Henkel and Nordson Corp. recently announced that they have established a global alliance on new technology development for the packaging market worldwide to provide significant benefits and deliver greater value to their customers. The companies previewed one of the first offerings to result from their alliance, the new Freedom™ system, at PACK EXPO, which took place October 28-31 in Chicago. The system combines Nordson’s Freedom™ series hot-melt dispensing equipment with Henkel’s Technomelt® Freedom™-certified adhesives to help customers contain costs and simplify operations to increase productivity, reliability, and sustainability. This optimized combination of adhesive and equipment is in selected field tests now, with a full commercial launch anticipated in the first quarter of 2013. 

This alliance reportedly integrates Nordson’s expertise in equipment engineering and dispensing technology with Henkel’s formulating ability and application knowledge to address the challenges facing packaging customers. To meet those challenges, the two companies plan to offer integrated, innovative solutions that aim to increase reliability and process efficiency, reducing costs and increasing customer profitability. The alliance will also reportedly focus on increasing sustainability and minimizing packagers’ impact on the environment.

“Nordson and Henkel are leaders in their respective fields, and this alliance deepens our ongoing commitment to the packaging industry,” said Michael Hilton, president and CEO of Nordson. “Together, we are better-positioned to provide innovative solutions to meet our customers’ needs and help them address industry challenges. The Freedom System is one of the many ways our combined efforts will benefit our common customers worldwide by increasing packaging efficiency and reducing cost per package sealed. We look forward to collectively supporting the many potential opportunities this relationship can foster to add value to our customers.”

“We are committed to providing the best products and services to our customers,” said Jan-Dirk Auris, executive vice president for Henkel Adhesive Technologies. “Offering total solutions that leverage the expertise from both Nordson and Henkel will demonstrate that commitment. We are excited about the incomparable benefits the new alliance will be able to deliver to our customers. 

“This alliance is very focused on sustainability. As an example, one critical issue facing the packaging industry has been the short supply of some traditional petrochemical-based raw materials used in the manufacture of hot-melt adhesives. These supply issues stem from the increasing demand for these raw materials for other end products worldwide. The Freedom System represents an integrated design effort between Henkel and Nordson, which matches next-generation high-performance hot-melt adhesive and advanced dispensing equipment to help meet such challenges.”

For additional information, visit www.nordson.com or www.henkel.com.