ExxonMobil, one of the largest publicly traded international energy companies, uses technology and innovation to help meet the world's growing energy needs. The company recently launched its new ExxonMobil Signature Polymers portfolio brand, which focuses on delivering best-in-class service and partnerships within the polymers industry. ExxonMobil Signature Polymers unifies ExxonMobil's polyolefin products under a single brand, simplifying portfolio navigation and promoting enhanced collaboration across the value chain.

Driven by economics and legislation like European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), ExxonMobil Signature Polymers collaborated with Windmöller & Hölscher (W&H) – a global provider of advanced film extrusion and converting technology – to develop a commercially viable, non-laminated mono-material machine direction oriented (MDO) PE freezer pouch.

“In this collaboration, we set out to unlock the full potential of MDO PE — boosting stiffness and clarity — while ensuring the film stays tough and robust, even after machine-direction orientation,” said Corvin Hurtienne from W&H.

This innovative solution addresses the challenge of producing materials that are designed for recyclability while delivering enhanced mechanical properties and enabling significant downgauging potential to improve operational efficiency across the value chain.

Key benefits include:

• Exceptional toughness and robustness demonstrated through high dart drop impact and needle puncture resistance, with drop resistance proven at -30 °C from heights up to 6 meters
• High stiffness/toughness balance and strong sealability to support reliable freezer-grade performance without the need for lamination
• Superior optical clarity and full printability, enabling high-quality branding and shelf appeal
• Fully mono-material and designed for recyclability, supporting efficient converting workflows

W&H’s advanced MDO technology, combined with ExxonMobil Signature Polymers’ resins, produced a fully mono-material, well-sealable MDO PE freezer film. Leveraging both companies’ technologies, they successfully developed a solution that can be up to 40% thinner than current market references without compromising performance.

Key resins used:

• Exceed™ Tough+ m 0516 and m 0518 – offers high dart drop impact, needle puncture resistance, and overall MDO PE film robustness
• Exxtra™ Seal POP 2008 – enables strong sealability
• Vistamaxx™ 6102 – improves blocking of collapsed bubble structures

To support high-quality converting, the film was processed on a W&H NOVOFLEX II press, achieving top quality and high-speed printing with inline slitting to ensure clean edges and optimal web control for seamless downstream processing. This makes the solution ideal for demanding frozen food packaging applications.

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