Amorim hails ‘revolutionary’ stopper printing tech

by Amy Hopkins

Leading cork producer Amorim has launched “revolutionary printing technology” for capsulated stoppers as part of its Top Series range.

The technology, called Freedecor, enables any design or image to be printed onto a stopper. It is based on a technology never previously used in the spirits packaging sector as it enables the design or image to be printed “in perfect harmony” with the rest of the packaging, according to Amorim. Freedecor can take an existing design and transfer it to the stopper, or take a new stopper design and transfer it to the rest of the packaging. “[W]ith the new Freedecor solution any finish can be applied to the stopper, with a very fast turnaround, thus enabling limited editions on tight deadlines to be produced,” said Amorim. Freedecor will initially be available for ‘classic value’ bottles with plastic topped stoppers, and will roll out to other segments with materials ranging from metal or glass in the near future. “The new service enables decorations to be produced that have never previously been seen in the sector,” added Amorim. “The stopper can have either a matte or brilliant finish and offers an almost infinite gamut of extremely attractive solutions." The first prototypes of Freedecor were created in 2015 and have since undergone extensive validation tests. Amorim’s ‘Whitetop’ stopper ­– a capsulated cork stopper specifically designed for white spirits – has also received acclaim for its use on Windspiel Premium Dry Gin. “Laboratory validation tests confirm that Whitetop stoppers deliver excellent performance when used with white spirits, in key parameters such as colour migration, dust migration and sensorial neutrality,” said Amorim. The company also noted the trend among leading Scotch whisky brands – such as The Balvenie and Glenfiddich – for cork capsulated stoppers. “Amorim Top Series has been able to capitalise on this premiumisation trend in the whisky trade, given its in-depth knowledge of its clients’ requirements, local presence in key markets, use of more noble, ecologically-friendly materials, and its one-stop-shop approach that ensures that the stoppers’ design is tailored to the clients’ overall packaging objectives,” said Amorim. “Given that attractive and sophisticated packaging is essential to building the market share of high-end whiskies Amorim Top Series foresees significant further growth of its provision of stoppers to this segment, including the development of increasingly innovative solutions in order to satisfy customer demands.”