Bag on Valve – or B.O.V. – barrier packaging is a relatively new technology for viscous or liquid products. With aerosol products that use the B.O.V. approach, the product itself will be completely separate from the nitrogen or eco-friendly propellant the manufacturer uses. This highly effective separation technique means that the product in question will remain absolutely fewer. Moreover, the B.O.V. aerosol packaging is entirely recyclable, providing both reliability and convenience for consumers. The following will show you that any number of manufacturing industries have begun to recognize the advantages they might get from embracing this technology themselves.

Most commonly, Bag-on-Valve technology is used for aluminum cans that have a 1 inch opening. In this process, the valve is crimped and then welded to a packaging bag made of oil that has a film laminate with multiple layers. Once this valve is crimped, nitrogen or compressed air is pumped into the space between the can and the bag. This procedure is referred to as cup gassing and helps to ensure that the propellant and the product remain separate. Specialized equipment is required to carry out this process in the factory, but many businesses view it as well worth the investment.

Benefits of Bag-on-Valve Non Aerosol Systems
The four layer laminate bag used in this system provides a greatly improved barrier that can eliminate the chance of oxidation in the product. This is ideal for the storage of products where oxidation can be a concern, since it helps to protect the value of the product and its usefulness for the consumer. The life expectancy of products can be greatly expanded by using this process.

Another potential benefit provided by this system is that the product will be hermetically sealed inside the bag, which means it will be even more completely protected than it would be with a more traditional system. And protecting the product helps to lengthen its longevity and safety, something which is of great concern to most manufacturers. Contamination of the product – whatever it may be – is far less likely with Bag-on-Valve technology.

And speaking of safety concerns, another tremendous advantage provided by Bag-on-Valve technology is that – unlike aerosol cans – it does not use dangerous, flammable or explosive gases. Traditional aerosol cans can be astonishingly hazardous. Countless injuries have been reported across the country because of safety failures with traditional kinds of aerosol technology. This represents a hazard to consumers and a liability issue for companies. B.O.V. technology helps to solve this problem.

Products that make use of this packaging approach are also much more hygienic. The product is isolated from its surroundings, but consumers also benefit from the fact that this technology is also sterilized. This means that the potential of any contamination – whether it’s bacterial or viral – can be completely eliminated with this approach. As you no doubt recognize, reports of product contamination are one of the worst things that can happen to any company. Aside from the immediate effect, they can have a devastating long-term impact on the bottom line.

From an environmental standpoint, another benefit of the Bag-on-Valve packaging approach is that there is almost no wasted product. With alternative, traditional approaches to packaging aerosols and similar products, a good deal of the actual product itself is frequently thrown away by the consumer. But when B.O.V. is used, as much as 99.5 percent of the product will be dispensed. This is far more efficient and environmentally friendly.

Another benefit to the consumer is the greater usefulness – or utility – of the product in question. While with some aerosols, it’s necessary to make sure that you are spraying from a particular angle, this is not true with B.O.V. packaging. Instead, you can choose to spray the product from any angle you choose, since there is full 360° actuation. Consumers also get a better result with a controlled spray pattern and there is no need for pumping.

The filling process is also much more effective with B.O.V. packaging and works well with both viscous and liquid products. It can also be used either for an aerosol can or standard actuators. Finally, most people in the industry see the Bag-on-Valve packaging system as the most environmentally sound aerosol system on the market.

Bag-on-Valve Applications
Manufacturers can use most viscous and liquid products with a Bag-on-Valve technology system – assuming that the products’ viscosity is sufficiently low to permit the product to travel through the system. This is an important factor when it comes to the proper process and function of aerosol technology.

Commonly Used B.O.V. Packaged Products Include: 

Cosmetics: Sun care and sunscreen sprays, creams, lotions, self-tanning sprays, facial washes, over-the-counter and pharmaceutical products, and personal hygiene

Health Products: First aid spray, nasal spray, ear wash, wound washes, eyewash and baby care products

Food: Liquid seasonings, cooking oil, vinegar, salad dressing, mustard, ketchup, tea concentrates, coffee concentrates and jellies.

Miscellaneous Uses: Air fresheners, odor remover spray, liquid fire extinguishers, car care products, disinfectant spray, hunting products, animal and insect repellant, household cleaners and furniture polish.

B.O.V. and Food Packaging
When it comes to the use of B.O.V. technology for food packaging and convenience benefits, there is no waste, no mess – just good food exactly the way you want it. This technology gives consumers the ability to add precisely the exact desired amount of a given food product to their meals or snacks.

The motivation behind these changes is that people want safer, more convenient and more eco-sensitive packaging that will still keep the product fresh without harming its appearance or taste. There is a known increase in the number of people who live busy lifestyles, as well as those who are now cooking for themselves. Many of these people are health-conscious and want to minimize waste as well as the amount of time it takes to prepare a meal. So it’s hardly surprising that this B.O.V. technology is becoming ever more interesting for marketers and manufacturers in the food and beverage industry.

Types of Foods and Beverages Suited to B.O.V. Packaging
Given all the above, you have probably noticed that many more companies are developing and/or testing beverage and food products using B.O.V. packaging techniques. In fact, the options available using this technology are continuing to expand into innovative and even highly unexpected areas. Whereas this technology was originally used simply for oils, it is now being applied across a very wide range of consumer food products you can find on the supermarket shelves.

One industry that is looking at this technology more and more is the wine industry. Clearly, B.O.V. offers enormous advantages for wine manufacturers and consumers. For instance, with Bag-on-Valve packaging technology, you could easily pour out a glass of wine without the danger of exposing the wine remaining in the container to oxygen or light. Thus, even an open bottle of wine can potentially retain its freshness and quality for much longer. Since wine can be a pricey purchase, this is a significant innovation.

Then there are the newly invented, transparent aerosol cans – which also have a transparent bag on the inside – so that you will be able to see through and know precisely just how much wine is remaining. While this isn’t available on the market as of yet, there is every reason to think that it will be available in the relatively near future. It is highly likely that you will see customers flocking to this new packaging approach, since it will provide them with much more value for their money.

Bag-on-Valve Benefits for Food Packaging
Many of the benefits that will accrue to using B.O.V. packaging technology are the same ones that will apply to other products packaged in this way. However, there are specific advantages that consumers of food products will enjoy when their food is packaged using this technology. The principal benefit is a greater guarantee of purity and freshness. Foods packaged using this technique will stay tastier and fresher much longer. Additional benefits include:

• Efficient, precise usage: The food item you are spraying will go precisely where you want it to
• You will see less waste of food and mess, since you will use only as much as needed
• B.O.V. packaging is more practical and convenient
• It is fully reusable and therefore far more environmentally friendly

The Use of BOV in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Imagine a scenario in which you’re on a beach and dig around to get out your sunscreen. Instead, you find that your lotion has leaked inside your beach bag all over your stuff. Now you don’t have your sun protection and you have a big mess to clean up. This kind of thing happens all too often in the pharmaceutical industry with products that are packaged in a traditional way.

B.O.V. packaging is the solution to this problem, as many in the technology industry are beginning to recognize. Embracing this technology means that most businesses and customers will have better options when it comes to the transport, effectiveness and application of a product. If you sell a product that comes in a spray form, make sure you choose B.O.V. technology for packaging your products versus traditional packaging as it is more desirable by consumers.

The Effectiveness of B.O.V. for Pharmaceutical Products
B.O.V. is already a big success for a number of Pharmaceutical projects, including sunscreen sprays. This is especially the case in the United States and Canada. While Coppertone was the first major brand to embrace this packaging technology, it is now widely used by a number of other brands, including private label brands and store brands.

Vaseline has also recognized the tremendous success of the B.O.V. technology when it comes to sunscreen, which led them to introduce their Spray & Go Moisturizer. One of the real benefits of this for the consumer is that it allows for improved application of the product. You can apply lotion from virtually any angle, and you don’t have to rub the product into your skin.

The Key Benefits of Using B.O.V. for Pharmaceutical Sprays
For the Pharmaceutical industry, as well as for its customers, there are many advantages to using B.O.V. packaging technology for sprays. If you sell customers moisturizers and sunscreen, the principal benefits and selling points include the fact that:

• You do not have to rub the product into your skin, which reduces cross-contamination and allows for a more comfortable application process
• You get a continuous spray from any angle, which makes for easier application for the general public, as well as for civic individuals who might have mobility problems or whose skin care problems for wounds are hard to reach
• You will not experience a stinging or chilling effect, which helps to minimize pain
• The packaging is more attractive, making it more appealing for manufacturers, retailers and consumers
• You don’t have to be concerned about the cam leaking, making for a concerned free experience

Another vital benefit you get from B.O.V. packaging technology is that it virtually guarantees the integrity of the product because of how that product is being packaged. Customers can be certain that the eye wash spray they are using in an emergency situation is perfectly sterile. The same applies to saline nasal sprays and any number of other similar products consumers might use. All of this is made possible because of advances in B.O.V. packaging technology.

So to sum up, bag on valve or B.O.V. packaging technology is revolutionizing many aspects of the packaging process for a number of different industries. As discussed above, this new approach has implications not only for spray on products like hairspray, lotions and cosmetics, but also for other manufactured products as well. Whether your business is part of the food industry, the cosmetics industry or some other industry in which products have to be dispensed from a canned container, it may well be that you can benefit by making use of this technology. Certainly, both the pharmaceutical industry and the food and beverage industries are rushing to incorporate this type of aerosol packaging into their aerosol products in the United States, Canada and elsewhere.