Self-adhesive specialist HERMA knows how to handle difficult issues in labelling and launches two new products: HERMAsuperTack (63Vst), a completely resin-free adhesive for labels that require extremely strong initial tack, and HERMAsuperPerm (63S), with which even conventional labels can be used to implement tamper-evident solutions as required for pharmaceutical in more and more countries.
Since migration is determined by the adhesive’s resin content, the new HERMAsuperTack (63Vst) offers especially low migration levels. It features correction factor 2, and thereby reaches the approval for dry, moist, and fatty foods.
“Thereby, we are coming closer than ever to the zero migration benchmark”, said Dr. Ulli Nägele, HERMA’s Head of Research and Development.
Due to that and its excellent initial tack, HERMAsuperTack is ideally suited for labels that are applied to whole sausages or raw ham without a barrier layer made of film. Since adhesives owe most of their good adhesive properties to resins, it had been nearly impossible to dispense with them up to now.
“The lower the resin content, the lower initial tack and final adhesion, especially on films”, explains HERMA’s Head of Research and Development. “But by applying our multi-layer technology, we were able to develop an adhesive that does enable us to dispense with resins – without any compromises.”
On the contrary: its excellent initial tack makes HERMAsuperTack ideally suited for problem-solving when it comes to films and moist, fatty, or slightly dirty surfaces – its range extends well beyond food labelling. It makes the most of its advantages at near-freezing temperatures combined with condensation.
“The adhesive received top marks in tests at 0 and +2°C on polar and non-polar surfaces”, says Dr. Nägele. “Even at temperatures below minus twenty degrees, it does not lose its tack.” But that is not all: due to its temperature resistance, HERMAsuperTack is also suitable for foodstuffs that have been recently heated, such as boiled chicken.
Highly resistant and suitable for universal use
The new, innovative HERMAsuperPerm 63S adhesive allows users to economically equip packaging for pharmaceuticals as well as other products with tamper-evident labels. Such tamper-proof features became mandatory for prescription drugs in more and more countries.
The final adhesion of HERMAsuperPerm 63S is so high that sealing labels equipped with the adhesive cannot be removed from lacquered pharmaceutical packaging as well as many other polar and non-polar surfaces, such as paper, cardboard, or plastics and steel without destruction of the label or the packaging surface. Elaborate and costly special materials like self-destructive films, holograms, cellophane wraps, or even completely new folding box designs are thus no longer required.
Besides being extremely ageing-resistant, HERMA superPerm 63S is highly resistant against water, hot air, and various solvents. Since it is a dispersion adhesive, adhesive materials can be easily processed in spite of relatively thick adhesive coating.
Cost-efficient tamper-evident labels
A number of reasons can be argued for the use of sealing labels to ensure a first-opening guarantee: “Labels on pharmaceutical packaging are, as a matter of principle, accepted in the market. Moreover, they do not change the established appearance of existing packages”, explains Dr. Ulli Nägele
“Folding boxes and folding box machines that have already been validated can continue to be used.” The application process for the labels, which have an essentially conventional design, is technically uncomplicated.
“The main reason against using conventional, economic labels for reliable tamper-proofing was the fact that they are removable. This has been invalidated through HERMAsuperPerm 63S.”