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OnVu™ time-temperatures indicators record the accumulated
effects of time and temperature |
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OnVu™ time-temperature indicators are tailored
to the respective products they are designed to monitor |
For further information please contact:
Media: Tel. +41 61 636 4444 Fax +41 61 636 3019
Investor Relations: Tel. +41 61 636 5081 Fax +41 61 636 5111
Ciba is presenting revolutionary new OnVu™ new time-temperature indicators (TTIs), which indicates the freshness of perishable goods, at the Anuga trade fair in Cologne, October 13-17, 2007, at stand no. A71 in hall 5.1. The latest generation of OnVu™ TTIs, designed for chilled products with shelf lives of up to 20 days, will be on show.
“The first OnVu™ TTIs, designed for meat, fish and convenience products with a shelf life of 5-6 days at 5°C, have attracted great interest and are currently being field-tested for the first time by major German retailers under hands-on conditions,” said Hermann Angerer, Global Head of Ciba’s Coating Effects Segment. ”The new generation of TTIs now allows us to offer freshness monitoring for enhanced confidence in self-service products with a shelf life of one week and more, for example processed meat such as sausage, dairy products, ready meals and other convenience foods.”
The most common causes of spoilage of chilled food and beverages are too high temperatures during storage and transport. OnVu™ TTIs allow producers, retailers and consumers to check at a glance whether perishable products have been correctly transported and stored, thus helping to enhance consumer convenience and confidence, strengthen the reputation of brands using them and optimize shelf life.
OnVu™ TTIs are currently supplied as labels and will in future also be available as printing inks for application straight on the package. TTIs can in principle be used for any product that is sensitive to temperature. They show clearly whether the chill chain has been maintained, by recording the effects on the product of temperature fluctuations over time. Every indicator is tailored to the specific shelf life and optimum storage conditions of the product it is designed to monitor. By providing essential information on chill-chain history, OnVu™ TTIs can also help to optimize shelf life, since suppliers and retailers will no longer need to discard products prematurely to cover for potential spoilage, caused, for example, by incorrect storage.
Developed jointly by Ciba and FreshPoint, OnVu™ TTI technology relies on the properties of pigments that change color over time and if temperatures fluctuate. The label or printed display contains a reference color in addition to the OnVu™ TTI. Once activated by a suitable light source, the TTI first becomes dark and then grows progressively lighter as time passes and also if and when the ambient temperature rises. Exposure to higher temperatures than those prescribed, therefore, accelerates the lightening process of the color. When the activated color attains the same shade as the reference, the product has reached the end of its shelf life.
OnVu™ TTI technology has been built into an integrated system by Bizerba: a complete solution from label printing to fully automated production combines in one step labeling, charging and UV filter application.
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Ciba (SWX: CIBN) is a leading global company dedicated to producing high-value effects for its customers’ products. We strive to be the partner of choice for our customers, offering them innovative products and one-stop expert service. We create effects that improve the quality of life – adding performance, protection, color and strength to plastics, paper, automobiles, buildings, home and personal care products and much more. Ciba is active in more than 120 countries around the world and is committed to be a leader in its chosen markets. In 2006, the Company’s continued operations generated sales of CHF 6.4 billion and invested over CHF 270 million in R&D.
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- Press release
- Photos (JPG): OnVu™ The Freshness Check– OnVu™ time-temperatures indicators record the accumulated effects of time and temperature (meat pack); OnVu™ time-temperature indicators are tailored to the respective products they are designed to monitor (labels).
For further information please contact:
Media: Tel. +41 61 636 4444 Fax +41 61 636 3019
Investor Relations: Tel. +41 61 636 5081 Fax +41 61 636 5111