Caves Santa Marta, a Portuguese winemaker, has installed a bag-in-box filling line from Smurfit Kappa, a European corrugated packaging company. The twin-head BIB900, which was put into operation at the end of July, is believed to support the growth of the company's export business.
The wine company noted that the BIB900 line takes over one line and complements its two other Smurfit Kappa bag-in-box lines.
The new line comprises an octagonal box erector that feeds the boxes into the BIB900, a pressurized tank and weight controls. Bags measuring between 3 liters and 20 liters can be filled using the twin-head machine and the line is housed in a stainless steel frame to meet food hygiene legislation.
Smurfit Kappa claims that its Bag-in-box packaging system offers wine producers various benefits such including reduction of storage cost, transportation cost, recycling cost and better brand identification.
The PackagingNews quoted Smurfit Kappa as saying: The new ‘short-flow valve’ that separates the vacuum circuit and the nitrogen circuit for the perfect tightness to use the Vitop closure increases the shelflife of the wines.
The wine portfolio of Caves Santa Marta features Douro Douro, 40 Vindima 40 Vintage, Conde Guiao Count Script, Valdarante Valdarante, Montes Pintados Painted Hills, Rose Caves Santa Marta Rose Caves Santa Marta, Porto 10 anos Porto 10 years, Porto Lagrima Porto Tear, Reserva Ruby Ruby, Caves Santa Marta White, Lapadas Rose Lapadas Rose, Espumante Sparkling and Aguardentes Spirits among others.
Caves Santa Marta operates in the Portuguese bag-in box market for wine and exports to a number of countries including the US, Canada, Brazil and China.