Gumlink's core competencies within gum base
Our specialities include gum bases for controlled release of active ingredients, flavours and sweeteners, gum bases that stick less than traditional gum bases and gum bases with specific chewing properties, consistency and structure.
Gum base
Gum base is one of the fundamental components of chewing gum. It contains ingredients such as elastomers, resin, plasticisers and fillers, and gives chewing gum its distinctive character. With gum base, we can adjust characteristics such as sweetness, taste and dental benefits.
Chewing gum texture
Gumlink constantly works to create the optimal texture for various chewing gum applications. As the textual and masticatory properties of a chewing gum are primarily governed by the gum base, obtaining just the right texture is largely a matter of properly designing the gum base. Working closely with raw material suppliers, we seek out and test products that will create new and unique gum base textures. In our R&D department, our job is to develop chewing gum textures through a combination of systematic analysis such as rheology, and sensory testing carried out by our in-house sensory panel.
Release of flavours, sweeteners and active ingredients
Gumlink has unique expertise within release of flavours, sweeteners and active ingredients from chewing gum. Parameters like particle size, water solubility and dispersion of gum base control release rate, which can be delayed or prolonged using various gum base formulas and encapsulation techniques.
Patented gum bases for multi-layer compressed gum
Traditionally, the compression technique has been preferred by the pharmaceutical industry for the manufacturing of chewing gum. However, the nature of the chewing gum granules required for this technique is quite different to that of conventional pure pharmaceutical tablet powder. A more significant problem is that the texture required for multi-layer compressed gum is fundamentally different from that of a tablet intended to completely dissolve in the mouth. Over the last few years, however, Gumlink has successfully developed and patented a method of manufacturing gum base granules with significantly improved properties.
Patent EP1797769 04022003: Compressed chewing gum tablet
Patent US2007141299: Method for producing chewing gum granules and compressed gum products, and a chewing gum granulating system
Active ingredients and/or flavours may be pre-mixed into the gum base or added to the non or low-CG incorporated layer. The main advantages of this unique delivery system are:
The ability to administer a lower dosage of active ingredients, thereby reducing side effects (in the case of higher bioavailability)
Effective distribution of active ingredients
Controlled release system
Consumer-controlled dosage
Released active ingredients that are not absorbed by the oral cavity membranes will be swallowed, reaching the stomach in a highly diluted, dispersed and readily available form. When gum base granules contain pre-mixed active ingredients, controlled release of these active ingredients can be achieved by means of a double active ingredients buffer. The first buffer is comprised of active ingredients blended into the final mix immediately before being compressed. The second buffer is made up of active ingredients blended into the gum base just before the gum base and gum base ingredients are blended together. Different controlled release systems can thereby be achieved by varying the amount of active ingredient added, the amount of gum base granules, the buffer system, and the selection of adding the mentioned ingredients to the different layers of the compressed chewing gum formulation.