The virtual trials, to begin in January next year, will be conducted on new coatings to minimise the weight of glass bottles
The partnership will conduct virtual trials on new coatings to design lightweighting glass bottles. (Credit: Ardagh Group S.A.)
Sustainable packaging solutions provider Ardagh Group has collaborated with Dassault Systèmes and EXXERGY to commence industry-first virtual trials on lightweighting glass bottles.
The partnership intends to start virtual twin trials in January next year on Diageo’s Johnnie Walker bottle for the research and development of a coating to minimise the weight of glass bottles.
According to the company, a virtual twin is a real-time digital representation of a product or process, which is used to model, visualise and predict new innovations prior to beginning physical trials.
Ardagh Group chief sustainability officer John Sadlier said: “Ardagh Group has pioneered the lightweighting of glass and as a leading global supplier of infinitely recyclable, sustainable metal and glass packaging, we have a responsibility to respond to the sustainability challenges we all face.
“Together with our customers and supply chain partners, we are eager to explore the potential of digitalisation to drive new and innovative lightweighting solutions.”
The study will investigate and develop a new external coating for the glass bottle to lower the micro-cracks in the glass surface. It will help make the glass lighter and maintain its strength.
Based on the success of the virtual trial, the testing of the new lightweight glass bottle is expected to be commenced in the summer of next year.
Ardagh will coordinate with consulting firm EXXERGY to assess and develop the coatings for beverage company Diageo, which promotes brands such as Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff and Gordon’s gin.
Dassault Systèmes will offer contract research services using its BIOVIA applications to construct a nanoscale virtual twin of the coatings simulate their interaction with the surface of the glass, and assess their efficiency.