By selecting Aqua PET 20837 from the European division of Voridian (Kingsport, TN), the firm’s “commitment to quality” is clearly communicated, says Pierre De Winter, supply chain director at the Lorce, Belgium, firm. “It’s a high-performance resin that enables our packaging to reflect the superior quality of the Bru-brand products.”
A variety of Bru-brand products in several PET bottle sizes are marketed by Bru S.A., and any number of resin grades are used. But for this particular bottle/product combination, key considerations had to be factored in before making a resin selection. First, the bottle is small so the low surface-to-volume ratio magnifies the potential for off-tastes due to acetaldehyde levels. Second, the embossing on the sidewalls introduces structural challenges that are best addressed by specifying a resin having sufficient toughness. And finally, the product itself, a sparkling water, requires a tougher PET resin than a noncarbonated still water. Only after all these factors were considered could a resin grade be selected.
The delicate blue tint is among the “elegant optical effects,” says De Winter, that he likes about the new bottle. He also likes that it’s clear and durable, that its low acetaldehyde levels impart no off-flavors, and that it offers an acceptable balance between cost and performance.
Just as important is its machineability, says De Winter. Bru injection molds its own preforms on equipment from Husky (Bolton, Ontario, Canada) and blows the preforms on a Contiform 16 from Krones (Franklin, WI). —PR
