APPE (Wrexham / UK; www.appepackaging.com), the packaging division of La Seda de Barcelona (Barcelona / Spain; www.laseda.es), has entered a collaboration to develop a new barrier technology for PET and other plastic containers. The company has teamed up with liquid colorants and additives supplier ColorMatrix (Berea, Ohio / USA; www.colormatrix.com) and specialist mould manufacturer KTW, which was acquired by Husky Injection Molding Systems (Bolton, Ontario / Canada; www.husky.ca) in May 2011, in the development of the technology, which will be targeted initially at the juice industry and subsequently introduced for wine and food applications.

The concept of the new barrier technology was devised by ColorMatrix and APPE has worked with the additives specialist to develop the system for commercial and industrial use. This includes the development of a special closure, created in association with KTW, that forms an integral part of the barrier. APPE says the new system will offer a number of important enhancements over existing barrier technologies in terms of clarity of material and recycling potential.

APPE selected and worked with KTW in the design of the new closure, with both companies benefiting from their shared knowledge and expertise in bottle and closure design and manufacture. “KTW is a closure designer and mould maker, which makes them an attractive partner to work with,” said Cor Jansen, R&D director of APPE/ La Seda de Barcelona. “We are very excited by this new barrier technology and the potential it offers for our key market sectors. Working with such esteemed partners as ColorMatrix and KTW has enabled us to bring this system to market and we look forward to long and successful working relationships with both companies as we seek to revolutionise oxygen barriers as we know them, opening up further opportunities for many products and brands.”