PETpla.net Insider 11 / 2015

PRODUCTS 49 Pad Printing Machines ALFALAS ® Laser Systems Automations www.tampoprint.de CLOSURE PRINT COMPACT PROMO PLUS TWO IN ONE: Printing and laser marking of bottle caps − all in one machine DISCOVER THE POSSIBILITIES! PAD PRINTING AND LASER MARKING FOR CAPS AND CLOSURES Bronco Wine introduces 750ml PET bottles Bronco Wine Co., of Ceres, CA, an American supplier of varietal wines, is field testing its leading Green Fin and Hacienda 750ml wine brands in lightweight PET bottles from Amcor Rigid Plastics. Bronco Wine, the fourth largest winery in the USA, is seriously considering a major switch from glass to plastic packaging in order to capitalise on PET’s sustain- ability, light weight, shatter resistance and potential use in new venues, while further enhancing its business in the retail and airline segments. Amcor says that Bronco Wine’s field testing of 750ml PET bottles is significant because it strongly suggests the possibility of a major glass-to-plastic 750ml conversion by a major wine producer. The company has already experienced strong com- mercial success with PET in the 187ml size. Bronco Wine’s Green Fin organic wine is being field tested in 750ml PET bot- tles exclusively through Trader Joe’s retail stores across the USA. The plastic bottles are also used to package its Hacienda brand for first-class passenger airline service. American airlines are claimed to have adopted PET for its sustainability benefits; the PET bottles are generally about one-sixth the weight of standard glass bottles and the lower weight helps to reduce fuel consumption and deliver consequent cost savings. The bottles are also easier to use and offer the facility to be reclosed, thus providing multiple servings from the same bottle. Among the key sustainability advantages of the Amcor product are the PET bottles’ 100% recyclability; they use PET labels, rather than paper, which eliminates contamination in the recycling stream. A ROPP aluminium closure was designed for Bronco so that its key sustainability and recycling goals could be met. The closure is recyclable, removes completely from the PET bottle and is just 21mm long, compared to the standard 60mm length. Another Amcor division, Amcor Flexibles, had a key role in the development of the aluminium closure. In order to meet its sustainability goals Bronco began by working with eco-friendly glass; it is now exploring PET as a viable alterna- tive because of its superior environmental benefits. A unique barrier coating technology developed by Germa- ny’s KHS Plasmax GmbH provides the 750ml PET container with an extended shelf life, compared with a non-barrier PET bottle. KHS Plasmax’ Silicon Oxide (Siox) barrier coating is a glass-like material that seals the container from the inside, in order to protect the contents from oxidation. Plasmax is an FDA-compliant enhanced passive barrier for oxygen-sensitive products. This ultrathin (less than 100nm) material is transparent and resists cracking, abrasion and delamination. Moreover, it doesn’t degrade over time nor limit the storage time for empty bottles. The barrier coating is easily removed during the recy- cling process and does not contaminate the recycling system and thus provides Bronco with a fully recyclable container. During an 18-month evaluation Bronco conducted an ana- lytical study and various tests to validate the colour, taste, and overall quality of the wine in 750ml PET containers. Mark Miles, quality manager for Bronco Wine, said that PET met stringent standards in protecting the wine and maintaining its stability and presentation over time. Bronco’s glass-to-plastic conver- sion project received strong support from Halsey Bottling LLC, Napa, CA, who filled the 750ml bottles on their on-site mobile bottling line. Amcor expects continued strong growth for barrier PET wine containers in 187ml and 750ml bottles and a range of other package sizes. www.broncowine.com www.amcor.com www.khs.com