Bag-in-box
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A bag-in-box or BiB is a container for the
Features
The bag is supplied to the company which will fill it as an empty pre-made bag. The company filling the bag with its product generally removes the tap, fills the bag (with wine, juice or other liquid) and replaces the tap and then the bag is placed in the box.
The bags are available as singles for semi-automatic machines or as web bags, where the bags have perforations between each one. These are used on automated filling systems where the bag is separated on line either before the bag is automatically filled or after. Depending on the end use, there are a number of options that can be used on the bag instead of the tap. The bags can be filled from chilled product temperatures up to 85 °C (185 °F).
BiB packaging can be made using form seal fill (FSF) technology, where the bags are manufactured on-line from reels of film, then the FlexTap is inserted then filled on an integral rotary head filler. The BiB is currently used to package wine, soda fountain syrup products, milk, liquid chemicals, and water.
History
The first commercial BiB system was invented by American chemist William R. Scholle in 1955 for the safe transportation and dispensing of battery acid.[1] Scholle's invention inspired a "packaging revolution."[1] In 1991, Scholle was inducted into the packaging hall of fame for his invention.[2]
Uses
BiB has many common commercial applications. Among the most common ones are to supply syrup to soft drink fountains and to dispense bulk supplied condiments such as ketchup or mustard in the foodservice industry (especially in fast food outlets).[1] BiB technology is still used for its original application of dispensing sulfuric acid for filling lead-acid batteries in garages and dealerships. As explained further below, BiBs have also been implemented for consumer applications like boxed wine.[1]
For commercial syrup applications, the customer opens one end of the box (sometimes via a pre-scored opening) and connects a compatible connector to a built-in port on the bag to pump out its contents. The port itself contains a one-way valve which opens only under pressure from the attached connector and which prevents contamination of the syrup in the bag. For consumer applications like boxed wine, there is a tap already present on the bag which protrudes through a pre-cut hole on the box, so all the consumer has to do is locate the tap on the outside of the box.
Producers like BiB packaging because it is inexpensive. BiB also offers environmental benefits by allowing contents of 1.5–1000 liters, so that less packaging or labeling is required. The material it is made from is lighter than the other plastic alternatives, providing it with a better carbon footprint.
One disadvantage of the plastic bags used in BiB technology is that plastic is allegedly less effective than more expensive packaging materials such as stainless steel in preserving the flavor of freshly-made soft drink syrup. McDonald's procures syrup for its soda fountains from The Coca-Cola Company in stainless steel tanks rather than BiBs for this reason.[3]
Wine cask
The 'wine cask' was invented by
In 1967, Charles Malpas and Penfolds Wines patented a plastic, air-tight tap welded into an aluminised film bladder, making storage much more convenient for consumers.[1] All modern wine casks now utilise some sort of plastic tap, which is exposed by tearing away a perforated panel on the box.
The main advantage of BiB packaging is that it prevents
Although a promising technology, there have been production and design problems. The impermeable bladders tend to delaminate around the tap and where the two halves are joined. If tap components are deposited in the bladder during assembly, all the bladders must be destroyed to find the components as the bladders are opaque. It has also been difficult to manufacture taps that do not leak air into the bladder since tap parts usually do not join neatly, although there have been significant improvements. Most red wines require breathing before consumption which is not possible with casks, so the wine has air circulated through it before bottling (usually by running through a centrifuge), which reduces shelf life considerably. Most casks will have a best-before date stamped. As a result, it is not intended for
Aseptic packaging
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BiB is also used extensively in the packaging of processed fruit and dairy products in aseptic processes. Using aseptic packaging equipment, products can be packed in aseptic packaging. Pasteurized or UHT treated products packed into this format can be "shelf-stable", requiring no refrigeration. Some products can have a shelf life of up to 2 years, depending on the type of bag that is used.
The key to this unique system is that the product being filled is not exposed to the external environment at any stage during the process and as such, there is no possibility of a bacterial load being added to the product during the filling process. To ensure there is no contamination from the packaging, the bag is irradiated after the bag manufacturing process.
These packs are typically from 10 to 1200 liters and offer the advantage of cheap, disposable and transport efficient packaging.
See also
Notes
- ^ ISBN 9781442234642. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ Packaging Hall of Fame
- ^ Gelles, David (May 15, 2014). "Coke and McDonald's, Growing Together Since 1955". The New York Times. p. B3. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ Lower, Gavin (March 31, 2010). "Thomas Angove, king of the cask, dead at 92". The Australian. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
- ^ "Wine cask". Powerhouse Museum Sydney. Retrieved 2008-01-27.
- ^ Colman, Tyler (August 17, 2008). "Drink Outside the Box". The New York Times.
- ^ Colman, Tyler (July 16, 2009). "Box Wines That Can Be A Hit". Forbes.com.
References
- Soroka, Walter (2002). Fundamentals of Packaging Technology (3rd ed.). Naperville, Ill.: Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP). at the Internet Archive.
- Yam, Kit L. (2009). The Wiley Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology (3rd ed.). Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons. OCLC 361969419.
External links
Media related to Bag-in-box at Wikimedia Commons
