PETpla.net Insider 10 / 2013

BOTTLE MAKING 52 PET planet insider Vol. 14 No. 10/13 www.petpla.net Plasmax+: Further enhancements in KHS Plasmax technology Freshness made visible With its improved Plasmax process, called Plasmax+, KHS Plasmax offers new opportunities for a number of different applications. At the same time, its Fresh- Safe campaign is promot- ing a new coating solution for PET bottles for sensitive beverages . FreshSafe PET is also giving KHS the ideal opportunity of making a threefold approach to manu- facturers, bottlers and the end consumer. In light of the market requirements for high-quality, fresh beverages, Hamburg-based KHS Plasmax, a member of the KHS group and 100% subsidiary of Salzgitter AG, is focusing on improving the barrier characteristics of PET bottles and other containers by further enhancements in their Plasmax technology. The coated bottles offer improved protection of sensitive bever- ages, thus giving beverages a longer shelf life, and the taste is retained for longer than in conventional PET containers. No additives are used. The FreshSafe PET logo on the coated bottles will visually demonstrate to consumers the improved protective properties, thereby emphasising the enhanced freshness of the product. It enables producers to highlight the benefits for consumers offered by the bottles. In addition to high-quality fruit juice, Plasmax-coated bottles can also be used for wine, beer, soft drinks, ketchup, sauces, and other liquid foods. The glass coating of PET bottles can be easily separated from the base material and the PET raw material during recycling. Even the coating itself is sustainable, since the Inno- PET Plasmax packaging machines operate in a particularly resource-con- serving manner: The barrier coating of the PET bottles uses a minimum amount of silicon oxide and can in fact even reduce PET consumption. 1g of silicon oxide is sufficient for coat- ing around 500 bottles. In addition, thanks to their non-permeable coat- ing, FreshSafe-PET bottles are lighter than conventional PET bottles. Consumer study In late 2012 KHS commissioned a consumer study to realistically assess the acceptance and thus the market opportunities for the FreshSafe-PET solution. The survey was based on a representative sample of about 1,000 people. It started off with general questions on the criteria which are regarded as important for beverage packaging, leading to what motivates people to buy a particular beverage, and finally to checking consumers’ subjective views on whether certain beverages are associated with spe- cific packaging shapes and styles. PET bottles emerged as clear favour- ites, with glass containers lagging well behind. Outstanding plus-points that were repeatedly mentioned were lower weight, unbreakability, and convenient handling. Advantages of glass bottles included quality, better taste of the beverages, hygiene, and environmental-friendliness. The respondents were then introduced to the Plasmax coating technology in the Bernd Kempa, Managing Director of KHS Plasmax