Value-added packaging

Kyndal Spirits has recently changed the board grade of its whisky packaging to Frövi Bright.

With new packaging for its Isle of Jura whisky, Kyndal Spirits achieved a weight reduction of 25 per cent compared to the previous board grade in Folding Boxboard.

"Changing material provided cost saving benefits without taking any risk over product integrity. In addition, we have also seen improvements in the print quality and a notable reduction in stressing and cracking of the board",​ said Mark O`Hagan, Packaging Technologist at Kyndal Spirits.

Kyndal had used a corrugated carton for Isle of Jura before it switched over to Folding Boxboard 500 gsm as the first step to weight reduction. The high grammage was necessary due to the unique shape of the bottle and it's premium position within the market.

For brands like Original Mackinlay, Glenburn and Usquaebach the company used Folding Boxboard 440 gsm. When Frövi launched Frövi Bright last year, Kyndal saw the possibility of matching the existing strength characteristics of Folding Boxboard with a lighter weight board grade. After extensive and successful trials at the converter, Cameron Linn, Kyndal now specify Frövi Bright 390 gsm for all these brands. For Isle of Jura this means a weight reduction of 25 per cent.

Kyndal Spirits produce 7 million cases per annum making them one of the largest independent whisky producers, with a 9 per cent stake in the Scotch whisky market worldwide. Kyndal was founded last year as a result of Scotland's largest ever management buyout, with Jura as one of their five single malt distilleries.