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Materials science company has opened its first plastic reduction research labs and compound manufacturing facility to help packaging manufacturers and brand owners transition to more sustainable plastics and packaging. The new multi-million-dollar facility in Neenah, Wisconsin offers R&D services and toll compounding for customers interested in developing flexible PE packaging based on VOID’s patented VO⁺ technology.

Photo Credit: VOID Technologies

VO⁺ technology engineers nano- and micro-scale air pockets into plastics to create high-performance products with a lower environmental impact. It reportedly is effective in a range of thermoplastics including polyolefins and polyesters. Currently, the technology is most developed in white machine direction orientation (MDO) PE films. The company notes that by combining the benefits of MDO with VO⁺ cavitation technology, products can achieve:

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 â–ª  Material reduction: Lower density and downgauging

 â–ª  Enhanced performance: Improved puncture, toughness, and high opacity without TiO₂

 â–ª  Improved recycling: VO⁺ white films turn clear during recycling because they are free of pigments like TiO₂

Photo Credit: VOID Technologies

With the official opening of the site, VOID has launched VOID Labs, whereby packaging and consumer goods companies can access the company’s start-of-the-art equipment. That includes pilot-scale blown film extrusion with inline MDO, lab- and commercial-scale twin screw compounding, as well as a range of testing and analytical equipment.

VOID is already working with leading companies along the supply chain to develop VO⁺ MDO PE films for a range of applications such as laminates, wicketed bags and frozen food. The company expects initial product launches in the second half of 2022.

VOID’s extensively patented VO⁺ technology was first conceived as part of a research initiative at Kimberly-Clark. Not long after, in 2015, VOID was launched as an independent company. Today, in addition to its R&D labs and compound manufacturing facility in Wisconsin, VOID has R&D has commercial teams in Canada, France, and the UK.