Henkel, a global leader in adhesives, and Nordmeccanica, a renowned manufacturer of coating and lamination machinery, have formalized their longstanding collaboration into a strategic partnership aimed at advancing sustainability and innovation in the packaging industry. This move marks a significant step forward for both companies, aligning their resources and technological capabilities to support the development of more sustainable packaging solutions.

The partnership, announced in May 2025, is the culmination of over a decade of technical collaboration. Henkel and Nordmeccanica have worked closely in joint testing, validation of new technologies, and pilot production, primarily at Nordmeccanica’s facilities in Piacenza, Italy. Their shared vision now takes a formal shape, targeting the development of advanced adhesives and coatings optimized for sustainable flexible packaging applications.

"Combining Henkel’s formulation expertise with Nordmeccanica’s engineering excellence allows us to accelerate innovation in packaging," said Paolo Milani, General Manager of Nordmeccanica. "We’re not just testing products — we’re building the future of packaging together."

The core objective of this strategic alliance is to deliver enhanced support to packaging manufacturers and converters who are striving to meet regulatory requirements and consumer demand for sustainable products. This includes:

• Developing solvent-free and water-based adhesive systems that reduce environmental impact
• Improving energy efficiency and process optimization for lamination lines
• Accelerating time-to-market for innovative packaging formats
• Ensuring compatibility with recycling and circular economy principles

One of the immediate impacts of the partnership will be the expansion of Henkel's technical capabilities at Nordmeccanica’s premises, enabling faster prototyping and validation of packaging concepts under real production conditions. This real-time data feedback loop between formulation and machinery helps close the gap between R&D and scalable implementation.

Both companies have emphasized that this partnership goes beyond product development. It represents a model of cross-industry cooperation in response to the global push for more eco-friendly packaging alternatives. By integrating their efforts, Henkel and Nordmeccanica are setting a benchmark for how adhesive suppliers and machinery manufacturers can collaboratively address sustainability challenges in packaging.

For the packaging industry, this strategic partnership serves as a signal: meaningful innovation happens at the intersection of chemistry and engineering. As legislative frameworks tighten and brand owners intensify their sustainability commitments, initiatives like this are essential to ensure that packaging solutions are both functional and future-ready.

With Henkel’s commitment to driving sustainability across its product portfolio and Nordmeccanica’s reputation for precision machinery, the alliance is well-positioned to create packaging technologies that meet the needs of a changing global market.