barrier packaging in the country, especially for applications that require deep holes, stability, and a premium appearance.

Innovation that is born out of mixing knowledge, technology, and real validation

The solution did not come out of an isolated formula. It was the result of a joint construction between the packaging knowledge of Grupo Plastilene, the raw material technological guidance of ExxonMobil, and the cooling technology as a platform with water of W&H.

The process gave way to the development of medium and high barrier structures with a solid relationship between resistance, transparency, and sealability. The objective was clear: to provide a film capable of improving the product, facilitate brand’s projects, and respond to real operational food industry conditions.

But an innovation at this level needed to be tested outside of the lab. That’s where a key actor entered: the client that rose to the occasion. The experience alongside Carnes Casablanca helped validate the performance of the solution in real conditions, proving the performance of the forming, efficient sealing, and the packaging’s outstanding appearance at the point of sale.

A success story for the Colombian packaging industry

This project represents much more than the use of a new technology. It reflects Grupo Plastilene’s capability to respond to an industry challenge, seek the correct allies, perform tests, validate the performance with real clients, and turn a technical opportunity into a concrete market solution.

It also strengthens the local competitiveness. Through having a produced alternative in Colombia, brands can access high performance solutions closer, more consistently, and higher response capability. Thus reducing the dependence on imported structures and opening new possibilities for categories that have growing expectations for packaging.

If you’d like to learn more about the technical aspects of this solution, we invite you to read the case study here >> Caso de estudio Aquarex