Henkel is showcasing its latest developments in pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) technologies for the label, tape, graphic and medical industry. According to the company, this particularly means providing high-impact adhesive solutions that meet the highest safety standards for both food or non-food applications.

Consumer and industry awareness with regard to product ingredients and safety is rising. At the same time, regulation is becoming increasingly strict. The EU is banning products containing Alkylphenolethoxylate (APEO) from 2021 on, for example. Since those were part of the formulation for many common label adhesives in the industry, producers are looking for suitable replacements. Within its Aquence range, Henkel now has APEO-free adhesives on offer that, at the same time, meet the customers' highest performance requirements. These water-based adhesives have excellent water whitening performance for clear on clear labels, with thorough, seven-day testing showing a whitening four times lower than that of the next best competitor product.

For optimal application, these adhesives have an excellent balance of peel and shear for clear on clear labels on both glass and LSE substrates. They can be used for multi-coating solutions like curtain coatable or reverse gravure. And they are suitable for high-speed diecutting, waste stripping and inline label application. As a complement to its new water-based products for food applications, Henkel is also introducing a new removable grade, which will enrich its comprehensive range for removable adhesives that Henkel can offer today in all technologies.

For the packaging and labeling industry, mineral oil components continue to be a major topic, especially with regard to food safe applications. This is particularly true for hot-melt PSA. Greg Douglas, business development manager for labels at Henkel explains the challenge: "Mineral oil components play a significant role in the formulation of most common pressure sensitive hot-melt adhesives, usually making up around 15 to 20%. Replacing those components while maintaining the adhesives' high performance characteristics requires intensive research and development."

In order to provide its customers with a PSA that does not contain mineral oil components in their formulation, Henkel is presenting several new general purpose PSA at Labelexpo. Technomelt PS 3212 is a pressure sensitive adhesive created for permanent labels with a very good performance on cardboard and well-balanced adhesion and converting properties. It shares its excellent cutting properties – and food compliance – with Technomelt PS 3007, which is also suitable for Thermo-linerless label applications.

Henkel is highlighting another food safe Technomelt adhesive that can be used for chilled, semi-freeze and deep freeze applications, as well. Technomelt 4585 is a real PSA specialty which can be applied at very low temperature with a high initial tack.

Being part of this Labelexpo's "Linerless Trail", Henkel is presenting another innovation field: Its range of adhesive solutions applicable for linerless PSA labels. Making the release liner obsolete, those adhesives reduce production process waste, lower weight and time for reel changes – and they make double-sided printing possible.