Sigg bottle

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Sigg bottles are bottles designed and manufactured in Switzerland from aluminium or in China from stainless steel.^[1] The aluminum bottles are made by an extruding press which forms an aluminum puck into a cylinder in a single movement after which it is pressed into one of several possible bottle sizes. A separate threading ring is inserted and secured. Once the bottle has been formed, it is cleaned and the interior is sprayed with a food-compatible stove enamel which is heated while the outside is coated and heat bonded with powder paint.^[2]

Contents 1 History 2 Interchangeability 3 Advantages and disadvantages 4 Design 5 References 6 External links

[edit] History

The company was founded in Biel in 1908 by Ferdinand Sigg and produced kitchenware, bottles and electrical appliances from aluminum. In 1916 the company moved to Frauenfeld. Since 1998, the company has concentrated on the manufacture of bottles. According to market research, the company name is known by 70 percent of people in German-speaking countries.^[3]

SIGG USA uses Network Solutions for credit card processing. In August 2009 notification letters were sent to US customers. From March 12 to June 8 purchases on SIGG USA were compromised and credit card, names and addresses were exposed.

[edit] Interchangeability

All Sigg bottles use the same diameter head and thread system which results in interchangeability of bottles and caps. Different cap styles exist such as a normal screw on cap with loop, caps with glow-in-the-dark markers, sports-bottle caps and caps with added protection from dust.

[edit] Advantages and disadvantages

Aluminum bottles are resistant to shocks and deformations, are lightweight, and protect the contents from light. The interior coating is flexible and is unlikely to break or crack during deformations. Sigg bottles have been determined by Backpacker magazine to be the "world's toughest water bottle."^[4] The bottle with its internal liner and secure cap allow for carbonated beverages to be transported secure and freshly.^[5]

The disadvantage of thin aluminum is that it does not offer much insulation, which means that condensation can build on the outside of the bottle when cold drinks are transported, and hot drinks will result in a bottle which can not be comfortably touched.^[6] The limited size of the opening also makes it difficult to fill or clean the bottle or to use it for purposes other than drinking.^[7]

Evaluating the merits of the bottle liner is difficult because SIGG refuses to disclose the composition of that lining, claiming that it is a proprietary secret. Some concern exists that the bottles leach bisphenol A (BPA) in amounts too small to measure, but are still endocrine disrupting.^[8] Some of the listed liner materials are what the company refers to as "water based, non-toxic polymers" which is generically vague.^[9] However, all Sigg bottles manufactured after August 2008 use the "EcoCare" liner, which is guaranteed to contain no BPA. The previous liner contained trace amounts of BPA but was shown through many experiments not to leach it; because of proprietary issues, the company could not reveal whether the liner actually contained BPA. To ensure public satisfaction, they proceeded to create a liner that was completely absent of BPA. ^[10]

Another disadvantage is that the bottles are unsuitable for use in below freezing temperatures, as having liquid inside the bottle at such temperatures will cause it to crack.^[11]

[edit] Design

Each year, new designs of the Sigg bottle are added to the collection while others are no longer produced.^[12] The design of Sigg bottle has led to its addition to the permanent design collection of the NY Museum of Modern Art.^[13] The classic bottle is of a single colour (most often red) whilst more modern bottles can have designs on them and are available in both glossy or matte finishes. Special editions include those made specifically for English band Radiohead's tour in 2008. The band and crew used them^[14] and they were available to buy at shows and now at the band's merchandise website.^[15]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official website