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Marposs Announces On-Line Diameter Control
Photo: Aeroel
Aeroel by Marposs, a provider of measurement, inspection and test technologies, has launched the Xploreline.XY gauging system for reliable, accurate and contactless diameter gauge control of cigarette or filter-making machines. The Xploreline.XY systems can be installed on-line with either single or double-rod machines and perform continuous diameter monitoring during rod manufacturing to achieve 100 percent inspection of potential dimensional nonconformity.
Each system includes a dual axis Xactum gauge intelligent laser sensor, which provides consistent, accurate measurement of the average rod diameter or rod circumference of fast-moving products. A special patented air-bracket device, specifically suited for on-line applications, is also included, ensuring the gauge self-cleans to protect against tobacco or paper dust.
Diameter measurement data are transmitted to the machine’s numerical control through the serial line, Ethernet or Profibus interface. Using the diameter information, the controller can automatically adjust the machine and keep the rod size within the preset tolerance limits, which improves machine efficiency. Alarm outputs are triggered for any out-of-tolerance part. Off-line applications are also available to check the product size after production.
These compact systems are available in different models and measuring sizes. The Xploreline.XY13 has a measuring field of 13 mm x 13 mm, measurable diameters from 0.1 mm to 10 mm, and a repeatability of ± 0.2 µm and linearity of +/- 0.5 micron. The Xploreline.XY35 has a measuring field of 35 mm x 35 mm, measurable diameters from 0.2 mm to 32 mm, repeatability of ± 0.15 µm and linearity of +/- 1 micron.
Each XLS gauge is programmed with dedicated software along with a display unit and remote control. Overall benefits include:
Continuous diameter control
No scrap: real-time inspection allows the system to detect out-of-tolerance trends and return the product back within specification, avoiding any risk of rejects or complaints
Material savings: keeping the product close to the lowest tolerance limit, considerable savings in materials can be achieved, allowing the cost of the system to be paid back in just a few months
Process automation: use machines with automatic change of collection reels or systems to coil spools up to a preset weight
Quality Certification: 100 percent inspection makes random sample checks redundant and allows printing of detailed reports to prove product quality
April 21, 2021
IOTO Expands Into Hemp Sheets

IOTO will leverage its experience in tobacco to serve the hemp industry.
(Photo courtesy of IOTO)
IOTO International, a U.S. and Brazil-based manufacturer of homogenized wrapper, cut filler and binder, has expanded its Yerba Mate, Chamomile and other herbal homogenized sheet offerings to include premium reconstituted hemp sheet.
Utilizing qualified and tested hemp flower, leaf or stem supplied by customers (or directly sourced locally by IOTO), the company is now able to offer customized manufacture of hemp sheet to the specific herbal content requirements of its clients.
“Demand for hemp smoking wrappers in the USA has increased exponentially over the last two years as brand developers have brought novel hemp cigarettes, cigars, hemp wrappers and hemp cones to the market,” said Helder Tullio, director of operations at IOTO, in a statement.
“Unfortunately, the majority of the hemp wrap available today is generic and not crafted to meet the specific smoking qualities required by brand owners.
At IOTO, we are set up to run both small-scale and high-volume production, and we are able to meet the specific formulation needs of the client.
We can help make smaller brands more viable and give them real points of differentiation.
Helder Tullio, director of operations, IOTO
“Given our scaled manufacturing approach, we can work with smaller initial production runs and ultimately grow with brand owners as sales volumes expand. In effect, we can help make smaller brands more viable and give them real points of differentiation from the generic hemp wrapper offerings that are in the market today.
“The IOTO hemp wrapper is a highly durable hemp sheet, and we believe our manufacturing process gives us a distinct edge over competitors and delivers a superior quality hemp sheet for clients. In addition, IOTO’s capabilities in flavor development also help our customers meet their targeted taste profile requirements when making flavored hemp sheet.”
April 7, 2021
PAX Labs Launches Era Life Cannabis Vaporizer

Photo: PAX Labs
PAX Labs has launched the Era Life cannabis vaporizer, created for the on-the-go consumer. According to the company, Era Life delivers an effortless experience without compromising on full flavor, vapor or consistency. The device brings together a high performing battery with PAX’s most compact device yet. Era Life works with any PAX Era pod, featuring curated, high-purity cannabis produced by one of PAX’s carefully selected partners across the country. Era Life is available in the colors Onyx, Grass, Blaze and Indigo.
“We designed the Era Life to provide a simple, fun way to enjoy cannabis while still carrying the PAX promise of iconic design and enduring quality that our customers have come to know and trust,” said Colt Stander, head of product at PAX Labs, in a statement.

We designed the Era Life to provide a simple, fun way to enjoy cannabis while still carrying the PAX promise of iconic design and enduring quality.
Colt Stander, head of product, PAX Labs
“Cannabis is one of today’s fastest-growing industries, and we’re seeing new consumers enter the space rapidly. We’ve taken the best PAX has to offer, perfected the core functionality and packaged it up in our most portable design yet—perfect for those who want the easiest possible experience but still care about durability, aesthetics and safety in the products they use.”
PAX’s temperature control checks the temperature 125 times per second, ensuring a consistent temperature that delivers a full, never-burnt flavor throughout the life of the pod. Whether using lower temperature for more flavor or higher temperature for more vapor, Era Life creates smooth airflow through laser cut sidings and achieves better hits every time.
Era Life provides more than 150 puffs per charge and an easy-to-read LED low battery indicator ensures it’s never without juice. The product is UL-certified, meeting the leading safety standards.
Priced at $35, Era Life is available for purchase by those 21 and over on pax.com and at licensed retailers in legal U.S. states where PAX products are sold.
March 31, 2021
RELX Launches New E-cigarettes in Colombia

Photo: RELX International
RELX International will launch its next-generation e-cigarettes, the Infinity and Essential, in Colombia this month. The Infinity features RELX International’s latest innovations in product design, vapor quality, mobility and overall user experience. The Essential allows users to experience key elements of the Infinity’s design at a more accessible price point.
According to RELX, Infinity and Essential feature a full flavor and smooth puff due to the independently developed Super Smooth Performance technology. With more than a year dedicated to the design process, this data-driven technology was developed by defining five key elements that constitute the perfect puff. This technology was perfected through 76 sensory tests and repeated refinements of the parameters measuring RELX Super Smooth Performance.
The design of the Infinity device was optimized more than 40 times, and more than 12,000 pods were tested to ensure leak resistance and high-quality standards. Patent applications have been submitted for more than 50 innovations used in the device, including its leak-resistant design, e-liquid pods and wireless charging case. In March 2020, the Infinity was awarded the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2020.
Our goal is to help smokers who cannot or do not want to quit to transition to a better alternative with confidence.
Bing Du, CEO, RELX International
“I’m proud of the entire RELX global team for creating this beautifully designed Infinity device with superior technology and with a dedication to innovation that we are now known for worldwide,” said RELX International CEO Bing Du in a statement. “Ultimately our goal is to help current smokers who cannot or do not want to quit to transition to a better alternative with confidence. The more budget-friendly Essential device also allows users to experience RELX’s premium quality features.”
March 30, 2021
Innokin Launches ‘AC’ Vaporizer

Photo: Innokin
Innokin has teamed up with Fourier Technology to develop the Sensis, the first vaporizer with fourth-generation vape technology.
Whereas earlier generations of vaporizers used direct current to power coils in a single direction, fourth-generation vape technology uses alternating current mode (ACM) to send electricity through the coil in both directions.
“Our goal in developing alternating current mode is to provide vapers with an even better experience and the vaping industry new ways to grow and improve,” said Meredith Zhao, chief technology officer at Fourier Technology, in an Innokin press note. “We are looking forward to working with experienced users to discover the full potential of this exciting new vape technology in the hope of working together to create a smoke-free future.”
According to Fourier, ACM introduces waveform frequency control to vaping. Vapers can now adjust the hertz frequency waveforms as well as the wattage output. This upgraded output provides many advantages over the previous generation’s single direction current.
By selecting different types of waveforms and adjusting the frequency, the full spectrum of flavors can be produced from liquids and specific flavors can be enhanced.
Our goal in developing alternating current mode is to provide vapers with an even better experience.
Meredith Zhao, CTO, Fourier Technology
ACM increases the efficiency of heat transfer between the coil and liquid, which improves flavors, extends coil life and much more.
ACM has been shown to help extend coil life by increasing coil saturation and reducing carbon buildup on coils.
According to Innokin, the Sensis demonstrates the great progress that has been made in vapor technology.
The industry distinguishes four generations of technology. First-generation vape technology was basic, where direct power output to the coils could not be adjusted. With the push of a button, or by simply inhaling, the battery heated coils, changing the liquid into vapor to deliver nicotine and flavors.
Second-generation vape technology introduced variable voltage and variable wattage, where adjusting the power output to the coils increases or decreases heat to personal taste. With adjustable voltage/wattage technology, vaporizers became smarter and more user-friendly. The device chipsets read the coil resistance then automatically calculated power output to provide a safer, personalized experience across devices and tanks. The simplicity of variable wattage has made it the most widely used vape technology today, especially in intermediate and advanced e-cigarettes.
Third-generation technology with temperature control utilized more advanced chipsets and new types of coil materials. Designed to eliminate dry-hits and reduce potential harm from damaged cotton wicking, third-generation vape technology used resistance-temperature correlation to calculate coil temperature based on detected coil resistance. Due to limited choices of coil materials and coil performance issues, temperature control is not used as widely as wattage mode.
The fourth generation features ACM technology as deployed in the Sensis.
March 24, 2021
Cerulean Offers Aerosol Measurement
Cerulean has launched a new stand-alone Aerosol Temperature Measurement System (ATMS), the company announced on its website.
The ATMS is designed for research and quality assurance applications to measure the temperature of aerosol generated from e-cigarettes and heated-tobacco products.
The ATMS monitors and records aerosol temperature on a puff-by-puff basis in real time and is available in multiholder configurations of one, four, five, eight, 10 and 20 channels.
Comprising a supplied portable computer with an intuitive user interface and ISO-compliant Cambridge Filter Holders, the ATMS can be fitted to any vaping machine and will record and display in real time the aerosol temperate during the experiment.
March 10, 2021
Vuse Alto Vapor Brand Expands in the U.S.

Photo: R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co.
The Vuse vapor brand announced today a national expansion in the United States of Vuse Alto Golden Tobacco 5.0 percent and Alto Menthol 5.0 percent four-pod packs and the national release of Vuse Alto Golden Tobacco 2.4 percent and Alto Menthol 2.4 percent four-pod packs.
The four-pod packs provide adult vapor consumers with three Vuse Alto configuration options as they can now choose from single-pod, two-pod or four-pod packs. The national availability of four-pod packs gives Vuse the most expansive portfolio of choice for adult vapor consumers with three flavors, in three nicotine strengths across three configuration formats as well as the many options for device customization with a range of device colors, wraps and engraving options.
“Done responsibly, our ambition is to make Vuse the No. 1 vapor brand in the U.S. market,” said Christy Canary-Garner, vice president of Vuse commercial development at R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co, in a statement. “This portfolio expansion provides us with the opportunity to better compete and enhances our price competitiveness to drive conversion among existing adult vapor consumers and boost loyalty.
“The four-pod pack configuration is the most popular among competitive pod-mod vapor products, and four-pod packs enable Vuse Alto to compete against competitors on a per-pod price point. The new four-pod packs are available to all retail outlets.
“Coupled with our release of single pods in November of 2020, this national rollout of four-pod packs now gives adult Vuse consumers more options than any other brand.”
The national expansion of the four-pod packs will begin this week.
February 26, 2021
Rush Nicotine Pouch Hits U.S. Market

Photo: Crown Distributing
Rush non-tobacco oral nicotine pouches are now available in the United States through Crown Distributing, Global Tobacco and America Juice Co.
Manufactured under license through Alternative Nicotine Technologies, Rush is available in wintergreen, mint, citrus and cinnamon flavors. Consumers can pick between nicotine levels of 3 mg and 7 mg.
Mike Walters, vice president of sales at Crown Distribution, has high expectations for the new product. “Our initial consumer feedback tells us the Rush tobacco-free white nicotine pouches rate high on soft mouth feel, flavor impact and overall nicotine satisfaction when compared to other brands currently on the market,” he said in a statement.
Unlike other pouch brands that claim to be tobacco-free, Rush does not rely on tobacco-nicotine extracts or flavors, according to Crown Distribution. “We deliver on our promise that all of our ingredients are certifiable as non-tobacco,” says Walters. “This makes the Rush nicotine pouch the first true ‘tobacco-free’ nationwide brand roll-out in the modern oral nicotine pouch category.”
January 29, 2021
Habanos Celebrates Year of the Ox

Photo: Habanos
Habanos, through its exclusive distributors The Pacific Cigar Co. and Infifon Hong Kong, presents its new vitola Primaveras de Hoyo de Monterrey (48 ring gauge x 167 mm length). This vitola has been specially selected to commemorate the spring festival of the Chinese lunar new year—this year the “Year of the Ox.”
The Primaveras de Hoyo de Monterrey vitola will have a limited production, but will be available in all markets. This vitola is presented in a special box of 18 Habanos and is totally handmade with long filler from Vuelta Abajo in Cuba’s Pinar del Rio region.
The brand will be officially presented on Jan. 13 during an event attended by Habanos vice presidents Leopoldo Cintra González and José María López Inchaurbe.
One of Habanos’ most prestigious brands, Hoyo de Monterrey traces its origins to a plantation of the same name in San Juan y Martínez.
January 13, 2021
JT Expands Sales of ‘Ploom TECH+ With’
Japan Tobacco (JT) plans to expand in Japan sales of “Ploom TECH+ with,” the more compact version of JT’s tobacco-infused vapor series, Ploom TECH+. The new device will gradually be available nationwide starting at Ploom shops and select tobacco retail stores from Feb. 1, 2021, along with convenience stores from Feb. 2, 2021.
To commemorate the nationwide expansion, JT is offering a limited time discount for the “Ploom TECH+ with” starter kit.
“After receiving positive feedback from our consumers since its launch last November, we are delighted to announce the nationwide expansion of ‘Ploom TECH+ with,’” said Toru Takahashi, vice president of the marketing group product and brand division for reduced risk products, in a statement.
“While still retaining the features of Ploom TECH+, such as producing less smell than cigarette smoke and not requiring wait time to start or finish using the device, ‘Ploom TECH+ with’ is more compact and easy to use, and we believe our consumers will find this device to enrich their experience than ever before.”
January 13, 2021