Packaging solutions provider Serac has enhanced the versatility of its Roll N Blow bottle manufacturing technology by applying it to polypropylene (PP) thermoforming.
Roll N Blow machines are cost-efficient, space-saving and easy to operate, the French company said. The technology will increase dairy food and beverage manufacturers’ opportunity to enter new single-serve market segments. First developed for polystyrene (PS) packaging, Roll N Blow is suitable for bottle sizes from 100ml to 500ml in white, coloured, printed, opaque or translucent finishes.
The vertical thermoforming process of Roll N Blow first forms the plastic sheet into a pipe before heating and blowing the bottle into a mold. As a consequence, bottles are not limited to large necks and small heights, can be shaped totally round, and show no difference compared to blow molded bottles.
The technology has been specifically adapted to the properties of PP, which Serac claimed boasts numerous advantages over PS packaging.
A company spokesperson said: “Providing a better barrier against moisture and withstanding higher temperatures than PS, PP is… more flexible (shock resistant) and shows a better chemical stability than PS. All these specific properties allow PP to be used for a wider range of products than PS, which is mostly used for chilled products with short shelf life (pasteurised milks, drinking yogurts, probiotics).
“It is also possible to consider producing PP bottles with barriers such as EVOH to bring oxygen barrier to the container for liquid food products such as sauces, baby food and soups.”
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024