Arkema and Spraying Systems Co. announced on 9 November 2007 that they have reached a partnership agreement for the technical and commercial development of coating solutions for returnable glass bottl…
Arkema and Spraying Systems Co. announced on 9 November 2007 that they have reached a partnership agreement for the technical and commercial development of coating solutions for returnable glass bottles. Arkema is a leading supplier of proprietary coatings and coating systems to the glass industry for the manufacture of value-added products used in the Construction/Architectural, Packaging, and Appliance markets. Success for beer and soda manufacturers is about getting the products presented in the right way in the pubs, bars and shops where the customers experience the product. Bottle appearance can have a significant impact on market positioning, market share, brand image, and therefore on the bottom line. Unfortunately, in the case of returnable bottles, the physical appearance of the bottle can have a negative impact. A major parameter is the degree of scuffing caused by the bottle-to-bottle contact during the filling process. With the increasing number of bottle trips, the bottle appearance and therefore the marketing value decreases significantly. An internal market survey indicates that bottles do not fulfil the requirements of a premium-packaging segment after 10-15 refill cycles. This scuffing can be masked or delayed significantly by applying a protective coating in the filling plant. Arkema and Spraying Systems offer a full range of services including adaptable chemistry, technical service and new breakthrough spray application technologies which reduce the cost of maintaining a returnable glass bottle fleet. These solutions come as turnkey installations, specifically designed to fulfil individual requirements. Tegoglas 3000+ is an anti-scuff coating that significantly delays the appearance of scuffing and protects the strength of a returnable glass bottle. It further improves the production flow, reduces the noise level and enhances the efficiency of the filling plant operations. The praxis has shown a scuffing reduction by approximately 50% and therefore a significant extension of the life of a returnable glass bottle. Tegoglas 3000+ supports the overall trend of lighter returnable bottles that result in upfront capital savings for the brewery or filler. A new breakthrough – Post Washer Spray Application Technology – will enable beer and soda fillers to protect their fleet at the earliest possible position and guarantees an excellent coating distribution. In the case of an already scuffed bottle fleet, to help recover this value loss, Arkema provides a unique Masking or Camouflage Coating Technology called Opticoat 140 – a coating for returnable bottles that forms a thin masking layer to restore the glass-like appearance and feel. Opticoat 140 can be applied to dry or wet, and warm or cold bottles, is resistant to humidity and is environmentally safe. By allowing bottles to be reused as long as they are physically sound, Opticoat 140 can dramatically extend their service life to as many as 50 cycles and beyond. Arkema has over 25 years of glass container coating experience. The Certincoat Hot-End Coating System and Certincoat TC100 transformed the hot-end coating process, and remain the market leaders in the hot-end coating of newly formed glass containers. With the addition of Tegoglas Cold-End Coating products over the TC100 layer, a very scratch resistant and durable surface is created to strengthen and improve the performance of glass containers. The glass coating department is a part of the Functional Additives business unit of Arkema in the Performance Products business segment.