Each chewing or bubble gum format has its own formula adaptations and specific gum base adapted to the production necessities and technological specificities.
Choosing the right gum base depending on the type of product is important, as it impacts directly in production performance and efficiencies as well as in the final product quality.
Here are just a few examples of the most common gum formats on the market and how each needs to be adapted to ensure optimum output.
Cut & Wrap
The gum bases for this type of line need a certain elasticity to withstand the stretching that takes place in the cooling tunnel.
Chewing gum formulations should be softer than other chewing gums, due to the bigger size of the piece, which is achieved by adding more liquids in the formula (glucose or liquid sweeteners).
Sticks / Tabs
The gum bases for laminated products should have the necessary plasticity to allow them to be shaped by the rolls and, after the curing time, become hard enough to be wrapped properly.
Laminated chewing gums usually have higher gum base percentage than cut & wrap gums. Besides that, the glucose content needs to be adjusted to afford the necessary hardness for the packaging process while maintaining sufficient elasticity to ensure that the pieces do not break when bent.
Pellets / Pillows
Similar to sticks, when chewing gum is shaped in pellet form, gum bases for laminated products should have the necessary plasticity to allow them to be shaped by the rolls and, after the curing time, become hard enough to withstand the coating process.
Hollow balls
The gum bases for revolution products must have certain elasticity (less than cut & wrap products) and have the necessary plasticity to maintain their shape and prevent leaks (if filled). Once the center is cured, it must be hard enough to withstand the coating process.
Revolution chewing gum formulas are usually drier (lower glucose or liquid sweetener content) to give the hardness described above and to minimize elasticity.
Liquid-filled gum
The gum bases for stamped chewing gum should have special characteristics: sufficient elasticity to withstand the equalizing step – where the stretching takes place – and the correct plasticity to quickly adopt the shape produced by the dies of the forming machine.
The chewing gum should have a gum base percentage range that allows for good formation and a good seal. A deficiency or excess in the gum base content will lead to product deformations.
Gum-filled candy
All bubble gum bases can usually be used for this type of product. However, due to the high temperature of the candy, gum bases with lower viscosities may be more difficult to work with because they can become liquid.
Compressed chewing gum
Compressed chewing gums are made of a powder ready to be compressed for functional and pharmaceutical industries.
There are many types of bubble and chewing gums out there, which is the reason why we have around 100 different kinds of gum bases in our active portfolio to offer. Contact us!