The process, known as Bilitene, will be used in conjunction with sheetfed offset printing and thermal lamination to make three-layer bags and envelopes.

It is not yet clear when the product will be on the market. "GBC undertook this six months ago and we still have to really define the market segmentation," said Michel Diruy, European business development director at GBC.

"We would like to show the product to packaging designers. We want to use Drupa to gather information in order to direct our future marketing strategy on Bilitene," he added.

Diruy explained that GBC was looking to select local partners across Europe two or three in the UK to help to promote the new technology.

He said Drupa would be "the show without being the show" for Bilitene because the product would be better suited to flexible packaging exhibitions such as the Total Processing and Packaging event in Birmingham.

"We also want to show that we offer other business opportunities in addition to supplying thermal laminating film or equipment," Diruy added.

Story by Josh Brooks