Pressure is mounting on brand owners, converters, and packaging machinery manufacturers alike. With the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), recyclability is moving into sharper focus than ever before. At the same time, packaging materials must continue to meet the highest functional demands – particularly when it comes to protecting sensitive food products.
This raises a key question: How can high-performance barriers be applied to paper packaging without compromising recyclability? At this year’s Fachpack trade fair (September 23–25, 2025, Nuremberg, Germany), specialty paper manufacturer Felix Schoeller will present new packaging solutions that address this challenge. Using a multilayer dispersion curtain coating process, the company can apply up to five highly functional, water-based barrier layers – delivering flexibility, recyclability and resource efficiency.
“With our new curtain coating barriers, we offer customers highly attractive alternatives to existing solutions. For brand owners and converters, this opens up new pathways to future-proof their packaging,” says Daniel Zimmermann, Head of Sales & New Business Development Packaging at Felix Schoeller.
The technology is particularly suited for applications requiring thin and flexible paper substrates – such as confectionery, ice cream, and snack packaging. Early implementations already include primary packaging for chocolate bars.
With these innovations, Felix Schoeller reinforces its position as a trusted transformation partner in the shift toward fiber-based packaging solutions. Backed by more than 130 years of expertise, the German family-owned company offers a broad range of coating technologies – from inline coating on the paper machine to extrusion coating, lamination, and now its patented five-layer dispersion curtain coating. This deep materials and coating know-how enables tailored, more sustainable solutions that meet both regulatory requirements and customer needs.
Experience Felix Schoeller at Fachpack 2025: Hall 4A, Booth #234 – including a live model of the curtain coating process. Expert Talk: Recyclable Barrier Papers – 5-Layer Curtain Coating vs. 5-Layer Extrusion Coating, presented by Andreas Bergmeier, Head of Innovation & Technical Sales Packaging, on September 23 at 1:00 p.m. in the Fachpack Forum Innovation Box (Hall 7, Booth 7-509). More information: https://packaging.felix-schoeller.com/en/fachpack-2025