For some time now, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has been a pioneer in that it’s the first company worldwide to use a new labelling technology developed by CCL Label Auto-Sleeve at its Austrian plant in Voelkermarkt.
The new technology is a traditional stretch sleeve with a difference. Instead of being limited to containers with parallel or slightly curved label panels, CCL Label’s newly developed Super Stretch Sleeve (or Triple S) will allow them to apply sleeves to bottles that previously could only be labelled with shrink sleeves. Capable of handling in excess of 50% stretch, the range of containers that can be labelled using stretch sleeves has suddenly opened up.
Depending on the configuration of the container and the required sleeve height, application speeds of 25,000 to 30,000 bph are attainable on the Triple S 120 applicator. The Triple S 120 has a twin film feed allowing the machine to maintain a level of efficiency, while one roll of sleeves is being changed and Triple S Technology means that no expensive heat tunnel is required, thereby eliminating an energy consuming operation from the labelling process.
Another advantage of the system is that the Triple S 120 can also be used to apply Standard Stretch (up to 10% elasticity) and Modified Stretch (up to 20% elasticity).
The high elasticity of the Triple S film, coupled with recently developed stretchable inks applied on a 12-colour press means that Triple S applications would typically use 30% less material than a comparable shrink sleeve.
When the environmental footprints of Triple S and other labelling types (Shrink, OPP wraparound and RoSo) are compared, Triple S comes out on top by a clear margin. The combination of lower material requirements, no solvents for sealing and no need for shrink tunnels, means that the advantages of Triple S are not only environmental but economical in that the on-bottle cost is some 30% less than shrink on a like for like basis. The project began on GSK’s Lucozade Sport 500ml bottle over a year ago and has now advanced to a point where an entire production line is entirely dedicated to Triple S sleeves.
The project was timed to coincide with the launch of the ‘Masterbrand’ identity artwork which saw Lucozade Sport convert from a short label to a contoured sleeve offering increased bottle coverage.
**Claire Phoenix is managing editor of Beverage Innovation magazine.**
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