Thermochromatic ink changes the mountains pictured on Coors Light labels from white (top) to blue (bottom) as the beer chills. Source: Coors Brewing Co.

Temperature-sensing dyes used to be too costly for food and beverage packaging, but the economics changed with the cold activated bottle from Coors Brewing Co., Golden, CO.

A dye-based thermochromatic ink—impregnated in the mountains on the label of Coors Light bottles—begins turning from white to blue as the beer’s temperature drops from 48˚F to 43˚F, indicating it’s at optimum drinking temperature. If the bottle is left at room temperature, it reverts back to white.

Marketed as Chromazone ink by Glenview, IL-based Liquid Crystal Resources/Hallcrest, the low-cost temperature sensor has touched off a wave of inquiries regarding other applications, reports LCR/Hallcrest’s John Romano, business development director. “Engineers and creatives have looked at this technology and asked, ‘Can you do this?’” he says. Use as an anti-counterfeiting tool for parts and machinery labels is one possibility: If a treated area didn’t change color when touched, knock-offs could be spotted.

Cost had relegated thermochromatic ink to niche applications until now, but “the technology and printing techniques have changed,” Romano says. “Cost is not much of a factor anymore.”

The Coors cold activated bottles were proposed by label maker Inland Label & Marketing Services, LaCrosse, WI. The labels debuted on 12-oz. bottles of Coors Light in April. Positive consumer response resulted in the technology’s use on Coors Banquet beer bottles. Other Molson Coors products soon may carry thermochromatic labels. u 

For more information:

Dave Slain, Inland Label & Marketing Services, 608-788-5800

John Romano, Liquid Crystal Resources/Hallcrest,

215-493-0352, john@lcr-usa.com