Polifibra and IFAM – Cooperating in Joint ZIM Sponsorship Project

30.03.2025 - Polifibra Folien GmbH continuously strives to integrate new research and development projects into its day-to-day business to sustainably boost its innovative power and competitiveness. Found at the core of this strategy is the long-standing cooperation with the renowned Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Applied Materials Research, IFAM for short, in Bremen. As partners, we are currently working on a new research project in the field of plasma processes/tape technologies, with particular focus on improving adhesive properties of films. This project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection as part of the Central Innovation Programme for SMEs (ZIM).

First and Second ZIM Sponsorship Project

The ZIM programme supports partnerships in research and development between companies as well as between companies and research institutions for the development of innovative products, processes or technical services. The aim is to promote technological innovations across all sectors. The cooperation between Polifibra and IFAM as part of the current ZIM sponsorship project builds on the findings of a previous project that took place between 2020 and 2023.

In the first ZIM project, Polifibra and IFAM engaged in the development of a resource saving manufacturing process for the production of release films. We researched a new type of surface modification using a plasma process. We aimed to enhance the properties of films to create a release effect. These findings provide the basis for the second ZIM project, now underway.

On October 1, 2023, Polifibra and IFAM entered the second project phase of the ZIM sponsorship, which is scheduled to run until March 31, 2026. This new research project builds on the results of the first project and particularly aims to adjust adhesive properties by an innovative approach and reconcile release behaviour (removable films) with future statutory environmental regulations.

Practical Implementation and Research Progress

The cooperation of Polifibra and IFAM follows a two-way process. IFAM tests a developed process on specialized film samples by Polifibra and returns them to the Limburg film specialist for further testing. Then internal tests are carried out in Polifibra’s laboratories, followed by subsequent joint assessment of the results. It is planned to start with laboratory developments, followed by testing those on production machines. If the outcome here is a positive one, the system may be tested under real customer conditions. The latest sponsorship project is currently completely on schedule. The solutions developed so far can be reproduced on laboratory systems so that the adaptation to production systems is now being put to the test. This is where the final process optimization takes place as well.

The close cooperation between Polifibra and IFAM impressively demonstrates how practical research and targeted funding under the ZIM programme are able to drive innovative developments. The current project offers promising prospects for improved adhesive properties of films, which not only provide technological advantages, but also sustainable and legally compliant innovations for the future of the industry. The annual interim reports made to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection document progress and ensure that the project is achieving its goals.

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