Sidel designs bottles using korteclb preforms for 100% light-blocking capability to protect milk and other light-sensitive products

Sidel is pleased to announce the creation of a new PET bottlethat offers 100% light-blocking capabilities, to protect milk andother light-sensitive products.  The bottle utilizes Kortec LB(light blocking) technology, a new multi-layer, co-injected preformthat blocks light completely, which Sidel developed in co-operationwith Kortec, the world's largest supplier of turnkey co-injectionsystems to the plastics and packaging industries.

The newly developed technology enables the production of apreform with three layers of PET.  The three layers comprisewhite layers on the outside and inside, sandwiching a black layerin the middle.  It is this vital middle black layer thatenables 100% light-blocking, providing the necessary protection forlight-sensitive milk and other products.  As it follows thecontours of the whole of the bottle, echoing its shape all around -including the base - the black layer provides absolutely no accessfor light.  The three-layer preform is used to blow thefinished PET milk bottle shape, designed by Sidel, thus givingproducers the means of delivering a safe and attractive package forlight-sensitive beverages to their customers.

Sidel Packaging Project Manager, Naima Boutroy, explained-"Sidel has over 40 years of experience in dairy bottling solutionsand we have always looked to develop and adopt innovativetechnologies.  Our new bottle protects the product throughoutits lifecycle in the package, from production through the supplychain to the consumer.  By combining Kortec's LB preform withSidel's bottle design expertise, we have a solution that ensuresproduct quality while also addressing the consumer-driven demandfor a uniform look to the packaging."

Russell Bennett, Vice President of Kortec Sales and Marketing,continues: "This is a real breakthrough in packaging technology formilk and other light-sensitive products.  By keeping lightout, it provides total protection of the milk, and it does so in aPET package that features white on the outside and inside, anattractive package that consumers really want."

Placement of barrier-layer material and dispersion is criticalin blocking the correct wavelengths of light in the finishedbottle.  Using the 25g preforms originally produced by Kortec,Sidel was involved in the design and production of 1-litre bottlesfor milk, liquid dairy products (LDP), juices and other sensitivedrinks and beverages.

The design flexibility of the new preform offers the lowestoverall total cost of any light-blocking packaging technology onthe market today, according to Kortec, along with the potential ofattractive packaging that is able to differentiate sensitiveproducts on supermarket shelves.  Further benefits of the newtechnology aside from 100% light-blocking include: minimal use ofraw PET material; minimal use of colorant materials; fast cycletimes; and compatibility with moulds comprising up to 128cavities.

"Sidel is always looking at opportunities to partner withsuppliers up and down the supply chain, to develop innovations thatultimately deliver value to our customers and end consumers,"comments Sidel Vice President for Packaging & Tooling, VincentLe Guen. "This is an excellent example of such a partnership,resulting in a great PET milk bottle that we look forward tointroducing to our customers.  Alongside this project withKortec, we continue to explore the potential to create valuethrough such co-operation with other suppliers."