01 · Technical expertise
The detail behind the decision.
You don’t need to know polymer science to work with us. But it’s why our recommendations work, and it’s all here if you want it.
- 01 MDO-PE 25 µm, reverse-printed web
- 02 Ink 2 µm
- 03 Adhesive 2 g/m²
- 04 PE / EVOH 30 µm, barrier
- 05 PE 35 µm, sealant
Illustrative mono-PE laminate, designed for recycling.
02 · What packaging must do
Packaging has a job to do.
- 01
Protect.
The product, to the date on the pack.
- 02
Run.
At line speed, without stops.
- 03
Seal.
Across the jaw window, through contamination.
- 04
Survive.
Drop, puncture, compression, cold chain.
- 05
Preserve.
Oxygen out, moisture out, aroma in.
- 06
Perform.
With no more material than the job needs.
03 · Structure & materials
Structure determines performance.
Fig. 01 · Cross-section · not to scale
01 OUTER WEB · MDO-PE 25 µm
Stiffness, print surface, heat resistance
02 INK · 2 µm, reverse-printed
03 ADHESIVE · 2 g/m², solvent-free
04 BARRIER · PE / EVOH 30 µm
Oxygen barrier; EVOH kept low for PE-stream sorting
05 SEALANT · PE 35 µm
Seal initiation, hot tack, contamination tolerance
Material · what it contributes
- PE
- Sealant, toughness, the base of mono-material design
- MDO-PE
- Machine-direction oriented PE: stiffness and print for mono-PE
- PP
- Heat resistance, clarity, stiffness
- PET
- Dimensional stability, print, high-temperature resistance
- PA
- Puncture resistance, thermoforming depth
- EVOH
- High oxygen barrier; sensitive to humidity
04 · Where packs fail
Packaging fails at the interfaces.
Film is bought by the kilo. It fails where it meets something else, so that is where we look.
- I-01Film×MachineCOF · web tension · tracking · stoppages
- I-02Seal×TemperatureSeal window · hot tack · jaw dwell & pressure
- I-03Structure×ProductPuncture · flex-crack · fat & oil · migration
- I-04Barrier×Shelf lifeOTR · WVTR · aroma loss · gas balance
- I-05Pack×Supply chainDrop · cold impact · compression · transit
05 · Problem → engineering → performance
Method demonstration · Illustrative · Not a customer result
A cold-chain seal failure, worked through.
01 The problem
Chilled packs leaking after distribution.
Passed at the line. Failed somewhere between the jaw and the fridge.
02 The questions
- Is it the seal?
- Flex-crack?
- Puncture?
- Embrittlement in the cold?
- Machine settings?
03 The engineering
- Material
- Jaw temperature
- Dwell time
- Seal pressure
- Product & fill
- Cold-chain profile
04 The response
Candidate structures, for example a tuned PP/PE laminate and a mono-PE option.
Mono-PE has a narrower heat window on hot jaws. We test that; we don't assume it.
05 The proof
Line trial, then measured results against criteria agreed in advance.
- Seal strength · ASTM F88
- Drop & cold impact
- Migration · DoC
Nothing moves to supply until it has passed on your line.
06 · Stage records
What each stage leaves behind.
Behind our five-stage process sits a fuller technical method. Every stage produces a record you can keep.
- 01Diagnose
- Failure analysis across product, pack and line.
- Diagnosis report
- 02Specify
- Candidate structures against agreed criteria.
- Draft specification
- 03Source
- Matched to a qualified converter with the right assets.
- Partner route
- 04Trial
- Samples run on your line, in your conditions.
- Trial record
- 05Validate
- Results measured against the criteria set at Specify.
- Validation report
- 06Supply
- Commercial supply to an approved specification.
- Approved spec · CoA
- 07Optimise
- Ongoing review of gauge, performance and cost.
- Review notes
07 · The Winnington Technical Standard
We don’t just send a price.
Every Winnington proposal is documented to one standard, wherever it applies to the application.
- WTS-01Material specification
- WTS-02Technical data sheet
- WTS-03Structure and gauge, layer by layer
- WTS-04Barrier requirements: OTR, WVTR
- WTS-05Seal characteristics and window
- WTS-06Food-contact documentation
- WTS-07Declaration of compliance
- WTS-08Trial methodology
- WTS-09Performance criteria, agreed in advance
- WTS-10Converter certification
- WTS-11Traceability
- WTS-12Recyclability assessment, per component
- WTS-13PPT and EPR exposure
- WTS-14Commercial specification
The Winnington Packaging Review
Send us one specification.
Start with what you have: a specification, a sample or an idea. We’ll tell you plainly whether there’s a credible alternative or a better way to make it. There’s no cost and no obligation, and you’ll get a first response within 5 working days.