
With the launch of its latest patented solutions Naturity and Xpür, Portuguese stoppers specialist Amorim is aiming for cork taint to soon to be a thing of the past.
Naturity and Xpür are the latest innovations to come from Amorim’s R&D department: two processes said to protect corks and micro-agglomerated stoppers from TCA, or cork taint and other contaminants. The solution devised for natural corks, Naturity uses thermal desorption, pressure, temperature and purified water to extract more than 150 volatile compounds that could result in “off-flavors” in the material, including TCA. This technology redoubles on the supplier’s efforts to tackle TCA contamination as it complements Amorim’s NDTech screening technology.
Xpür is Amorim’s technique devised to protect micro-agglomerated stoppers from TCA; it is said to reduce the presence of the compound to 0,3 nano grams per liter. The process will be applied to Amorim’s Neutrocork Premium and QORK references.
The physical and mechanical properties of both the natural cork and micro-agglomerated stoppers treated with these new techniques remain unchanged, notes the supplier.