The aim of the technology centre was and is to research and further develop film stretching technologies as a prerequisite for innovative film applications, e.g. in food packaging as well as in solar modules, capacitors, flexible screens or membranes for lithium-ion batteries. The globally unique facility soon developed into a meeting place for raw material manufacturers, converters, film producers and even brand manufacturers, who can rent the technology centre for their test projects.
For Brückner, this was an important milestone on the way to becoming the world market leader. Michael Baumeister, Managing Director CTO: "By bundling development and synchronising the various company divisions, we were able to identify technological trends as well as market opportunities at an early stage and often place our technologies as trendsetters in the global market."
The equipment of the technology centre, which has been constantly expanded and modernised over the years, with a pilot plant, laboratory extrusion, laboratory stretching frames as well as a chemistry and film laboratory, enables almost all types of film stretching and the processing of a variety of polymers and biopolymers. All known stretching methods can be used: monoaxial in machine direction (MD) or transverse direction (TD), biaxial sequential or biaxial simultaneous.
In this way, raw materials can be tested for their stretchability, new film concepts developed, small series produced for sampling and entire production models run through. The films produced can be immediately tested in the film and chemistry laboratory – for prompt feedback on sample production.
