Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd. (DNP) has successfully developed "IB-PET-PUB," a transparent vacuum coated film with the ultimate in oxygen and water-barrier features, and commenced marketing of the product as packaging for foods and candies from March 21.

Developmental Backdrop
Packaging materials for foods require high level barriers against water and oxygen in order to protect the contents. In particular, there have been strong demands for transparent film packaging materials with strong barrier features that can be heated in microwaves, and used with metal-detectors - based on the fact that they do not use aluminum-foil; but which most of all, put the consumer's mind at ease by being safe and allowing him or her to check the contents.

Transparent film packaging is continuing to see high-growth of 10% per year even against the backdrop of a severe market environment; and the size of the market, which was 500 million square meters as of 2004, is forecast to grow to 900 million square meters by 2008 based on unit-production for domestic vacuum evaporated film makers.

DNP developed and commenced marketing the high-barrier transparent "IB film" in 1998. "IB film" rapidly captured a sizable 50% of the market for small bags containing the liquid seasoning for ramen-soup and noodle-sauces. We have now developed and are commencing to market "IB-PET-PUB" for use in food and candy packaging, where the market for transparent film is seen likely to expand further.

The Features of "IB-PET-PUB"

• A high-barrier, transparent film that uses coating technology such as transparent vacuum coating in the PET film that serves as the base material.
• As transparent film for food-packaging; suitable for foods, candies and dried-foods based on is ultimate water and oxygen barrier features. In particular, its water barrier properties have been vastly improved compared to our existing products.
• Compared to aluminum foil, which is often used in candy-packaging, it comprises superior eco-friendly features, given that it can be incinerated with low level combustion calories.