KHS barrier coating for PET bottles protects oxygen-sensitive beverages
With the KHS Supreme functional barrier coating, KHS is extending the protection of oxygen-sensitive beverages in PET bottles. An ultra-thin silicon oxide layer prevents oxidation, significantly extends the shelf life and at the same time remains fully recyclable.
With its KHS Supreme solution, KHS GmbH is presenting a packaging technology that is designed to significantly improve the protection of quality-sensitive beverages. It is based on Plasmax barrier technology, in which a transparent silicon oxide layer is applied to the inner wall of the PET bottle. The functional coating is less than 100 nanometers thick and has a similar effect to glass. It significantly reduces the penetration of oxygen and thus protects drinks such as tea from oxidation. Taste, color and product quality remain stable over a longer period of time, while shelf life can be increased many times over, according to the manufacturer. The technology is based on many years of development work and is continuously being refined at the KHS site in Hamburg. This is where the company pools its expertise in the field of PET packaging and transfers research results into industrial applications. Originally developed for pharmaceutical glass containers, the barrier coating was first tested for food packaging in the early 2000s and then further optimized.
Ultra-thin glass barrier protects against oxidation
In addition to the protective effect, the focus during development was also on industrial feasibility. KHS has now scaled the Plasmax technology to production speeds of up to 60,000 bottles per hour without compromising the barrier performance. This means that the functional coating can also be used in large-volume beverage filling systems. Another aspect is the recyclability of the coated bottles. The thin glass layer is removed in the recycling process using lye, so that the material quality of the PET is retained. In contrast to chemical oxygen scavengers, which can make recycling more difficult, the material remains pure. In addition, the coating is fully compatible with recycled PET and can also be used on bottles made from 100% rPET. The technology thus combines functional product protection with the requirements of recyclable packaging. KHS will be presenting its solution at Interpack 2026 in Düsseldorf from May 7 to 13 in Hall 13, Stand 31A.