05/08/2026
Article 2 of 8 | From PET/PE to All-PE: How MDO Changes the Structure
Why has PET/PE remained such a common flexible packaging structure?
BOPET provides stiffness, clarity and printability, while PE delivers reliable heat sealing. The combination performs well—but the two polymers are difficult to separate after use.
MDO-PE makes an all-polyethylene alternative possible. During machine-direction orientation, the PE film is stretched under controlled conditions. This improves molecular orientation and gives the film higher stiffness, better optical properties and more stable converting performance.
The resulting structure can be straightforward: a high-strength MDO-PE printing film, an adhesive layer and a CPE sealing film. Because the main functional layers remain within the PE family, the finished pouch is much better aligned with mono-material recycling streams.
Reifenhäuser’s Ultra Stretch MDO concept places the orientation unit in the upper haul-off section. This arrangement supports controlled crystallization, longer annealing and lower shrinkage risk, while allowing a direct route from MDO to winding. The technology is available for both blown and cast film production, giving converters flexibility across different applications.
The real value of MDO is therefore structural: it allows PE to perform roles that once depended on PET.
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