Dow Chemical Co. says that its Packaging and Specialty Plastics business recently opened its first “Pack Studio” to focus specifically on laminating adhesive technologies. Located in Ringwood, Ill., the studio is aimed at accelerating a range of plastics applications, including laminating adhesives projects through a network of laboratories, technical experts, and testing equipment.

Some capabilities of the Ringwood facility include: industry-scale equipment, including the Nordmeccanica Super Combi 3000 laminator line; rapid prototyping and modeling technologies of laminating adhesives for faster innovation and product development; and application testing capabilities.

Executives from Dow and Nordmeccanica cut the ribbon. Image source: Dow Packaging and Specialty PlasticsThe Ringwood facility is Dow’s seventh Pack Studio to open globally. Others are in Singapore, Freeport, Texas; Horgen, Switzerland; São Paulo, Brazil; Shanghai, China; and Mozzate, Italy.

Dow says its Pack Studios are a network of packaging experts, equipment and testing capabilities that accelerates the collaborative development of packaging. The teams at the studios include equipment manufacturers, package designers, brand owners, prototyping specialists and resins and adhesives experts.

Helping run the Ringwood Pack Studio will be Nordmeccanica SpA, an Italy-based developer of coating, laminating, and metallizing machinery with a specialty in laminating adhesives. Dow recently entered a joint collaboration with Nordmeccanica SpA, leading to the opening of a Dow Pack Studio in Mozzate, Italy last year.

A further goal of Pack Studios Ringwood is to encourage developments in the laminating adhesives industry through cost reduction and reduced cycle time on fabrication, prototyping, and testing.