UK

Filtrona Filter Products, a leading independent supplier of innovative specialist filters to the tobacco industry, is developing a new range of filters that offer cigarette manufacturers innovative technological and design-based solutions to reduce the overall cost of a cigarette. The aptly-named Advantage range currently includes a new carbon filter, called Smooth Core, and the Randomly Orientated Acetate filter (ROA), with more new filters already under development and due to be added in the coming months.

At a recent press launch, managing director PT Sreekumar commented on the thinking behind the new range.

"Following the recent changes in the world economy, and the increase in the price of raw materials, Filtrona recognizes that cigarette manufacturers are looking for innovative solutions that allow them to reduce the overall cost of a cigarette, without compromising on taste or brand quality," Sreekumar said. "The Advantage range is being developed specifically to meet this need and is based around the idea of using intelligent, balanced cigarette design to provide better overall value."

Epitomizing the philosophy behind the Advantage range, the flagship filter, Smooth Core, provides not only the filtration and smoother taste benefits, often associated with carbon filters, that for example allow for the use of harsher tobacco, but also the cost benefit of requiring only a single-process machine. The filter is manufactured by injecting a precise quantity of granulated activated carbon into a pod in the center of the filter’s tow material in a single-pass process. This process, compared to manufacturing a carbon dual filter for example, is more efficient in its use of materials, energy and machinery: less adhesive, less paper (plug wrap) and less processing are required. It also offers cleaner machine running and a lower tip-to-tip variation in circumference, carbon weight and pressure drop. Unlike other specialist filters, Smooth Core also uses standard tow. The combination of these benefits makes Smooth Core the affordable carbon filter option.

"The activated carbon filter market segment represents 9% of global cigarette sales, with the largest market being Japan," according to Chris Franklin, global sales director. "Russia and the former CIS countries have seen extraordinary growth in the use of carbon filters in the last decade and are the focus of many new carbon filtered cigarette launches. With Smooth Core, cigarette manufacturers can compete effectively in these countries thanks to the cost benefits it provides."

Also in the Advantage range is the ROA filter, available in both standard and super slim sizes. The ROA filter is again an example of innovative technology being used to reduce costs as its patent pending production process enables a saving in tow weight of up to 8% on standard filters and up to 20% on super slim variants. More new filters are currently under development and due to be added to the range in the coming months.