Indian converter Surya Global Flexifilms makes major investment in three BOBST vacuum metallizers

India-based Surya Global Flexifilms has purchased three new 2,900-mm BOBST EXPERT K5 vacuum metallizers, the first of which was installed last year, with the second to be installed soon, and the third set for production by the end of 2023.

Surya Global Flexifilms, incorporated in 2020, is a subsidiary of Surya Food & Agro, Ltd., which produces the popular Priyagold Biscuits available in more than 20 countries around the world. The incorporation enables the brand to produce its own films for packaging Priyagold products, as well as to supply customers domestically and internationally. 

The three metallizers allow Surya to convert metallized-BOPP film, including AluBond coated film using BOBST state-of-the-art technology. 

The first machine uses a High Rate source, which gives a higher speed of operation, and reduced distance between boats, giving better coating uniformity. It also includes a 700-mm coating drum, which improves collection efficiency by 16%, maximizing productivity and yielding high-quality metallized films at a lower cost. 

The second machine uses the same features as the first, along with BOBST Hawkeye and AluBond. AluBond improves metal adhesion and dyne level on the most common film substrates as well as better barrier levels on polyolefin-based substrates such as BOPP. Hawkeye is an in-line optical-density, deposition-control and defect-monitoring system. At full metallizer speed, Hawkeye detects, counts and categorizes pinholes and other defects, alerting the operator so the issue can be solved immediately, resulting in less film waste. 

"When we decided to start producing our own metallized film in-house, we wanted a company we could trust," says Surya Global Flexifilms Chairman Shekhar Agarwai. "BOBST has a great reputation in the market, and we heard great things about AluBond. We are very happy with the first machine, which is producing high-quality film and look forward to our other two machines being installed so we can start to produce AluBond film."