13 December 2006 – A bag-in-box system for the keg beer market has been developed in a partnership between Rapak, which is part of DS Smith Plastics, and Bavarian brewer Ankerbräu.
The product is believed to be the first of its type for the beer market and is suitable for use by all types of beer. A spokesperson for Rapak told PRW.com that the product is aimed at the hotel and restaurant sector.
The bag-in-box is designed to be a “one-way product” as it is not designed to be re-filled or re-used. The company says that this helps to reduce transport costs – kegs, for example, need to be returned to the brewer – and this should improve the export potential for many breweries.
Florian Koch of Ankerbräu, said: “We now have the potential to market our traditionally brewed, speciality beers worldwide.”
Kegs are expensive to transport especially when many go missing – as much as 30% in Eastern Europe. More beer can also be packed per pallet using the bag-in-box system when compared to kegs, making it more efficient.
Other benefits of the system include a longer shelf life and firmer, longer lasting foam on the beer. Carbon dioxide is removed from the beer after brewing and a specially developed Carbonator Box reintroduces it at the trade outlet.
The liquid is filled in 25 litre bags using Rapak’s tailor made Autokap 650 semi automatic beer filler and then packed in boxes.
A spokesperson for Rapak said the product was launched at the beverage show Brau Beviale, held in November, and the company is aiming to fully commercialise the bag-in-box early next year.
