LANXESS to showcase natural and clean-label beverage preservation solutions at PLMA 2022

Specialty chemicals company LANXESS will be exhibiting at the Private Label Manufacturers Association’s (PLMA) Annual Tradeshow, taking place November 13 – 15, 2022 in Chicago, IL. LANXESS beverage experts will present their full portfolio of beverage antimicrobial control solutions – which include the tried-and-tested clean label Velcorin^® cold fill sterilization agent and accompanying newest generation dosing technology, DT Motion, along with the completely natural Nagardo^® preservative – to the PLMA’s audience of retail buyers in booth #F523.

“PLMA is a great place to showcase the capabilities of our natural and clean-label beverage preservation products to both beverage manufacturers and retailers,” says Michael Turpin, Head of Sales, North America, for LANXESS’ Beverage Technologies business line. “Every step along the value chain, from manufacturer to retailer to consumer can benefit from clean, fresh tasting beverages with extended shelf life, so we are excited to present our capabilities to the PLMA audience.”

Powerful technology for shelf-stable beverages

LANXESS will highlight the benefits of combining Velcorin cold fill technology and Nagardo natural preservative as a powerful and effective treatment to move highly sensitive beverages from chill chain to ambient logistics and storage conditions. This can enable greater efficiency and flexibility along the entire value chain, while maintaining natural and clean-label marketing claims.

The combination of the two technologies has proven to be highly effective against common beverage spoiling organisms, even in ambient storage conditions, with no effect on the color or taste of the beverage, and thus, is an efficient way to eliminate chill chain requirements for highly sensitive beverages, like juices and teas.

“Consumers are looking for fresh tasting, clean and green label beverages, while at the same time, beverage manufacturers and retailers suffer from high energy costs associated with chill chain distribution and handling,” says Paul Marquardt, Director, Beverage Technologies business line for the Americas region. “LANXESS technologies can help manufacturers and retailers to lower their energy and transportation costs significantly, reduce food waste and meet challenging sustainability goals, while benefitting from fresh tasting beverages with consumer-friendly labeling. A combination of Velcorin cold fill technology and Nagardo natural beverage protection can cover all those bases!”

Most effective natural beverage preservative currently on the market

With Nagardo natural preservative, LANXESS offers a completely natural microbial control agent for use in various non-alcoholic beverage categories. The innovative new product was first launched in the U.S. in 2019 and has been successfully applied in several finished beverages with a growing customer base of major beverage manufacturers. Launches in Australia, New Zealand and Canada have followed, and just recently, Nagardo natural preservative was launched in Europe after receiving regulatory approval by the European Union.

Nagardo natural beverage protection is derived from the edible mushroom Sweet Osmanthus Ear (bot. Dacryopinax spathularia) that was discovered in the rainforest of French Guyana. In a screening of more than 100,000 natural substances, the natural glycolipids that comprise Nagardo natural beverage protection have shown to be the most powerful with regard to the antimicrobial performance necessary for protection against a broad range of yeasts, molds, and bacteria responsible for beverage spoilage. A dosage amount 50 times less than what is needed with commonly used synthetic preservatives provides effective protection. Additionally, Nagardo natural beverage protection can eliminate organisms, such as Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris, that have adapted to commonly-used preservatives. Both Nagardo and Velcorin technologies have no impact on the sensory profile of the beverage.

New Velcorin DT Motion series for Industry 4.0

Another featured topic at the LANXESS booth will be the new generation of Velcorin dosing units – the Velcorin DT Motion series based on the mechanical design of the previous Velcorin DT Touch series, but with enhanced capabilities, like a higher degree of automation and digitalization, improved software and a more intuitive user interface. The equipment has an IoT gateway for data backup, software updates and improved maintenance management.

Among its new, time-saving features is automated preparation for production and constant monitoring and adjustment of the specified dosing rate during the filling process itself. The plug-and-play design of Velcorin DT Motion means that it can be easily integrated into new and existing production plants.

Velcorin cold sterilization technology has been used worldwide for more than 40 years across many beverage categories – from soft drinks, iced teas, juices and sports drinks to mixed beer drinks, ciders and wines.

More detailed information about LANXESS products for the beverage industry can be found at www.velcorin.com and www.nagardo.com.