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SIG Plasmax barrier technology when filling beer Positive test results for SIG Plasmax barrier technology when filling beer into PET bottles – fulfilling all requirements for 6 months of shelf-life Through its value added bottling strategy, SIG is focusing on premium systems solutions for the manufacture, coating and filling of plastic bottles. A key role in this strategy is being played by the innovative barrier technology from SIG Plasmax, the most important long-term growth driver of the future. Following initial successes in other food and beverage applications, the product protective effect of the extremely thin PLASMAX SiOx glass barrier coating has now been confirmed in trial fillings of beer in PET bottles. The independent brewery test institute “Versuchs- und Lehranstalt für Brauerei“ (VLB) in Berlin came to the conclusion that, after six months of storage, the PLASMAX coating had provided the sensitive product beer with optimal protection against external influences, while still maintaining quality and taste. In the beer market, which offers enormous potential specifically for PET bottles with barrier properties, these results have now transformed the PLASMAX coated plastic bottle into a viable alternative to the traditional glass bottle. The independent institute „VLB” in Berlin tested the behaviour of beer filled into PET bottles that had previously been coated with the innovative PLASMAX barrier. Beer is a highly sensitive product that deteriorates with oxygen ingress, with a loss of taste and hence, requires packaging that provides adequate barrier properties. At the institute, beer filled in PLASMAX coated PET bottles was stored for six months - specialists monitored the smell, taste and freshness of the product, in addition to ingress of oxygen and loss of carbonation. The result: the extremely thin PLASMAX coating fulfils the entire range of requirements imposed by breweries on beer packaging systems in terms of product protection and quality. PLASMAX applications spectrum broadens significantly These positive test results obtained from filling beer in PLASMAX coated PET bottles show that beer in PET is a positive alternative with differentiation potential to the standard procedure of filling beer in glass bottles that has been prevalent for decades. PLASMAX coated PET bottles offer breweries the possibility of exploiting the convenience and logistics benefits of the PET bottle without losing the outstanding barrier properties of the traditional glass bottle. Moreover, in contrast to multilayer PET packages, the PLASMAX coated bottle is fully recyclable. In addition to beer, PLASMAX barrier technology has a broad scope of applications for other sensitive products such as carbonated drinks, juices, wines, alcopops, ketchup and numerous other food products. Further details and advantages of PLASMAX technology In the PLASMAX process, an extremely thin transparent coat of glass is applied to the internal surface of PET bottles. Despite having a negligible net weight, the coated plastic bottles are provided with the properties of their glass counterparts. The internal barrier coating prevents the ingress of oxygen and in the case of carbonated soft drinks and beer it also significantly reduces the exgress of CO2. This benefit maintains the appearance and taste of the filled product and ensures a significantly longer shelf life than that of the currently widespread PET bottles without any barrier protection. PLASMAX technology is highly competitive: total cost of ownership is lower than most other barrier technologies – often significantly so. The SiOx glass-coating is “crystal clear” and can also be applied to pre-coloured bottles. Coloured or crystal-clear is thus the choice of the user without limiting the application of Plasmax in any way for any market segment, where the display of the natural colour of a product plays a major role in terms of marketing. Download Media Release 061103 News overview >> |
