Project: Solvent-free and bisphenol A-free coatings for two-piece beverage cans.
This project aims to develop solvent free coatings for application to two-piece beverage cans, where the current global market volumes are 300 billion cans/year. Currently, several coatings are applied to beverage cans to ensure the quality of the packaged beverage from filling, through distribution and up to consumption by the consumer. The coatings are transported from suppliers to the can manufacturing plants, where they are applied at high speed (circa 2500 cans/minute) and then thermally cured. Due to the solvent content of current coatings, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are produced during the curing process and go through a treatment process (an oxidiser) to manage the environmental impact. Local legislation controls the emissions levels allowed from each site. _x000D__x000D_By eliminating the solvent content, benefits across several areas can be realised:_x000D_1) Reduced CO2 emissions and transportation costs due to a reduction in the volume and weight of coatings to be transported from coating supplier to can manufacturing plants. The estimated reduction in CO2 emissions is estimated at circa 1200 tonnes/year for Rexam volumes in Europe alone. _x000D_2) Improved sustainability of the can manufacturing process due to a reduction in environmental impact through reduced VOC emissions. _x000D_3) Reduce capital costs for new plants, due to eliminating the need for an oxidiser _x000D_4) Reduced running costs for current plants, due to eliminating the costs of running the oxidiser _x000D__x000D_An additional benefit is that the proposed coatings are all free of bisphenol A (BPA); Bisphenol A, a suspected endocrine disruptor, is present in the epoxy-based coatings applied today to achieve long-lasting good adhesion of the coating on the metal surface. There may be a move towards BPA-free coatings and as such the coatings in development through this project will be suitable regardless of any shift in the market requirements._x000D__x000D_Solvent free coatings are currently used for other applications but this would be the first time they are applied to the beverage can products. The innovative challenges in this project are to achieve good adhesion, flexibility and protective performance of the coatings, when applied at high speed and (in some cases) on top of wet ink. Any chemistry of the coatings must also comply with FDA and EFSA positive list._x000D__x000D_A product working on the laboratory is not by definition applicable on the customers line. Cooperating in research & development is mandatory and key to success._x000D__x000D_Novochem Packaging Coatings (NPC), a subsidiary of Holland Novochem Technical Coatings, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands, has unique know-how available on solvent-free surface coatings. The technologies have been filed in several patents. The knowledge will be extended towards wet-on-wet coatings for two-piece beverage cans. Comprehensive laboratory studies are required to meet the abovementioned criteria._x000D__x000D_Project P Rexam PLC is a market leader in beverage cans (60 billion cans annually). Rexam will provide all the facilities and technical support to perform development, verification tests, labtests, pilot runs and full-scale industrial scale tests._x000D__x000D_This collaboration project is of strategic importance to both companies and will contribute to the economic health and sustainability of manufacturing in Europe.
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Acronym
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2-Piece can coating
(Reference Number: 8297)
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Duration
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01/08/2013 - 30/07/2015
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Project Topic
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This project aims to deliver the next generation of coatings for two-piece beverage cans, where the current global market is 300 bn cans/year. By eliminating the solvent content of the coatings and developing a 100% solids coating, significant environmental and economic benefits can be achieved.
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Network
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Eurostars
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Call
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Eurostars Cut-Off 10
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Project partner
