Recon Tobacco Sheets

The world of recon tobacco sheets is as fascinating as it is complex. Understanding the intricate process behind their creation, from leaf to finished product, can be an enlightening journey.

Recon tobacco, also known as recon, is a type of tobacco product that was initially developed in the 1950s. Its main purpose was to preserve valuable raw materials by combining remnants of virgin tobacco during the production process. Today, it’s used to reduce the filling cost for cigarettes, cigars, and pipe and smoking tobacco blends, and it plays a significant role in cigarette blend design. Different types of recon are produced using various methods, including the paper-making technique, nano fiber technology, and a process called band cast or slurry-type recon. The most widely used forms today are paper recon and slurry recon.

Recon tobacco sheets brands

The Russian Tobacco Factory produces recon tobacco sheets, which have various applications in the tobacco industry. Here are some key points about these tobacco sheets:

• Production Process: The sheets are made from a slurry of tobacco particles and binder, which is cast into sheets and dried to reduce the moisture content.
• Higher Tobacco Content: The Russian Tobacco Factory minimizes binder usage, resulting in a higher tobacco content of up to 90% in the sheets.
• Reduced Impact on Flavor: The reduced binder usage also leads to a reduced impact on flavor during combustion.

These reconstituted tobacco sheets offer benefits such as enhanced strength, reduced waste, and significant cost savings to the tobacco industry (more about the technology on their website: recon tobacco).

Broad Far Hong Kong: Established in 2018, Broad Far Hong Kong is an affiliate company of a publicly listed conglomerate based in Hong Kong. Initially, Broad Far began by manufacturing reconstituted tobacco sheets (RTS) for major tobacco manufacturers worldwide. Over time, the company transitioned from being an RTS supplier to a heat-not-burn (HnB) tobacco stick manufacturer. After launching their first heatstick production line in Cambodia in 2019, their products have been shipped to major tobacco markets globally. They continuously invest in product research and development to explore more flavor options and improve the smoking experience. The company’s product, NUSO HnB, has gained popularity in the tobacco markets due to its quality and flavor variety.

Innovation from Garbuio

An alternative technology for producing recon, developed by Garbuio, is the tobacco dust amalgamation (TDA) process. This process involves grinding the raw material to a powder, then adding moist components to produce a dough. Cellulose microfibers are added to stabilize the tobacco foil. This foil then undergoes a series of processes including pressing into pellets, rolling under high pressure, and drying. This process results in a tobacco foil with uniform and controlled thickness, which guarantees consistency in downstream processes and helps ensure that important product specifications, such as nicotine content, are always within the specified range.

Reconstituted tobacco leaf (RTL), also known as “recon,” is a type of tobacco product that is constructed from tobacco by-products and scraps. With the advent of heated-tobacco products (HTPs), reconstituted tobacco leaf has experienced a renaissance. The consumables of HTPs require a custom form of recon, made from carefully blended tobacco leaves.

There are several methods to produce reconstituted tobacco, including the paper-making technique, the nano fiber technology, and a process called band cast, also known as slurry-type recon. Paper recon and slurry recon are currently the most widely used forms but require much space and energy to produce.

A company called Garbuio, part of the Hauni Group, has developed an alternative technology. They have designed a recon plant that works with what they call the tobacco dust amalgamation (TDA) process, an evolution of the slurry technology. This process involves grinding the raw material, which can be tobacco, hemp, or clove, to a powder, then adding moist components including glycerin, water, and binder to produce a dough. Cellulose microfibers are added to stabilize the tobacco foil. This foil is then pressed into pellets and transferred into a rolling mill, where high pressure rollers flatten it into an even paste before it is dried.

Recon Tobacco Sheets vs. Natural Tobacco:

Reconstituted Tobacco Sheets (Recon):

Reconstituted tobacco, or recon, is made from a mixture of chopped scraps, stalks, and stems of tobacco leaf, as well as other parts left over from the tobacco extraction process. These elements are ground together, combined with a binding agent, and then rolled out into sheets. The sheets are then dried and used in a variety of tobacco products. This process helps manufacturers to save valuable raw material by combining remnants of virgin tobacco during production. Recon is currently used in tobacco blends to reduce the filling cost for cigarettes, cigars, or pipe and smoking tobacco blends. It also plays an essential role in cigarette blend design. For instance, recon can be enriched with cloves for kretek cigarettes or contain hemp components, allowing for the creation of completely new products.

Natural Tobacco:

Natural tobacco refers to the tobacco leaves that are directly harvested from the plant and dried. The leaves are typically aged and fermented before being used in tobacco products. Natural tobacco contains a variety of compounds, including nicotine, which is the substance that makes tobacco addictive. These leaves are often shredded and used in products like cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco. Natural tobacco is generally considered to have a richer and more complex flavor profile than reconstituted tobacco, but it can also be more expensive due to the labor-intensive process of growing, harvesting, and curing the tobacco leaves.

Statistics:

While specific statistics regarding the usage or production of recon tobacco sheets are not readily available, it’s worth noting that recon plays an essential role in the manufacture of heated tobacco products (HTPs), which have seen a rise in popularity in recent years. This suggests that the demand for recon tobacco sheets may also be growing.

FAQs:

Q1: What is reconstituted tobacco? A1: Reconstituted tobacco, or recon, is a type of tobacco product that was initially invented in the 1950s to conserve valuable raw materials by combining remnants of virgin tobacco during production. It is used to reduce the filling cost for various tobacco products, such as cigarettes and cigars.

Q2: How is reconstituted tobacco made? A2: Recon is made through several methods, including the paper-making technique, nano fiber technology, and a process called band cast or slurry-type recon. A new method, developed by Garbuio, is the tobacco dust amalgamation (TDA) process, which involves grinding the raw material to a powder, adding moist components to produce a dough, and then adding cellulose microfibers to stabilize the tobacco foil.

Q3: What is the TDA process? A3: The TDA (tobacco dust amalgamation) process is an evolution of the slurry technology for producing recon. It involves grinding the raw material to a powder, adding moist components to produce a dough, and then adding cellulose microfibers to stabilize the tobacco foil. This foil then undergoes a series of processes including pressing into pellets, rolling under high pressure, and drying.

Q4: Why is reconstituted tobacco used? A4: Recon is used to reduce the filling cost for various tobacco products and plays an essential role in cigarette blend design. It’s also used in the manufacture of heated tobacco products (HTPs), which have gained popularity in recent years.

Q5: What are the advantages of the TDA process? A5: The TDA process has several advantages. It needs less water, resulting in a significantly reduced drying process. This leads to better retention of nicotine and flavor in the material. It also uses fewer binders, reducing their influence on flavor during combustion. The process also allows manufacturers to produce recon in-house instead of buying it from specialized suppliers.

Sources of information:

1. Tobaccoreporter.com: This website provides a wealth of information on the topic of reconstituted tobacco sheets, particularly the innovative process known as the tobacco dust amalgamation (TDA) method developed by Garbuio, part of the Hauni Group.

Citations:

1. Tobaccoreporter.com: “With the advent of heated-tobacco products (HTPs), reconstituted tobacco leaf (RTL) experienced a renaissance.”.
2. Tobaccoreporter.com: “There are several methods to produce reconstituted tobacco. Next to the paper-making technique, there is the nano fiber technology and a process called band cast, which is also known as slurry-type recon.”.
3. Tobaccoreporter.com: “Now Garbuio, an Italian specialist in primary machinery and part of the Hauni Group, has developed an alternative technology.”.
4. Tobaccoreporter.com: “The company has designed a recon plant that works with what it calls the tobacco dust amalgamation (TDA) process, an evolution of the slurry technology.”.
5. Tobaccoreporter.com: “If used for HTP or wrapping cigars, the rolled recon sheet is wound on a bobbin.”.