Dow Supports Booming Packaging Industry at Istanbul Packaging 2009*

“We're ready to support customers in emerging areas like Turkey as they seize new opportunities,” says Dana Mosora, European Region marketing director. “Dow and Turkish converters share some important qualities: we're centrally located, prepared and very ambitious.” Turkey has one of the fastest developing packaging industries, with converters not only planning new plants, expansions and investments, but also educating themselves about key requirements for exporting to Europe and beyond. Simultaneously, brand owners and other value chain players increasingly select Turkey to supply packaging materials; the range and quality continue to improve while prices remain extremely competitive. “Turkish converters - already very competitive with lower performance applications like snack food packaging - are rapidly adding high performance applications like microwavable retort packages that pass stringent food safety requirements in areas like Western Europe,” notes Mehmet Gurtuna, key account manager, pointing out Turkey's ideal location for import and export to important markets like Europe, Middle East Africa and CIS countries including Russia and the Ukraine.

Under the new Adhesives and Functional Polymers theme, “Your Partner for Growth,” Dow experts look forward to meeting personally with fair attendees. They expect to discuss new technologies; strategies for increasing exports to existing accounts in Europe and Middle East Africa; methods for expanding exports to newer markets like the United States; and ways to track constantly changing packaging regulations. “Attendees here often create lasting supplier relationships and make business deals in person, plus we establish Dow's presence as a top resource in the packaging field,” he remarks, noting that dozens of converters not only attended Dow's informative seminar last year in Istanbul on the REACH regulations, but six converters seized the opportunity to schedule laminating adhesive trials. Dow experts will discuss products including the solventless Mor-Free™ L-715 for chemically aggressive contents like detergents, wipes and liquid soaps. Dow's product development team fine-tuned the formulation of this new innovation to meet the specific needs of Turkish customers.

Dow continues to be committed to working with Turkish customers to meet packaging needs for local markets. Fair attendees will hear details about Robond™ L-1, a key addition to the water-based Robond™ L adhesives line. Created to answer local market demands, cost-effective Robond L-1 helps meet rigorous line speed and pricing targets for general and some medium performance food packaging. The product also increases process efficiency and accommodates tight schedules by facilitating faster slitting. As the world's leader in environmentally advanced packaging materials, Dow also anticipates discussing environmentally smart packaging materials with fairgoers. “Sustainable packaging is a huge trend in this industry, and importers considering Turkish materials want those suppliers to work hard at reducing carbon footprints,” Gurtuna says. Dow is well positioned to lead the way with innovative water-based choices exhibiting exceptional performance, cutting-edge alternatives to solvent systems and - unique among packaging adhesives suppliers - life cycle inventory analyses that tally an adhesive's environmental impacts over its life cycle. “Many suppliers say their offerings are environmentally sound,” Gurtuna remarks. “We're the only one with quantitative data showing exactly how our offerings are environmentally smart.”

Those seeking cutting-edge packaging solutions can access the company's experts at the fair in Istanbul from October 22-25 or by visiting www.rohmhaas.com.