Henkel launches upgraded Packaging Competence Center to drive next-generation packaging solutions

The packaging industry is undergoing a significant transformation. Tightening sustainability regulations, growing demand for circular solutions, and the increasing adoption of digital manufacturing are driving the need for faster innovation and stronger collaboration. Addressing these evolving industry needs, Henkel Adhesive Technologies has inaugurated its extensively upgraded Packaging Competence Center in Düsseldorf — a dedicated hub designed to turn ideas into practical industrial solutions through hands-on collaboration.

“The choice of adhesive or coating made today are defining the packages that will reach the shelves tomorrow,” says Dirk Martin, Head of Henkel Packaging Adhesives and Coatings in Europe. “With our Packaging Competence Center, we are making sure those choices are the right ones by giving our customers and partners a unique environment to develop, test, and scale the solutions that will shape the future of packaging: faster, smarter and more sustainably than ever before."

The extensive modernisation of the Packaging Competence Center builds on Henkel’s strategic partnership with Nordmeccanica, announced in May 2025, and aims to accelerate innovation and sustainability in the flexible packaging sector. Equipped with advanced machinery and technologies, the upgraded facility provides a realistic testing environment that mirrors modern production conditions. This enables customers to evaluate adhesive and coating solutions under real-world operating conditions, supporting validation for industrial applications and large-scale implementation.

“A strategic partnership only creates value when it delivers results in practice,” says Nordmeccanica Vice President Vincenzo Cerciello. “With our machinery now at the core of the modernized Packaging Competence Center, we are turning shared ambition into concrete capabilities, enabling the packaging industry to test, refine, and scale solutions with a level of precision and speed that simply wasn't possible before.”

A Facility Designed for Future Readiness

The upgraded Henkel Packaging Competence Center features two advanced machines from Nordmeccanica — the Super Combi 5000 and Super Simplex SL e800 — enabling a wide range of standard lamination and coating processes used throughout the industry. The facility now aligns with the latest industrial standards and technological advancements, supported by five flexible application trolleys that are equipped with unique gearless flexo coating technology and enhanced digitalisation capabilities for systematic data collection.

“The site is built for where the industry is heading: recyclable solutions and fewer chemicals of concern,” says Kai Ethner, Director of Application Engineering for Henkel Packaging Adhesives and Coatings in Europe. "For example, coatings are essential to this transition, enabling the functional mono-material packaging designs the market increasingly demands. With a particular focus on gravure and flexographic coating applications for plastic and paper substrates, we are helping our customers test faster, scale sooner, and bring recyclable solutions to market with greater impact. Henkel is covering its complete product portfolio ranging from solvent-free, water-based, solvent-based as well as coatings solutions.”

Alongside these developments, Henkel has also expanded its testing capabilities for pressure-sensitive adhesive applications within the same facility. The upgraded laboratory now incorporates advanced coating systems along with UV activation and measurement technologies, enhancing its technical capabilities. Through these investments, Henkel aims to strengthen collaboration with customers and accelerate the development of innovative solutions for the speciality tapes and labels industry.

With the modernisation of its Packaging Competence Center, Henkel Adhesive Technologies is enhancing its integrated customer experience by linking the facility with the neighbouring Inspiration Centre Düsseldorf. The connected ecosystem includes every important stage of the product lifecycle, from chemistry development and application testing to industrial validation, training, and recycling, all done in the company’s own recyclability testing laboratory. In addition, Henkel supports customers through initiatives such as the Converter’s Academy, PSA Academy, and other specialised training programmes, enabling companies to gain deeper knowledge of emerging application technologies, improve operational expertise, and accelerate the transition from development to commercial production.

“Achieving our number one target, true sustainability in packaging, demands strong collaboration across the value chain,” says Ethner. “This is not just about new machines or buildings: It’s about bringing experience and expertise together to move the industry forward with our customers and our partners.”

Source: Henkel