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PET bottles in production with Eckes-Granini Innovative SIG barrier technology for PET bottles proves its industrial capability in production with Eckes-Granini In addition to its carton packaging arm for beverages and food products (SIG Combibloc Division), SIG is unremittingly expanding its superior range of production and filling systems for plastic bottles (SIG Beverages Division) under the concept of its “value added bottling” strategy. A key part in this strategy is the innovative barrier technology from SIG Plasmax, the most important long-term growth driver of the future for the division. In the course of this year, three further pilot units were installed with notable customers; Since April, Eckes-Granini, one of the leading producers of fruit juices in Europe, has been producing PET bottles with the new, invisible PLASMAX barrier, at Henniez’s facility in Switzerland. For several months now, production of the coated bottles for the brands “granini” and “hohes C” has been operating smoothly and at full speed. In the meantime, over five million bottles have been produced for the Swiss market. Eckes-Granini are impressed and convinced of the industrial capability of the PLASMAX equipment under full production conditions. Dr. Peter Nagel, Senior Vice President and responsible for product development of the Eckes-Granini Group stated, “The barrier quality and high uptime availability of our PLASMAX unit has exceeded our expectations.” Pius Bernhardsgrütter, Head of Development, Eckes-Granini S.A. emphasises the easy handling of the system, “Our employees were able to operate the machine independently within a very short time”. The performance under industrial production conditions for Eckes-Granini S.A. is a major step forward in achieving successful commercialization of the innovative PLASMAX technology. A further two pilot units ordered this year were put into operation, one with Rexam and the other with a third large customer in the USA. Further details on 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 minimal 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 prevents 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 barrier protection. Plastic bottles from the PLASMAX process are “crystal clear” and fully recyclable. Moreover, PLASMAX technology is highly economic: total cost of ownership is lower than with comparable barrier technologies – often significantly so. Download Media Release 061020 News overview >> |
