The firm says the cleanroom will be fully operational in the second quarter making it the first sterile packaging manufacturer to convert pouches in a certified cleanroom environment in the US.
The ISO Class 8 cleanroom will be enhanced by Rollprint’s vertical integration, which means the rollstock from which the pouches are made is also produced at the same facility. The firm claims no other pouch manufacturer has both vertical integration and cleanroom capabilities in the US.
“We started preparing for this two years ago with investments in vision systems, web cleaners and other equipment and procedures to minimise particulates in our film converting area. We wanted to address upstream criteria properly before taking the next step,” said Dwane Hahn, vice president of sales and marketing at Rollprint.
The upgraded capability has been driven by customer demand for domestic supply that has been produced in a cleanroom environment.
“There is a big difference between ‘cleanroom environments’ that some manufacturers claim they have, and actual cleanroom certification. In a few months time, we expect to be able to announce to the industry that we have met the rigorous certification criteria and are producing pouches in our cleanroom,” added Hahn.
The cleanroom will house five production lines capable of producing a variety of pouch structures, including header bags, chevron, vented, three-side weld seals and corner peels.
Rollprint Packaging Products offers a range of flexible, heat-sealable materials incorporating film, ClearFoil, foil, Tyvek and paper. Structures can be designed to accommodate any sterilisation method. Available in rollstock, pouches and die-cut lids, Rollprint’s materials can meet the needs of most peelable, chemical resistant and barrier applications.
