Wine & Spirits Premium: aesthetics, performance and safety in glass packaging

In the Wine & Spirits sector, the bottle is an integral part of brand communication, expressing style and values. Although glass itself evokes elegance and tradition, coating is the element that gives true identity to the packaging.

The strategic role of packaging in the premium sector

This sector, particularly premium alcoholic beverage packaging, is constantly growing, with an increasing demand for high-impact, sustainable and customizable solutions.

Glass coatings are essential to decorate, color and enrich products, and are particularly suited for the decoration of hollow glass.

Coatings and aesthetic effects for visible luxury

Aesthetics play an increasingly strategic role in winning over consumers who seek products capable of communicating quality, history and personality at first glance. Glass coatings offer various types of effects, used in the Wine & Spirits sector:

• Matte effect: gives discreet and contemporary elegance, highly appreciated by artisanal and premium brands.

• Metallic effect: provides gold, copper and silver reflections for a luxurious and innovative image.

• Glossy finish: the obtained brilliance evokes purity, quality and freshness. Gloss coatings can achieve a high gloss level (up to 95+).

• Transparent colored effect: ideal to enhance the content and convey freshness and naturalness. It aligns with the “glass first” trend, where the decorated glass is not fully covered by labels.

• Customized effects: in addition to standard finishes (glossy, transparent colored, metallic, matte, pearly, pastel), the R&D laboratory can assist the client in defining the perfect shade, developing custom colors—both transparent and opaque.

Functional challenges: technical performance and extreme durability

Glass coatings in the Wine & Spirits sector must ensure not only aesthetics but also high technical performance during bottling and use.
The coatings undergo rigorous testing to ensure excellent mechanical and chemical resistance. Among the main required tests are:

• Resistance to alcohol and boiling water up to about 90°C.

• Resistance to scratches, scotch, and X-Cross (cross-cut test).

• Resistance to thermal shock and passage through the bottling line.

• Resistance to 250 domestic dishwasher wash cycles.

The rigidity, durability and transparency of glass require high-quality coatings that ensure uniform application.

Sustainability and food safety

Safety is a top priority in the beverage and food sectors. The water-based glass coatings used must comply with strict standards, particularly the chemical inertness certification (ENV 1186 1, 2, 3). This test is essential to ensure that the coatings do not transfer unwanted substances (liquids, acids or fats) to the contents, thus protecting consumer health.

As for sustainability:

• Water-based coatings: represent the ideal choice for a sustainable solution. They offer reduced VOC emissions, close to 5% during application, while maintaining excellent chemical resistance and aesthetic results. The use of these coatings contributes to a lower environmental impact. Water-based coating lines (such as the KW series) are constantly evolving to ensure greater resistance and coverage.

• Solvent-based coatings: remain an option, offering very high coverage, adhesion and fast drying times—ideal for intensive production cycles and for achieving opaque or metallic effects.

Customization beyond hollow glass

Customization in this sector extends beyond glass. Coatings developed for glass (hollow glass decoration) can be adapted to maintain the same aesthetic on other materials used in packaging, such as metals for caps and accessories.
Once coated, the item may require further decoration, such as labeling and customized designs, achievable through screen printing or pad printing, to achieve a flawless final result ready for sale.

The ability to create fully customized solutions stems from a development process that combines technical expertise and innovation, ensuring that the product not only meets but exceeds expectations in terms of durability and performance.