Henkel Adhesive Technologies has opened its modernized Packaging Competence Center in Düsseldorf, creating a new development and testing hub for future-ready packaging solutions. The investment strengthens Henkel’s ability to work directly with converters, brand owners and technology partners on adhesives, coatings and recyclable packaging structures under industrial production conditions.

The upgraded center responds to a major shift in the packaging industry. Sustainability rules are becoming stricter, circular design is now a commercial priority, and manufacturers need faster routes from concept to validated production. In this context, adhesives and coatings are no longer secondary technical details. They are decisive elements in whether a package can be recyclable, efficient, safe and suitable for large-scale manufacturing.

The modernized Packaging Competence Center is designed to close the gap between laboratory innovation and industrial packaging reality.

The project builds on Henkel’s strategic partnership with Nordmeccanica, announced in 2025, with a focus on innovation and sustainability in flexible packaging. New machinery installed at the Düsseldorf site allows customers to test adhesive and coating systems in conditions that closely replicate real production environments. This is especially important for converters seeking to reduce development risk before investing in commercial-scale production.

Two Nordmeccanica machines, the Super Combi 5000 and the Super Simplex SL e800, are now part of the center’s technical infrastructure. Together, they enable standard lamination and coating processes used across the flexible packaging sector. The equipment is supported by five flexible application trolleys, gearless flexo coating technology and expanded digital tools for systematic data collection.

For the packaging value chain, this combination of machinery, application know-how and data capture can speed up decision-making. Customers can compare materials, adhesives, coatings and process parameters in a controlled environment, helping them identify solutions that are technically reliable and commercially scalable. This is particularly relevant as the industry moves toward mono-material structures and lower-impact packaging formats.

Coatings are central to this transition. Many recyclable packaging designs still require functional performance such as barrier properties, sealability, print compatibility, grease resistance or protection against moisture. By focusing on gravure and flexographic coating applications for plastic and paper substrates, Henkel aims to support packages that combine performance with improved recyclability.

• Solvent-free systems can support lower-emission production models.
• Water-based technologies offer alternatives for selected flexible packaging applications.
• Solvent-based solutions remain relevant where demanding performance is required.
• Coating technologies help enable recyclable mono-material packaging designs.

The Düsseldorf facility also includes investment in pressure sensitive adhesive testing for specialty tapes and labels. Modern coating systems, UV activation equipment and measurement systems have been added to support development in these areas. This broadens the center’s role beyond flexible packaging and reinforces the importance of adhesive innovation across multiple packaging segments.

Another important aspect is the connection between the Packaging Competence Center and Henkel’s neighboring Inspiration Center Düsseldorf. By linking chemistry development, application testing, industrial validation, recyclability assessment and training, Henkel is creating a more integrated customer journey. Companies can move from early design questions to production-oriented testing and end-of-life evaluation in one environment.

Training is also part of the strategy. Through initiatives such as the Converter’s Academy and PSA Academy, Henkel supports customers in understanding application technologies and transferring them into production more effectively. This is increasingly valuable as packaging teams face new regulatory pressure, material complexity and faster product development cycles.

The upgraded center reflects a wider industry trend: packaging innovation now depends on collaboration across the full value chain. Material suppliers, machinery manufacturers, converters, recyclers and brand owners must work together if recyclable and lower-impact solutions are to move beyond pilot projects. Industrial testing capacity is essential because sustainable packaging must perform not only in theory, but also on machines, in logistics, on shelves and in recycling streams.

With its modernized Packaging Competence Center, Henkel is positioning adhesives and coatings as strategic enablers of circular packaging. The investment gives the industry a practical platform to test, refine and scale new solutions faster, while helping customers prepare for a market defined by sustainability, digitalized production and stronger performance expectations.