Martell, the globally recognized cognac house under Pernod Ricard, has announced a groundbreaking advancement in luxury packaging by exploring a prototype bottle made entirely from flat glass, a material traditionally reserved for high-end technology.
Flat glass, known for its transparency, strength, and versatile cutability, is produced in large sheets. By harnessing its advantages, Martell is forging a new path in food and drink packaging with a sleek, innovative prototype. This development exemplifies the house’s commitment, alongside Pernod Ricard, to push the limits of luxury packaging in the spirits industry and beyond.
To bring this pioneering initiative to life, Martell partnered with Vitalink Technology Co., a leader in manufacturing expertise for luxury goods. The collaboration aims to merge techniques from diverse sectors like Swiss watches and smartphones into food and drink sustainable packaging. By leveraging technology inspired by “glass origami,” Martell and Vitalink are creating an ultra-light bottle that highlights the strengths of flat glass.
Their shared goal is to introduce high-precision, futuristic packaging to the luxury spirits market, thereby setting new industry standards.
- The Material: The bottle utilizes advanced flat glass typically found in smartphones, offering an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. By employing thinner glass, the production process minimizes material usage, resulting in a lighter bottle that enhances the overall sensory experience.
- The Process: This innovative technology employs a futuristic “glass origami” technique, whereby ultra-thin glass is folded into bottles and laser-welded at seams. Utilizing precise laser bonding technology allows for sharp, straight, and exact angles—achievements that were previously impossible in glass bottle manufacturing. The outcome is a sleek, modern design.
- The Design & Finish: A precision surface process delivers a luxury finish akin to that of gemstones. The bottle’s uniform thickness maximizes clarity and transparency, elegantly showcasing the liquid within and paving the way for new design opportunities in packaging.
This breakthrough offers numerous benefits, such as optimized material usage, an enhanced strength-to-weight ratio, and exceptional clarity that beautifully accentuates the liquid inside. These qualities open up limitless design possibilities. While currently a prototype, the bottle exhibits significant potential for widespread future application.
Since its inception in 1715, innovation has always been at the core of Maison Martell. Commenting on the prototype, Global Marketing Director Sebastien Borda stated, “Maison Martell is excited to embark on this groundbreaking journey in luxury packaging innovation. Our prototype bottle isn’t just a design; it’s a bold, visionary statement that challenges traditional spirits aesthetics, positioning Martell as a leader of the luxury sector. This initiative aims not only to redefine luxury packaging but to powerfully demonstrate Martell’s unwavering commitment to challenging the status quo.”
Xu Ren, Vice President of Vitalink Technology Co., remarked, “Bringing cutting edge precision engineering and material science to a tradition-led métier, we call the new process ‘glass origami’ – folding and lasering advanced flat glass as thin as 0.7 mm to create an ultra-lightweight, almost surreal bottle.”
SK Chong, CTO of Vitalink Technology Co., added, “We apply our optical lens knowhow to deliver exceptional clarity that fully reveals the beauty of the liquid inside, while state of the art precision manufacturing unlocks entirely new geometries and design possibilities that complement and honor the craft.”
