NATURAL CORKS
CONTROL OF CORKS
The Cork is inspected five times
 
FIRST
Managing of raw material
Three to six months before the harvest, RX Group’s technical staff in Spain visits the forests and extracts some bark samples from the cork trees to be analyzed by the laboratory, including SPME analysis.
 
SECOND
Manage incoming corks at production plant
The corks are inspected on arrival at our production facility in Caldes de Malavella during the production process by the visual grading team and the laboratory members.
 
The following parameters are checked:

    Dimensional Control
    Dimensional characteristics are specified by the norm ISO 3863 and, as such, the length tolerance of +/- 0.4 mm.

    The Measurement of Humidity
    The humidity of corks is of fundamental importance for the storage and microbial activity, as well as the mechanical characteristics of the cork. The humidity tolerance is between 5.5 and 7.5%.

    Density Control
    The density tolerance is between 140 and 200 kg/m3.

    Microbiological Analysis
    Tolerance: Bacteria < 20 Cfu/cork, Mold < 10 Cfu/cork

    SPME Analysis and Sensory Evaluation
    Evaluate the presence of TCA, off odours and colour irregularities.

    Control of Cork Dust
    The surface coating, which can block the residual dust and humidity (a dry cork will more easily shed lenticellular contents) influences the quantity of dust which can be freed from the cork. Tolerance is < 3 mg/cork.

    Determination of Cork Capillary
    Tolerance < 1.5 mm of height on the side of the cork.

    Cork Weight
    Tolerance depending on the size: 45x24 mm < 3.5g, 49x24 mm < 4.0 g.

THIRD
Managing outgoing corks to Subsidiary
Before the actual shipment to the South Africa, the above parameters are checked again and the lab completes the Quality Control Report.
 
FOURTH
Managing corks on arrival at Subsidary
SPME Analysis and Sensory Evaluation. Evaluation of the presence of TCA by an external Lab according to a well selected sampling plan.
 
FIFTH
Managing corks outgoing to Final Customer
All tests are done again as per the second stage for the order going to individual customers.
In addition to this more tests are done to determine if surface treatments were done correctly.
 
 
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