New colour shades put the gloss on PET

Ampacet said it developed the metallic colours, branded as LiquidMetal, to meet the demand for plastic packaging that replicates polished metal for use with specialty foods and beverages, among other segments of industry. While many food companies are switching to PET due to its recyclebility and lighter weight, many have resisted due to the 'down-market' look. "We've added a series of edgy, high-energy colours to the LiquidMetal line for use in high energy packaging, such as for energy drinks and upscale cosmetic packaging where colorus of great reflectivity and depth would play well,"​ Ampacet stated. "These colors, which look like clear-coat automotive finishes, ratchet up PET's appearance to boost brand awareness and shelf appeal."​ The new colors bring the number of LiquidMetal shades available to 13 colours. The new shades are bronze, glitzy gold, ruby slipper, silver sparkle, midnight blue, brown sugar and bright chrome. The colors introduced earlier are brass, chrome, copper, black onyx, graphite and gun metal blue. The new masterbatch colours are built around Ampacet's Formula X PET technology platform, which eliminates the need to pre-dry colors for the plastic. The method allows for feeding at the extruder throat. The technology also reduces feed-throat clogging, screw slippage and improves colour dispersion, the company claimed.