Tissue World Magazine
Alexandra Stuthridge, Technical Business Manager, BioProducts Institute (BPI)

Futura has launched its JOI HYDRO-BOND technology, which it said is a first in tissue converting to achieve perfect adhesion of tissue plies using water alone.

The company said the technology heralds the era of bonding without glue.

It is the result of months of experimentation at FuturaLab, Futura’s hub of innovation.

Chief technology officer Giovacchino Giurlani said: “There are no chemicals at play here.

“Perfect adhesion of the tissue plies is the result of a combination of the uniform nip pressure of JOI’s renowned Zero Deflexion steel marrying roll, which evenly connects the plies using water to create permanence to the tissue-to-tissue bond which results.”

The technology has been tested and proven under real-life operating conditions, using a wide variety of toilet tissue, including conventional and structured.

The supplier said it has verified the process in warm and humid to cold and dry climates, using the varied local water quality available.

It added that the results have consistently confirmed the validity of Hydro-Bond even with 3 and 4 plies.

Sergio Tonarelli, Futura’s chief sales officer, said: “The end result is a product which is more hygienic and pleasant for the consumer to use, and more sustainable, from both an environmental and economic point of view.

“The roll which results from JOI Hydro-Bond retains all its qualities, but is better thanks to what it is missing.

“The production process without glue will provide increased output. Removing glue from the equation also means reduced contamination of the machine with the benefits which this brings. While glue represents a cost, the main impact is the efficiency-related savings in the process, which mean increased Overall Equipment Efficiency.”