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OPENLab Bologna (IT)
ItalyOPENLab Bologna is a laboratory dedicated to research and testing with an area of 100 m², located at the headquarter premises in Ozzano dell’Emilia (Bologna, Italy).
Discover moreOPENLab Arezzo (IT)
ItalyOPENLab Arezzo boasts a test area of 200 m², where vertical form fill seal lines are available both for internal analysis and for customers’ tests.
Discover moreOPENLab Lugano (CH)
SwitzerlandWith over 400 m² of total surface, OPENLab Lugano is equipped with an analytical lab integrated into a testing area/show room.
Discover moreOPENLab Lowell (USA)
USAThe OPENLab in Lowell is still work in progress, but it will be characterised by a strong focus on the USA market. It will be equipped with a lab and a test area.
Discover moreOPENLab Bologna (IT)
Quickly perform tests on dedicated machines on site
OPENLab Bologna is a laboratory dedicated to research and testing with an area of 100 m².
The Lab is built with green building materials and incorporates the latest digital infrastructures. It is divided into a think tank space dedicated to ideas’ generation and to the prototyping of materials, and a test area to study and analyse over 1000 samples yearly.
OPENLab Bologna is located at the headquarter premises in Ozzano dell’Emilia (Bologna, Italy). In this way and thanks to the geographical proximity of most of the production sites of various IMA divisions, it is possible to quickly perform tests on dedicated machines on site, facilitating the whole network and analysis process.
Not only does the lab conduct the entire experimentation process under the guidance and supervision of skilled engineers as well as researchers from IMA Group, but it can also offer laboratory analysis and production tests that simulate real-life conditions. Such service leads to avoid the interruption of customers’ production cycle and costly mistakes.
Laboratory tests and investigations
In the OPENLab Bologna, it is possible to perform the following laboratory tests and investigations:
- Paper/light cardboard bending resistance and creasability. Structure analysis of multilayer materials (stratigraphy, chemical delamination).
- Analysis of welds/tightness and related packaging anomalies (dye penetration test, optical microscopy).
- Control and characterisation of the structure and composition of polymers by DSC thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry) and IR spectrophotometry.
- Checking the welding properties of the materials (Hot Tack and Heat Seal tests).
- Verification of the mechanical properties (tensile, compression resistance, puncture resistance).
- Verification of tribological properties and interactions between machine parts and packaging.
- Dedicated meeting room for results discussion and packaging design.
- Online packaging materials testing support directly in the requesting Division facility.
OPENLab Lugano (CH)
Analytical lab integrated into a testing area/show room
With over 400 m² of total surface, OPENLab Lugano is equipped with an analytical lab integrated into a testing area/show room.
In the testing area, different horizontal form fill seal machines are available (rotative, Long Dwell, D Cam, Box motion etc.), which are fully dedicated to conduct tests and supervised by a skilled IMA technician. In particular, they are available for internal experts’ activities such as prototyping, R&D and technological innovation; for clients, to perform tests on new materials or new upgrades; for packaging producers, to carry out processability tests on new packs before entering the market.
The laboratory also has a dedicated showroom area, where the displayed machines change regularly to allow clients to find out more about IMA’s latest developments.
OPENLab Lugano analyses over 1000 samples of packaging materials every year, and organises over 100 testing sessions together with customers, packaging suppliers or for internal prototyping and R&D reasons.
Laboratory tests and investigations
In the OPENLab Lugano, it is possible to perform the following laboratory tests and investigations:
- Pack hermeticity test following different technologies principles (Vacuum decay, pressure decay, bubble leak testing, dye penetration testing).
- Structure analysis of multilayer materials (stratigraphy, chemical delamination).
- Analysis of welds/tightness and related packaging anomalies (dye penetration test, optical microscopy).
- Control and characterization of the structure and composition of polymers by DSC thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry) and IR spectrophotometry.
- Checking the welding properties of the materials (Hot Tack and Heat Seal tests).
- Verification of the mechanical properties (tensile, compression resistance, puncture resistance).
- Verification of tribological properties and interactions between machine parts and packaging.
The Lab offers also a packaging material warehouse where the most interesting and performing structures tested are kept in form of reels and available for further testing or to be simply shown to customers as an input for possible improvement in their production process.
OPENLab Arezzo (IT)
OPENLab Arezzo boasts a test area of 200 m², where vertical form fill seal lines are available both for internal analysis and for customers’ tests.
Further to this area, the OPENLab is also equipped with a 50 m² cold room test area (minimum temperature 0°C product continuous feed), where IMA’s experts carry out tests on machines at very low temperatures. This area is extremely important to examine whether the machines are suitable for particularly cold environments or when dealing with frozen products.
OPENLab Lowell (USA)
The OPENLab in Lowell is still work in progress, but it will be characterised by a strong focus on the USA market. It will be equipped with a lab boasting testing capabilities.
The laboratory will aim at finding new sustainable materials that will be specifically suitable for the American market, thereby guiding IMA’s partners towards materials’ evolution.
Thanks to its testing capabilities, it will be possible to find the perfect combination between materials and machines, intended to obtain the best possible performance. Not only internal experts, but also customers and partners will be able to perform tests on machines in such area.
Of course, we will share more information very soon about both the laboratory itself, and opening and visiting dates!