Wash off rates: key factors that matter for brewers handling returned bottles
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The requirements of the wet-strength labels aside and focusing on wash-off requirements, brewers are looking for base paper that supports labels to:
Maintain their integrity in the caustic wash-off solution
Have excellent ink retention performance
Support an optimized washing machine speed line
Lower the number of rejected bottles (those that come out of the alkaline solution with labels fully or partially attached)
Support excellent wash off times with both casein and synthetic glue
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Metallized Paper.
Technical requirements: understanding modern glue behavior
Over the past years, glue trends for wet-strength label applications have changed and developed significantly. Where casein glues were typically the ‘go to’ of the past for wet-strength label applications, they are increasingly being replaced by synthetic glues.
Synthetic glues have excellent ice water resistance. Their superior qualities were identified when they were initially used in tropical countries where beers are sold on the streets in ice water buckets.
Although they offer optimal ice water resistance, sometimes synthetic glues can take longer to wash off in caustic solutions than casein glues, which slows the recycling process. Nissha Metallizing Solutions' specialized paper for wet-strength labels "RotoFLEX" have reduced the wash off time for synthetic glues – a distinct advantage for brewers and beverage producers.
Due to competitive cost advantages, synthetic glues have grown in market share in the beverage industry, also in Northern Europe, South East Asia, Latin America and Africa. Casein glues are still used however, and producers of wet-strength label materials like Nissha Metallizing Solutions need to have a base paper that can reliably meet the requirements of brewers using either casein or synthetic glues.
Luxury beverage brands need labels with visual and tactile depth to connect with the consumers of today – but the magic is lost if the label turns gray, wrinkles, or falls off when wet or on ice.
UPM Raflatac Wet Strength treated (WSA)™ papers and film products increase in strength in wet conditions, and are designed to maintain their integrity, even in challenging conditions such as coolers, ice buckets or refrigerators. These label materials won’t discolor, scuff or scratch when wet - but will emerge with the materials, colors and text intact.
Talk to our experts about wet strength applications for your wine, spirit or beer bottle label.
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