Archroma targets drying bottlenecks with ultra-high-solids adhesive at LOUPE Americas

In the highly competitive label converting sector of 2026, drying capacity often dictates both line speed and overall energy expenditure. As converters face mounting pressure to optimize margins amid fluctuating energy costs, Archroma Packaging Technologies is targeting this exact operational bottleneck. The company has announced the upcoming launch of Cartacol APS75 Ultra, a patent-pending, ultra-high-solids pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA). The global debut is set for LOUPE Americas 2026, taking place September 15-17 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago.

Breaking the solids barrier in water-based adhesives

For decades, conventional water-based PSAs have typically hit a performance ceiling at around 65% to 70% solids content. Pushing beyond that threshold usually compromises machine runnability, leading to uneven coating, or negatively impacts the final adhesive properties such as tack and shear strength. To bypass this limitation, Archroma claims to have fundamentally reformulated the base polymer of its new adhesive platform.

The result is a water-based adhesive that maintains an ultra-high solid content suitable for industrial machine coating while significantly reducing the water volume that needs to be evaporated during the drying phase. In practical terms, this means converters can run their coating lines at higher speeds without needing to extend their drying tunnels or increase the thermal output of their existing equipment.

The economic and environmental math for converters

For packaging and label manufacturers, the operational math is straightforward. Less water in the adhesive formulation means less energy required to dry the web. This translates directly to lower natural gas or electricity consumption, driving down operational costs and reducing the facility's carbon footprint.

Dinakar Gnanamgari, VP of Innovation & Portfolio Expansion at Archroma Packaging Technologies, emphasized the dual benefits of the new technology. By reformulating the base polymer for machine coating, the company is providing converters with a direct mechanism to cut emissions without sacrificing the robust performance expected on high-speed production lines. In an era where major fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) brands are rigorously auditing the Scope 3 emissions of their packaging supply chains, this type of upstream efficiency gain is becoming a critical competitive advantage.

Strategic positioning at LOUPE Americas 2026

The timing of this launch aligns with Archroma's first-ever exhibition at LOUPE Americas, formerly known as Labelexpo Americas. The Chicago event remains the premier North American stage for label, flexible packaging, and folding carton technologies, drawing key decision-makers from across the converting spectrum.

By inviting converters to trial the Cartacol APS75 Ultra solution ahead of its full commercial rollout, Archroma is positioning itself aggressively in a market where efficiency gains are highly prized. Beyond the new ultra-high-solids PSA, the company will also utilize its booth space to showcase its broader portfolio of adhesives, including specialized solutions for tape applications, as well as converting and laminating adhesives for the wider packaging sector.

Archroma's approach to tackling the drying bottleneck at the polymer level is exactly the kind of pragmatic, operational innovation the converting industry needs right now, moving beyond greenwashing to deliver measurable energy savings. Will the energy savings from ultra-high-solids PSAs be enough to convince converters to switch from their legacy adhesive formulations? Follow The Paper for daily news, market signals and key updates from the global paper, corrugated and packaging industry. — Sigue toda la actualidad del sector en www.thepaper.ai