Driving Sustainable Innovation in End-of-Line Packaging: IMA and Arkema (Bostik SA) Join Forces

In a joint effort to advance sustainable packaging solutions, IMA BFB and IMA CIEMME partnered with Arkema’s adhesive solutions team (Bostik SA) to successfully test Kizen™ LIME — an innovative hot melt adhesive — on two of our flagship machines: the IMA BFB MMP400 wrap-around case packer and the IMA CIEMME AC200 cartoner.

These trials mark a significant milestone in our commitment to developing high-impact, low footprint solutions for packaging automation—combining sustainability with industrial-grade performance.

A Breakthrough in Adhesive Technology 

Kizen™ LIME is formulated with at least 80% renewable ingredients, including bio-based and bio-circular materials certified by EN 16640:2017 and ISCC PLUS. By leveraging a food industry by-product, the adhesive achieves near-total carbon footprint avoidance [1], thanks to biogenic carbon uptake.

Kizen™ LIME is applied at lower temperatures than conventional fossil-based adhesives, resulting in energy cost savings—without compromising bonding performance or process efficiency.

Proven performance on IMA machinery

On the MMP400 wrap-around case packing machine, Kizen™ LIME enabled:

• Double-digit adhesive savings

• Melting tank temperature reduction of 20–30°C
• Clean and consistent application across various nozzle configurations including 90° nozzles

On the AC200 cartoning machine, the adhesive delivered:

• Excellent runability at speeds up to 135 boxes/min

• Hot melt consumption reductions of 42–65%, depending on speed and settings

• Clean and consistent application from bottom to top

Tests were conducted on RSC corrugated cardboard cases and paperboard cartons, demonstrating reliable performance across different substrates.

Optimized Settings for Sustainable Efficiency 

• Application temperatures: 120–135°C

• Pressure: 1.5–2.0 bars

Obtaining

• Perfect adhesion performances with minimal hot melt adhesive usage: 0.5 g/lm on primary packaging, 1.6g/lm on secondary packaging

• Clean running across all setups

A Model of Collaborative Innovation

The presence and expertise of the Arkema (Bostik SA) technical team were instrumental in fine-tuning machine parameters and ensuring optimal adhesive performance. This collaboration exemplifies how technology providers and material innovators can join forces to deliver tangible value —supporting customers in developing packaging solutions that are more resource-efficient, compliant and ready for the next generation of materials.

At IMA, we believe that building value goes beyond supplying advanced machinery. It’s about supporting our customers with integrated solutions—from equipment to materials—that enable a smoother and more impactful transition to sustainable practices.

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[1] As a reference the conventional fossil-based adhesives have been estimated with a carbon footprint in a range between 3 to 4 kg of CO2 per kg of adhesive and are applied with a coating between 0,5 to 5,0 g/lm at about 170°C temperature.