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Ask Cetie Experts: Packaging queries answered
Discover frequently asked technical questions to Experts.
This section is regularly updated with new entries to provide expert guidance on technical matters.
If you can't find the answers you need, don't hesitate to reach out to us at contact@cetie.org.
Glass packaging (food & beverages)
The brimful capacity of a container is the total internal volume up to the top of the finish. It is a design characteristic, particularly for glass bottles, calculated from the external dimensions of the bottle (i.e. the volume of the mould cavity) minus the volume of glass corresponding to the nominal glass weight.
The difference between the brimful capacity and the nominal design capacity provides a design headspace, which is planned according to the intended product type. Note that the actual headspace may be less than this design headspace for closures that take up internal volume space below the top of the finish, such as cork stoppers or inserts.
RFID tags pose a problem for glass recycling as both the metallic components (essentially the antenna) and the silicon chip are not compatible with glass melting. If an RFID tag is required for a high-value product, it is recommended to avoid attaching the tag to the glass bottle itself, or to attach it in such a manner that it can be easily separated for recycling. Preferably, tags should be attached to the reverse side of the label or via the closure. To our knowledge, there is currently no reference documentation available on this subject.
Beverage analysis is not currently covered in Cetie documentation. For wine, spectrophotometric analytical methods are available from the OIV (Organisation International de la Vigne et du Vin). For example, you can refer to the document available at https://www.oiv.int/public/medias/2475/oiv-ma-as2-07b.pdf.
Labelling Specifications and Guidelines:
FS20.00 - APPROPRIATE SPECIFICATION, BOTTLE QUALITY CONTROL AND APPLICATION CONTROL OF SELF-ADHESIVE LABELLING
FS22.00 - MEASUREMENT OF LABELLING SURFACE FLATNESS OF GLASS BOTTLES OR JARS
GUIDELINES No. 2 - FUNCTIONAL SPECIFICATION FOR LABELLING
GUIDELINES No. 2.01 - PRESSURE SENSITIVE LABELLING ON GLASS CONTAINERS
Labelling Surface and Spotting Bars:
DT19.00 - RECESSED LABELLING SPOTTING BAR
DT19.01 - STANDARDS FOR LABELLING SPOTTING BARS
Reuse and Recycling Considerations:
DT14.11 - REUSE OF GLASS CONTAINERS - RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LABELS, CLOSING SYSTEMS, AND CRATES
DT41.00 - SIMULATION TEST OF LABEL SEPARATION IN THE GLASS RECYCLING PROCESS
The engraved logos identifying the glassmaker are known as "Punt Marks." To our knowledge, the only available compilation of punt marks is published by the glass bottle production equipment supplier Bucher Emhart Glass. This worldwide compilation currently identifies 245 companies. Although it is periodically updated, it is advisable to verify any changes that may have occurred since the last update. You can find the guide at https://emhartglass.com/sites/default/files/publications/2020-10/BR0068%20-%20BEG%20Punt%20Marks%20Guide.pdf
Glass bottles are designed either for reuse or as "one way" single-use containers, as indicated in the manufacturers' specifications. Bottles for reuse have thicker walls to compensate for the weakening effect of surface scratches that occur from repeated contact with other bottles and guide rails on filling lines over their lifetime.
In contrast, bottles intended for one-way use are generally lighter, with thinner walls, and their mechanical strength cannot be guaranteed if refilled. This poses a potential safety risk, especially for carbonated products. Although some initiatives have been launched to commercialise heavier one-way bottles for use with still products (particularly wine), this practice remains marginal to our knowledge.
There is no legal reason why bottles designed for reuse cannot be industrially cleaned and remarketed, even if they are not or are no longer part of a returnable bottle programme.
Currently, such a document is not available in the Cetie library, and we are not aware of equivalent qualification test guidelines from other sources. However, some methodologies for cork stoppers are available from ISO TC87 (Standardisation in the field of cork, both the raw material and products manufactured and prepared from cork).
You can find the ISO TC87 standards list from https://www.iso.org/
Certain tests are specified in the following standards:
C.E.Liège Documents
International code of cork stoppers manufacturing practices, version 5, C.E.Liege 2006.
ISO Standards
ISO/FDIS 633: Cork - Vocabulary
ISO/DIS 9727-1: Cylindrical cork stoppers – Physical tests – Part 1: Determination of dimensions
ISO/DIS 9727-2: Cylindrical cork stoppers – Physical tests – Part 2: Determination of mass and apparent density for agglomerated cork stoppers
ISO/DIS 9727-3: Cylindrical cork stoppers – Physical tests – Part 3: Determination of humidity content
ISO/DIS 9727-4: Cylindrical cork stoppers – Physical tests – Part 4: Determination of dimensional recovery after compression
ISO/DIS 9727-5: Cylindrical cork stoppers – Physical tests – Part 5: Determination of extraction force
ISO/DIS 9727-6: Cylindrical cork stoppers – Physical tests – Part 6: Determination of liquid tightness
ISO/DIS 9727-7: Cylindrical cork stoppers – Physical tests – Part 7: Determination of dust content
ISO 10106:2003: Cork stoppers – Determination of global migration
ISO 10718:2002: Cork stoppers – Enumeration of colony-forming units of yeasts, moulds, and bacteria capable of growth in an alcoholic medium
ISO 20752:2007: Cork stoppers – Determination of releasable 2, 4, 6-trichloroanisole (TCA)
ISO 21128:2006: Cork stoppers – Determination of oxidising residues – Iodometric titration method
ISO 22308:2005: Cork stoppers – Sensory analysis
For food contact, see also Resolution ResAP (2004) 2 on cork stoppers and other cork materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. This resolution is not directly related to the above request but is mentioned here as additional information.
In available Cetie publications, see GUIDELINES No. 10 - SECURITE DES PRODUITS LIQUIDS ALIMENTAIRES PREEMBALLES. Although currently only available in French and with a dated presentation, it contains some useful elements for a general approach.
The internal profile dimensions of glass neck finishes are defined only when the bore profile is critical for closure performance, such as when using cork stoppers (natural or synthetic) or inserts (pourer, non-refillable, anti-counterfeit, etc.). The glass manufacturing process used for bottle production, either BB (Blow-Blow) or NNPB (Narrow Neck Press and Blow), is an important factor. With NNPB, the bore profile is effectively moulded entirely by a plunger and is necessarily slightly conical to enable the plunger to be withdrawn after moulding of the blank (preform). This profile, though geometrically defined, requires the slight conicity (V-shaped profile) to be considered in the design of inserts to ensure they maintain their position in the bore during use. In the BB process, the profile results from a blowing operation with only the entry bore effectively moulded. This results in more variability in the profile below the entry bore compared to NNPB, with corresponding manufacturing tolerances, but generally produces an "A" shaped profile, which is geometrically favourable for retaining inserts or stoppers. The main corresponding neck finish specifications are: For cork mouth finishes: EN 12726 - PACKAGING - CORK MOUTH FINISH WITH A BORE DIAMETER OF 18,5 MM FOR CORKS AND TAMPER EVIDENT CAPSULES (overall finish specification including bore profile). For inserts used with BVP ROPP finishes: GME30.10 - BORE SPECIFICATIONS FOR INSERTS FOR 30, 31,5 AND 35 SIZE BVP FINISHES (bore specifications only, to be used in conjunction with EN 15543 - GLASS PACKAGING - FINISHES FOR BOTTLES - SCREW THREAD FINISHES FOR BOTTLES FOR NON-CARBONATED LIQUIDS).
GUIDE No. 6 - METALLIC SCREW CAPPING FOR STILL WINES ON BVS TYPE GLASS FINISHES - WITH REDRAW covers "still wine" with a carbonation level as defined in the BVS finish standard EN 16293 - PACKAGING - GLASS PACKAGING - DEEP BVS FINISHES FOR STILL WINES, i.e., ≤ 1.2 g/l CO2. For higher carbonation levels, please refer to Cetie bottling GUIDE No. 9 - METALLIC SCREW CAPPING FOR PRESSURISED WINES & OTHER BEVERAGES ON BVS TYPE GLASS FINISHES - WITH REDRAW. Note that, as stated in EN 16293 - PACKAGING - GLASS PACKAGING - DEEP BVS FINISHES FOR STILL WINES and GUIDE No. 6 - METALLIC SCREW CAPPING FOR STILL WINES ON BVS TYPE GLASS FINISHES - WITH REDRAW, "Carbonation ≥ 1.2 g/l CO2 requires a suitable container and closure agreed between the glass maker, closure maker, and packer/filler." The vacuity (or headspace) must be sufficient to allow for the thermal expansion of the wine. It is strongly recommended not to reduce vacuity below the values given in Cetie data sheet FS07.00 - HEADSPACE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LIQUID PRODUCTS IN BOTTLES AND JARS, which specifies 2% for still wines.
Cetie data sheets and bottling best practice guides mainly refer to specific closure types for glass and PET containers, such as crown caps, ROPP, cork mouth, vacuum lug, and flat-top plastic caps. While some guides imply a specific market segment, such as still wine with a cork mouth finish (GUIDE No. 1 - STILL WINES BOTTLING - CORK STOPPER APPLICATION ON A CORK MOUTH FINISH), others cover various product types using the closure system, such as GUIDE No. 4 - 26 MM CROWN CAPPING, which covers beer, soft drinks, and juices. Since different packaging types, each with various closure system options can be used for dairy and juices, Cetie has not yet developed documentation specific to these market segments.
We are not aware of any organisation that specifically provides information on legislation concerning the glass packaging market outside Europe. However, the FEVE (European Federation of Glass Manufacturers) does provide information about glass packaging markets outside Europe. You can visit their website at http://feve.org/.
The "e" symbol signifies that the pre-packed product complies with EU regulations regarding the weight or volume of the product, as set out in Council Directive 76/211/EEC of 20 January 1976, "relating to the making-up by weight or by volume of certain pre-packaged products.
All 26 mm glass crown finishes have the same dimensions and profiles on their sealing area and external crimping zone. Only the external shape below the crimping zone differs. Therefore, the height of the neck finish does not affect capping.
The principal useful characteristic of brown glass, also commonly termed "amber", is to effectively block UV and blue light which can contribute to modifying the organoleptic properties of certain bottled products in particular white or rosé wine and beer. It is the most effective of all common glass colours from this point of view, although for marketing reasons not necessarily preferred. Thus glassmakers also propose dark green "UV protective" colours which are a mix of this brown colour with the addition of a strong green pigment (trivalent chromium). From a chemical standpoint, the brown colour is due to iron (Fe3+) sulphide which requires specific reducing conditions in the glass melt.
See GUIDE NO.16 - GLASS COLOUR.
We are not aware of any organisation that specifically provides information on heavy metals legislation for the glass packaging market outside Europe. However, the FEVE (European Federation of Glass Manufacturers) may have information on this subject, at least for major countries. You can visit their website at http://feve.org. For the United States, you can contact the Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse (TPCH). TPCH maintains the Model Toxics in Packaging Legislation and coordinates the implementation of state legislation, based on this model, on behalf of its member states, with the goal of promoting consistency across states. More information can be found at www.toxicsinpackaging.org. Additionally, the Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) regularly publishes a newsletter on US legislation (both state and federal). You can visit their website at www.gpi.org and access their newsletter at http://www.gpi.org/advocacy.
Headspace is not a legal requirement, so there are no legally recommended measurement tools. Only the actual volume of the bottled product is subject to legal requirements. Headspace can be determined as the difference between the volume contained and the brimful volume of the bottle, minus any volume taken up by a closure within the bore (stopper or insert). For measuring containers, the nominal volume of the product at 20 °C is guaranteed within a defined tolerance at a stated fill height. Measurement of the fill height may enable an estimate of the headspace if the relation between height and internal volume of the bottle neck is available. However, measuring the fill height may not be considered a legally recognised measurement of the volume of product, even for a bottle compliant with measuring container regulations. Only weight measurements with an approved and calibrated balance are legally recommended tools, implying destructive measurements.
Cetie provides information on MCA finishes in the data sheet GME32.00 - MCA FINISHES, which compares various 28-millimetre screw finishes designated as “MCA finishes.”
Initially prepared as Cetie GME specifications in the GME32.XX series, these have been published as European Standards, available from any of the national standardisation bodies, as EN standards:
EN 16287 (MCA 1)
EN 16288 (MCA 3)
EN 16289 (MCA 7.5 RF)
EN 16290 (MCA 7.5 R)
EN 16291 (MCA 2)
We are not aware of a specific organisation for this purpose, but we can send a specific request to our network of experts based in Europe and their colleagues in the US. To provide the best technical feedback, please indicate the following points: The components of the closures The materials of the components The corresponding FDA chapters For example, the polycarbonate constituting a part of a non-refillable fitment is depicted in FDA chapter 177.1580. The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) is part of the Department of Health and Human Services. FDA-regulated products account for 20 cents of every dollar spent by U.S. consumers.
Contact:
Food and Drug Administration
10903 New Hampshire
Ave Silver Spring, MD
20993 1-888-INFO-FDA
(1-888-463-6332)
https://www.fda.gov/
Yes, the maximum under locker bead angle was changed to 15 degrees in 2013 in the first version of the CEN standard EN 16293. Specifically, this angle is specified as “3° min - 15° max”. Since then, this issue has been discussed further in Cetie with cap suppliers and glassmakers. Cap suppliers know that the 15° angle is not a problem, but since bottlers occasionally experience cap pull-off, some cap makers preferred to revert to 12° to ensure no issues arose from this angle. A major test campaign was conducted in 2018 with bottles made specifically with different defined geometries. Tests by four different cap suppliers clearly showed that an angle of 15° is not problematic. Therefore, in the upcoming revision of the EN standard, the angle is maintained at a maximum of 15°. After 6 years of industrial practice, we can confidently attest that this specification is secure.
We do not provide any specific recommendation on the measurement location for bottle perpendicularity. Please refer to our data sheet DT02.00 - STANDARD TOLERANCES FOR GLASS BOTTLES. This data sheet provides information on tolerances for non-measuring container bottles of circular and non-circular cross-sections, as well as dimensional tolerances for height, diameter, verticality, and base-mouth parallelism of the finish.
BVP is the french acronym for Bague à Vis pour Produit plat
Bague = Finish
Vis = Threaded / Screw
Produit plat = Still product
ROPP finishes for miniature bottles are usually based on the BVP18 standard, which corresponds to the cap dimensions of 20 x 12 mm that you mentioned. However, this is not a strict requirement, and some miniature bottles may have their own unique finish design. These dimensions are specified in the CEN standard EN15543, which can be purchased from the CEN organisation.
Initiated by the glass industry in the 1960s, the acronym 'GME' stands for 'Glass Manufacturing Experimental'.
The idea was that Cetie, as an unofficial standards body, would only publish 'experimental' datasheets, before submitting these to the official standards bodies.
At the same time, in the USA, the acronym 'GME' was also used.
As the original meaning was lost over time, this nomenclature for Cetie's glass finishes documents has been, later on, applied to the PET finish datasheets.
Each glassmaker can request the assignment of line numbers from Cetie. Even if they do not plan to equip all their lines with laser coding, Cetie will propose to assign a corresponding number of codes for all their lines worldwide. Glassmakers unfamiliar with this principle can be referred to Cetie by the laser engraver supplier. However, there must be a direct request from the glassmaker to Cetie. This registration is free of charge. For more information, see DT40.01 - DATAMATRIX HOT-END LASER MARKING - PROCEDURE OF ATTRIBUTION OF LINE NUMBERS.
At Cetie, we develop technical documents at the request of our members, which include bottle manufacturers (glass and PET), packaging users (brands and bottlers), and suppliers of caps and closures associated with the bottling industry. If our members need to harmonise the design of a specific finish, we work with them to define its characteristics, which then become one of our "GME" finish data sheets. On our documentary resources page, we only make available documents created and published by Cetie. In the case of other documents on the same topic (ISO, CEN, or AFNOR standards, documents published by other organisations such as GPI), we are not authorised to distribute them, especially if these organisations are responsible for these documents (which is the case for GPI, AFNOR, CEN, ISO, etc.). If you believe that a finish design belonging to the public domain should be harmonised or standardised, please let us know so that we can submit this topic to our active members.
The verticality tolerances are related to the tilt of the entire bottle, which causes a horizontal offset of the neck. This offset is measured as described in paragraph 2.2.3 of our document DT02.00 (see Cetie DT02.00 - STANDARD TOLERANCES FOR GLASS BOTTLES). A bent neck can also be measured by a horizontal offset, taking the bottom of the neck as a reference point (but not the bottom of the bottle). The control for a bent neck is defined in BS EN 16293:2020 Packaging. Glass Packaging. Deep BVS finishes for still wines. Another method to consider a bent neck is to measure the parallelism between the mouth and the base of the bottle, which indicates the tilt of the finish. Measuring a vertical deviation between two parts of the neck indicates the tilt of the neck. The corresponding tolerances are outlined in our DT02.00 in paragraph 2.2.4.
Glass fragility cannot be determined solely by the wall thickness of the container, nor can it alone explain the cause of breakage. It is necessary to gather more information about the conditions that led to the breakage on the filling line, including:
The location of the origin of the fracture
Analysis of the glass fracture on the fragments
The level of surface treatment of the scratch-resistant glass
Handling conditions on the filling line
These factors should all be considered as potential contributors to the breakage.
Cetie does not provide any information or criteria on this topic.
"Vacuum Lug Finishes" originally came from the United States. Their design was further developed in Europe by the company "White Cap" under the name "FD" (Foreign Design). These finishes are also commonly known as "TWIST-OFF," a registered trademark of the SILGAN company.
We recommend using the standard ISO 9100 designation, such as "Vacuum Lug Finishes" or "Vacuum Lug Caps."
In France, the term "Bague à cran pour bouchage sous vide" is a misnomer because the ring does not have a lug (cran). The lug refers to the reinforcement of the cap that fits into the thread of the glass finish. A more accurate term would be "Bague pour bouchage sous vide avec capsule équipée de crans."
A cold-end treatment is unlikely to cause capping issues, and it is almost impossible to measure or check it on a glass thread finish. We do not provide any test methods or specifications for this. However, the datasheet DT13.00 - GLASS CONTAINERS - SURFACE TREATMENT provides details on the application of surface treatments that preserve glass strength and improve handling throughout manufacture and filling:
The outer surface of a glass container may be treated to reduce friction and improve resistance to abrasion.
Surface coatings are applied in two stages:
Hot-End (metallic oxide deposition): Coatings are applied immediately after the container has left the forming machine and before it enters the annealing lehr.
Cold-End (application of a lubrication layer): Coatings are applied at the exit of the annealing lehr.
The accuracy of the measurement of the surface treatment, particularly the finish, can be affected during the filling and capping process. The details of the measurement methods apply to unused containers only.
You can find guidance on capping defects in our GUIDE No. 11 - METALLIC SCREW CAPPING DEFECTS - IDENTIFICATION AND CORRECTION, as well as in the data sheet FS17.00 - BOTTLING OF STILL LIQUIDS: CHECKING CRIMPING HEIGHT AND LINER COMPRESSION TEST METHODS (published in 2022). Additionally, refer to GUIDE No. 2 - METALLIC SCREW CAPPING FOR NON-CARBONATED LIQUIDS, FOODSTUFFS AND PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS ON BVP TYPE GLASS FINISHES, which specifies the following in § 10.3: “For a given cap, the reverse torque measures the effort to deform the threads of the closure. If the break torque is higher than the strip torque, this represents a fault situation (the cap spins on unscrewing without being removed). It is recommended that reverse torque values be 0.45 N.m (4 lbf.in.) higher than the measured break torque unless specified otherwise by the customer.
Sunk and bulged sides are defects in the planarity or flatness of the glass surface, which can affect the proper labelling of the container. The document FS22.00 - MEASUREMENT OF LABELLING SURFACE FLATNESS OF GLASS BOTTLES OR JARS explains how to check the flatness of the sides of a bottle or jar. The document FS20.00 - APPROPRIATE SPECIFICATION, BOTTLE QUALITY CONTROL AND APPLICATION CONTROL OF SELF-ADHESIVE LABELLING contains typical values for sink and bulge in the annex. It is specifically written for self-adhesive labels, which are considered the most demanding. For standard paper labels, the specification can be more lenient. The document DT35.00 - FLACONNAGE: LABEL AREA PLANARITY TEST concerns only flaconnage, but the information on how to conduct the test can also be useful for other glass containers.
The GPI data sheets are published by the Glass Packaging Institute (https://www.gpi.org/) and mainly concern the neck finish geometry of glass containers. To obtain the latest version of a document, you need to contact the organisation directly. Access to their library is subject to a fee. Therefore, Cetie is not permitted to share information about these documents. However, for specific questions, we can provide explanations and comparisons with European or World standards (EN or ISO) as well as Cetie data sheets.
Contact Information: Glass Packaging Institute (GPI)
4250 North Fairfax Drive
Suite 600 Arlington
VA 22203 USA
+1 703.684.6359
There are many different colours of glass, each with a range of shades (e.g., various specifications of white or green). Sometimes the same colour can be identified by different names, such as Amber, Brown, or Yellow. While some harmonisation exists in certain geographical areas led by major brand owners, each country remains relatively independent. Even within a specific country, a glassmaker producing green beer bottles will not use the same green tint as for Bordeaux or Champagne wine bottles. The best way to get precise specifications is to ask the glassmaker. You can download our Guide No. 16 - Glass Colour, which is complementary to the data sheet DT30.00 - COLOUR MEASUREMENT OF GLASS PACKAGING. The main aim of this guide is to increase the understanding of glass colour measurement.
Mr Jacques Granger (Expert for Saint Gobain-Péchiney & then Amcor in France) who chaired the metallic screw cap working groups and produced a part of our related documentation introduced this name “BAGUE À VIS STELVIN” in 1987.
For commercial and marketing purposes, the Swiss the BVS finish, originally “BAGUE À VIS STELVIN” in French, has been used as well as “BAGUE À VIS POUR VIN SUISSE” in Switzerland as the company Vetropack, located in this country, participated in its development. At GPI (Glass Packaging Institute), in standard GPI 1680-03 such finish is named STELVIN SCREW FINISH, as well as nowadays in New Zealand, Australia and now China.
It might be that the “S” of this acronym, offers so a possibility to interpret the acronym without creating any commercial issues
For measuring containers made of glass, the European Directive 75/107/EEC defines the obligations in its Annex I, §8. For all other containers, the glassmaker has complete freedom regarding the marking of the containers, and no marking at all is also allowed.
Tests conducted in 2018 by four cap suppliers from France, Italy, and Germany on real bottles showed that:
The 15-degree angle is acceptable but should be the maximum limit as long as:
The delta L-N is correct.
The radii before and after the 15-degree angle are within tolerances.
The capping machine is properly operated and adjusted by the bottler.
The 15-degree angle is intended to apply all around the finish. However, it is recognised that measuring the mould seam area can be challenging. A small step between the two halves of the mould can distort measurements, and slight wear in this area can result in locally higher angles. To ensure accurate and reproducible measurements, controllers usually measure outside this area. Ideally, measurements outside the seam area should be well below the maximum value to ensure that no point exceeds 15 degrees.
Glassmakers should design their moulds and manage production with sufficient safety factors to stay below this maximum angle all around the finish.
There are no specific thickness specifications for glass bottles. Typically, a bottle's performance is measured by its mechanical resistance to stress, such as impact tests or internal pressure tests. Some bottlers or brand owners may specify a minimum glass thickness based on their own experience, rather than on universally accepted industry standards.
Glass defects are typically identified and described in a contract between the glassmaker and their customer, or in the glassmaker's general specification for standard bottles.
The acceptance level of the defects to be considered must be negotiated between the two parties based on their specific requirements.
The glass industry commonly uses the following values to categorise defects:
Critical defects: No defects allowed (AQL 0 or 0.01)
Major defects: Up to 1 defect per unit (AQL 1)
Minor defects: Up to 2.5 or 4 defects per unit, depending on the negotiated standard (AQL 2.5 or 4)
It is important to note that while these values are widely used in the glass industry, there is no global standard defined by Cetie or CEN.
A standard defines a set of specifications describing an object, a being, or a way of operating. It results in a principle serving as a rule and technical reference. A standard is not mandatory; its adoption is a voluntary act. Some are made mandatory by a regulatory text or decree. Be careful not to confuse 'Standard' with 'Norm.' A standard results from a more restricted consensus than a norm; it is developed among industrialists within consortia and not by national organizations. The difference, however, is slight, and English speakers use the term 'standard' to refer to a norm.
ISO (it is not an acronym, ISO comes from the Greek word 'isos' meaning equal) has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. It is an international organization created in 1947 with representatives from national organizations of over 150 countries.
At the international level:
ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) – 1947
IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission)
ITU (International Telecommunication Union)
At the European level:
CEN (European Committee for Standardisation) – 1961
CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation)
ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute)
At the French level:
AFNOR (French Association for Standardisation)
UTE (Technical Union for Electricity)
In foreign countries:
SCC (Standards Council of Canada)
IBN (Belgian Institute for Standardisation)
ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials)
SNV (Swiss Association for Standardisation)
DIN (German Institute for Standardisation)
BSI (British Standards Institute)
ANSI (American National Standards Institute)
Certain neck finish development projects are submitted to Cetie working groups for consideration as a basis for a Cetie specification. If the group decides to proceed, they can organise collective testing and further development within the Cetie framework. This approach is particularly beneficial when several design proposals meet similar and confirmed market needs. By pooling their expertise and industrial practices, stakeholders can maximise industrial efficiency across the value chain. Cetie does not provide financial support for these collective developments, although certain sampling costs may be shared among participating companies. Cetie does not involve itself in the development projects of individual companies.
PET packaging (food & beverages)
Certain neck finish development projects are submitted to Cetie working groups for consideration as a basis for a Cetie specification. If the group decides to proceed, they can organise collective testing and further development within the Cetie framework. This approach is particularly beneficial when several design proposals meet similar and confirmed market needs. By pooling their expertise and industrial practices, stakeholders can maximise industrial efficiency across the value chain. Cetie does not provide financial support for these collective developments, although certain sampling costs may be shared among participating companies. Cetie does not involve itself in the development projects of individual companies.
Initiated by the glass industry in the 1960s, the acronym 'GME' stands for 'Glass Manufacturing Experimental'.
The idea was that Cetie, as an unofficial standards body, would only publish 'experimental' data sheets, before submitting these to the official standards bodies.
At the same time, in the USA, the acronym 'GME' was also used.
As the original meaning was lost over time, this nomenclature for Cetie's glass finishes documents has been later on, applied to the PET finish data sheets.
To our knowledge, the principle of tamper-evidence is not subject to any specific legislation or regulation. For pharmaceutical products, the international standard ISO 21976:2018 - PACKAGING - TAMPER EVIDENCE FOR DRUG PACKAGING was published in 2018. This standard can be extended to other fields, such as food and beverages. The principle of tamper-evidence is to guarantee the integrity of the bottled product to the end-user. It is more of a guarantee that the brand offers to its customers than a device subject to European or international regulations.
You can find the PET neck finish nomenclature in datasheet DT23.03 - PET FINISHES GLOSSARY AND NOMENCLATURE.
The standard format is:
GME 3#.## T/C-X-#TS/P-($$)
Where:
T: Thread crest diameter
C: Control diameter at the top of the finish
X: Height from the top of the finish to the bottom of the support ledge
#TS: Number of thread starts
P: Pitch
ISO (it is not an acronym, ISO comes from the Greek word 'isos' meaning equal) has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. It is an international organization created in 1947 with representatives from national organizations of over 150 countries.
A standard defines a set of specifications describing an object, a being, or a way of operating. It results in a principle serving as a rule and technical reference. A standard is not mandatory; its adoption is a voluntary act. Some are made mandatory by a regulatory text or decree. Be careful not to confuse 'Standard' with 'Norm.' A standard results from a more restricted consensus than a norm; it is developed among industrialists within consortia and not by national organizations. The difference, however, is slight, and English speakers use the term 'standard' to refer to a norm.
At the international level:
ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) – 1947
IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission)
ITU (International Telecommunication Union)
At the European level:
CEN (European Committee for Standardisation) – 1961
CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation)
ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute)
At the French level:
AFNOR (French Association for Standardisation)
UTE (Technical Union for Electricity)
In foreign countries:
SCC (Standards Council of Canada)
IBN (Belgian Institute for Standardisation)
ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials)
SNV (Swiss Association for Standardisation)
DIN (German Institute for Standardisation)
BSI (British Standards Institute)
ANSI (American National Standards Institute)
BVP is the french acronym for Bague à Vis pour Produit plat
Bague = Finish
Vis = Threaded / Screw
Produit plat = Still product
Mr Jacques Granger (Expert for Saint Gobain-Péchiney & then Amcor in France) who chaired the metallic screw cap working groups and produced a part of our related documentation introduced the name “BAGUE À VIS STELVIN” in 1987.
For commercial and marketing purposes, the Swiss BVS finish, originally “BAGUE À VIS STELVIN” in French, has been used as well as “BAGUE À VIS POUR VIN SUISSE” in Switzerland as the company Vetropack, located in this country, participated in its development. At GPI (Glass Packaging Institute), in standard GPI 1680-03 such finish is named STELVIN SCREW FINISH, as well as nowadays in New Zealand, Australia and now China.
It might be that the “S” of this acronym, offers a possibility to interpret the acronym without creating any commercial issues
Glass packaging (Flaconnage)
Since 2018, a series of documents (DT36 series) has been raised, including:
DT36.00 - TEST METHOD ON GLASS FLACON DECORATIVE ELEMENTS - RESISTANCE TO IMMERSION IN WATER
DT36.01 - TEST METHOD ON GLASS FLACON DECORATIVE ELEMENTS - ABRASION TEST - LINEAR ABRASER
DT36.02 - TEST METHOD ON GLASS FLACON DECORATIVE ELEMENTS - SUN TEST
DT36.03 - TEST METHOD ON GLASS FLACON DECORATIVE ELEMENTS - COLOUR EVALUATION
DT36.04 - TEST METHOD ON GLASS FLACON DECORATIVE ELEMENTS - VIBRATION TEST
DT36.05 - TEST METHOD ON GLASS FLACON DECORATIVE ELEMENTS - HANDBAG TEST
DT36.06 - TEST METHOD ON GLASS FLACON DECORATIVE ELEMENTS - HOLDING OF COLLAGE
DT37.00 - TEST METHOD ON GLASS FLACON DECORATIVE ELEMENTS - RESISTANCE TO BULK
To our knowledge, no recommended tolerances are currently available from another source.
The dimensional characteristics of the Europa threaded glass finish series are defined in the French standard NF H35-050. This standard is available from the Afnor boutique.
To our knowledge no generic standards for glass wall thicknesses. The question is generally posed in relation to mechanical performance but glass strength is not uniquely related to the wall thickness and in general, glassmakers consider it inappropriate to specify wall thicknesses as against the usual performance tests (bursting strength, impact, vertical load).
In the specific case of flaconnage, in a particular perfume bottle with more unconventional shapes and important aesthetic considerations, Cetie has published a reference document on minimum wall thickness for glass flacons compiled from industrial practice: FS19 - FLACONNAGE - WALL THICKNESS - PRECAUTION FOR USE. Other factors that need to be taken into account in specifications for mechanical strength are also described.
Cetie does not recommend any specific laboratory.
However, here are some laboratories that perform these tests:
AGR: https://www.agrintl.com/ (Pressure tests)
AT2E: https://www.at2e-usa.com (Sealing tests, such as the bubble point test)
This list will be updated with other names according to user requests.
This type of data sheet is based on the “tolerance values usually found in the industry.” This means they represent the best compromise between the customer’s functional needs and the level of process mastery in normal mass glass production. They correspond to a basic situation where these tolerances should generally allow the filler to fill, label, close, and pack the item in secondary packaging under good conditions. In special cases, the filler might need and require narrower limits (e.g., high-speed line, specific pump or closure), which could lead them to challenge the supplier. These “basic” tolerances form the base of the product specification, which can be either aligned with the DT15.00 series or more restrictive. The glassmaker would then evaluate their ability to meet the higher requirements and the corresponding added cost. In summary, the tolerances consider both factors: achievable accuracy in a stable large series manufacturing process and a tolerance window that does not hinder the intended application.
ISO (it is not an acronym, ISO comes from the Greek word 'isos' meaning equal) has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. It is an international organization created in 1947 with representatives from national organizations of over 150 countries.
A standard defines a set of specifications describing an object, a being, or a way of operating. It results in a principle serving as a rule and technical reference. A standard is not mandatory; its adoption is a voluntary act. Some are made mandatory by a regulatory text or decree. Be careful not to confuse 'Standard' with 'Norm.' A standard results from a more restricted consensus than a norm; it is developed among industrialists within consortia and not by national organizations. The difference, however, is slight, and English speakers use the term 'standard' to refer to a norm.
At the international level:
ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) – 1947
IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission)
ITU (International Telecommunication Union)
At the European level:
CEN (European Committee for Standardisation) – 1961
CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation)
ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute)
At the French level:
AFNOR (French Association for Standardisation)
UTE (Technical Union for Electricity)
In foreign countries:
SCC (Standards Council of Canada)
IBN (Belgian Institute for Standardisation)
ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials)
SNV (Swiss Association for Standardisation)
DIN (German Institute for Standardisation)
BSI (British Standards Institute)
ANSI (American National Standards Institute)
Initiated by the glass industry in the 1960s, the acronym 'GME' stands for 'Glass Manufacturing Experimental'.
The idea was that Cetie, as an unofficial standards body, would only publish 'experimental' data sheets, before submitting these to the official standards bodies.
At the same time, in the USA, the acronym 'GME' was also used.
As the original meaning was lost over time, this nomenclature for Cetie's glass finishes documents has been later on, applied to the PET finish data sheets.
The GPI data sheets are published by the Glass Packaging Institute (https://www.gpi.org/) and mainly concern the neck finish geometry of glass containers. To obtain the latest version of a document, you need to contact the organisation directly. Access to their library is subject to a fee. Therefore, Cetie is not permitted to share information about these documents. However, for specific questions, we can provide explanations and comparisons with European or World standards (EN or ISO) as well as Cetie data sheets.
Contact Information: Glass Packaging Institute (GPI)
4250 North Fairfax Drive
Suite 600 Arlington
VA 22203 USA
+1 703.684.6359
Each glassmaker can request the assignment of line numbers from Cetie. Even if they do not plan to equip all their lines with laser coding, Cetie will propose to assign a corresponding number of codes for all their lines worldwide. Glassmakers unfamiliar with this principle can be referred to Cetie by the laser engraver supplier. However, there must be a direct request from the glassmaker to Cetie. This registration is free of charge. For more information, see DT40.01 - DATAMATRIX HOT-END LASER MARKING - PROCEDURE OF ATTRIBUTION OF LINE NUMBERS.
At Cetie, we develop technical documents at the request of our members, which include bottle manufacturers (glass and PET), packaging users (brands and bottlers), and suppliers of caps and closures associated with the bottling industry. If our members need to harmonise the design of a specific finish, we work with them to define its characteristics, which then become one of our "GME" finish data sheets. On our documentary resources page, we only make available documents created and published by Cetie. In the case of other documents on the same topic (ISO, CEN, or AFNOR standards, documents published by other organisations such as GPI), we are not authorised to distribute them, especially if these organisations are responsible for these documents (which is the case for GPI, AFNOR, CEN, ISO, etc.). If you believe that a finish design belonging to the public domain should be harmonised or standardised, please let us know so that we can submit this topic to our active members.