Vapor Voice

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  • KT&G’s Lil Now Available in 20 Countries

    KT&G’s Lil Now Available in 20 Countries

    Photo: KT&G

    KT&G has launched its heat-not-burn product Lil in more than 20 markets within two years after signing a supply agreement with Philip Morris International for overseas sales of Lil in early 2020, the South Korean company announced on its website

    Last year, KT&G and PMI launched Lil Solid 1.0 in Russia and Ukraine, and Lil Hybrid 2.0 in Japan. This year, the two companies expanded into other markets including Kazakhstan, Serbia and Armenia, with Lil Solid 2.0 as the flagship product. This August, an announcement was made that Lil was launched in a total 10 markets globally, Albania being the latest market at the time.

    KT&G added additional markets in the fourth quarter this year. In November, Lil debuted in Guatemala, the first market in Central America, and the company expanded into the Asian market further, launching Lil in Malaysia after Japan. Additionally in the same month, Lil Solid 2.0 and its dedicated stick Fiit were launched in Italy.

    Lil Solid 2.0 is a second-generation model of KT&G’s heat-not-burn products. It boasts improved battery performance and induction heating technology, and it comes in two colors, “stone grey” and “cosmic blue” outside Korea.

    The dedicated sticks come in a total of eight variants including Fiit Regular and Fiit Crisp, and a new variant, Fiit Alpine, has been launched in the fourth quarter this year. Two to five variants have been launched in each country‒tailored towards consumer taste preference.

    “Lil was able to quickly expand internationally thanks to Lil’s innovative technology in addition to PMI’s commercial resources and infrastructure,” said Wang Seop Lim, chief of KT&G’s next-generation products division. “We will continue to provide high quality products to consumers outside Korea through strategic collaboration with PMI going forward.”

  • Voopoo Announces Global Launch of New Drag S/X Kit

    Voopoo Announces Global Launch of New Drag S/X Kit

    Image: Voopoo

    Voopoo has announced the international launch of the Drag S/X PnP-X Kit. The product features a comprehensive technical upgrade on the basis of Drag S/X and pays tribute to medieval knights.

    Drag S/X PnP-X Kit is available in five colors—Shield Gold, Knight Red, Knight Chestnut, Dragon Knight, Eagle Black and Knight Gray.

    The metal materials and knob-filling function on the top of the device have been upgraded, and the 510 drip tip can be replaced at any time. It is anti-leakage, more convenient and more flexible, according to Voopoo.

    The knight series products also come with an “infinite airflow system” that supports the adjustment of any airway. It is equipped with a powerful GENE.TT chip, and adjustable power ranging from 5-60/80w. The product can be started in 0.001 second.

  • Voopoo Launches Drag Nano2

    Voopoo Launches Drag Nano2

  • Mi-One Brands Launches Mi-Pod 2.0 Nic-Salt Device

    Mi-One Brands Launches Mi-Pod 2.0 Nic-Salt Device

    Mi-One Brands has announced the launch of its Mi-Pod 2.0, a refillable liquid pod-based system. The new device offers a “thin, sleek form factor, a larger battery for maximum battery life, new laser-cut mesh coil pods with no leaking, longer coil life and incredible flavor production,” according to a press note. The device is one of the few sub-OHM pod systems on the market. The device is designed to be used with nicotine salt-based e-liquids.

    The Mi-Pod 2.0, Mi-One Brand’s Next Generation Salt Nic Vaporizer

    “We have always designed products with attention to detail of all the five senses to create the ultimate user experience,” said Geoff Habicht, co-founder of Mi-One Brands, ” With Mi-Pod 2.0, we not only incorporated the five sense and years of customer feedback into the design, but we also added sacred geometry designs to symbolize the ‘connection to self’ which we have found so vitally important on the journey to live a smoke-free life.”

    The Mi-Pod 2.0 is a new revolutionary design combining luxury materials and user-inspired ergonomics.

    • A slimmer profile, made for vaping by vapors.
    • A larger high-density 1250 mAh battery for increased battery life.
    • The new laser-cut mesh magnetic coil pods feature our patented OAS system (Oil and Air Separated) with no leaking, longer coil life and incredible flavor production.
    • Combined with the Mi-Pod 2.0’s ultra-sensitive airflow switch for both MTL and DTL vaping provides an entirely new and upgraded vaping experience that enhances the entire sensory experience.
    • New physical on /off Switch for ease of use and increased battery life.
    • Four Responsive LED Battery Indicator Lights placed on side for easy viewing while smoking.
    • Tighter Draw by design, means more flavorful hits.
    The Mi-One Brands US Team

    Headquartered in Phoenix, Mi-One Brands started in 2008 as Smoking Vapor. Mi-One Brands is the official home of Mi-Pod PRO, Wi-Pod, Mi-Salt, and VaporLax. Co-founders Amir Hakak and Habicht created Mi-One Brands “with the simple mission to eradicate the harm caused by smoking and improve the lives of adult smokers with simple, efficient designs and convenient, high-quality devices,” the release states.

  • Zanoprima Begins Commercial Production of SyNic

    Zanoprima Begins Commercial Production of SyNic

    Zanoprima Lifesciences announced the commercial production of its SyNic brand of synthetic (S)-nicotine. The company said SyNic is produced using a patented process that does not involve the use of tobacco or any synthetic racemic mixture. The company manufactures “high purity (typically 99.9 percent), synthetic (S)-Nicotine for commercial use” that is free of tobacco-specific nitrosamines(TSNAs), toxins, carcinogens, odor and harsh taste.

    “This is a landmark development for the trillion-dollar tobacco industry and its 1.3 billion consumers as it heralds the arrival of a superior, substantially lower-risk, cost-effective, and greener alternative to a global industry that is arguably the single biggest avoidable cause of death globally, a press release states. “SyNic Protonated (S)-Nicotine e-liquid for e-cigarettes is without any potentially harmful ingredients such as organic acids and propylene glycol. It is pure, stable and has a long shelf life. E-cigarettes that use SyNic offer a smooth taste and enhanced nicotine experience, a distinct advantage given the nicotine limit guidelines/rules in e-liquids in the EU and other geographies.”

    SyNic (S)-nicotine conforms to and exceeds European Pharmacopeia (EP) and United States Pharmacopeia (USP) specifications. The company states that its “Green Chemistry” principles compliant production process minimizes the environmental impacts of nicotine production. Applications include:

    Zanoprima owns patent applications or registration for its revolutionary manufacturing process in several countries, including the United States, Europe, Great Britain, Australia, China, India and others, according to the release.

    SyNic is also available in products such Znus, a tobacco-free white snus that is completely sodium and tobacco-free and next-generation chewing gum and lozenges that “contain a new proprietary nicotine complex with superior bioavailability and taste,” according to the release.

    The company has also announced it will soon release tobacco-free heated nicotine products unlike existing tobacco-based heat-not-burn products and skin-friendly transdermal patches for use with Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. As a responsible synthetic nicotine (SyNic) manufacturer Zanoprima will distribute SyNic in strict compliance with regulations in each of its markets, globally.

    “Zanoprima offers the entire range of products including SyNic (S)-nicotine bitartrate (Nicotine Bitartrate Dihydrate), SyNic (S)-Nicotine polacrilex resin/Nicotine resinate and its novel proprietary (S)-Nicotine complex,” the release states.

  • Long Awaited Juul2 Device Launches in U.K. Market

    Long Awaited Juul2 Device Launches in U.K. Market

    Photo: steheap

    Juul Labs has unveiled its JUUL2 device in the U.K.

    The device features a more consistent vapor experience, a longer battery life and anti-counterfeit technology.

    Launching initially on the Juul.co.uk website on Sept. 30, the JUUL2 system has been updated from previous versions with new technology and features based on feedback from smokers.

    Among other features, the JUUL2 features a more consistent vapor experience, a longer battery life and a smart light system communicating e-liquid level and battery life.

    The JUUL2 also comes with newly designed tobacco and menthol JUUL2 pods (18 mg/mL nicotine strength) and technology to prevent unauthorized use. The device will not work when it detects counterfeit pods.

    “We are pleased to launch the next-generation JUUL2 in the U.K.,” Juul Labs’ EMEA vice president, Dan Thomson, said in a statement. “A key part of our mission is to transition adult smokers away from cigarettes, the leading cause of preventable death in the world, killing some 90,000 Britons annually.

    “We believe the best method to switch adult smokers from combustible cigarettes to a potentially less harmful noncombustible alternative is to provide a product that closely resembles the consistency and experience of smoking. With JUUL2, we believe we are taking another step in that direction as we aim to transition even more adult smokers.”

    A retail roll-out is planned for early 2022, and all U.K. retailers stocking JUUL products will continue to uphold the company’s Challenge 25 age verification policy, which includes continued mystery shopping audits.

  • ICCPP Launches New Ceramic Core

    ICCPP Launches New Ceramic Core

    Photo: ICCPP

    ICCPP, the parent company of Voopoo, has launched its first ceramic core technology brand, Gene Tree.

    According to ICCPP, the new core addresses shortcomings of existing ceramic core products, which tend to suffer from light taste, sticking powder and burning coils. Such issues, says the company, affect not only the user experience but also pose a threat to consumers’ health.

    Developing the new generation of ceramic core products involved more than 1,000 days of technical explorations and scientific experiments. In addition, it took tens of thousands of hours to choose the best solution from more than 2,000 sets of ceramic core material formulations.

    ICCPP’s research and development team comprises more than 300 people, including more than 40 holding either doctoral or master’s degrees. In addition solving the problem of ceramic coils’ powder sticking and dropping, ICCPP managed to turn its R&D results into a solution fit for mass production.

    In a blind test among more than 3,000+ vapers, participants indicated they favored the taste of Gene Tree over that of competing products.

    According to ICCP, ceramic cores on the market generally have poor “taste reduction.” To compensate, companies traditionally have increased the amount of nicotine—but this isn’t an option for disposable vapor product sold in countries that limit nicotine concentrations.

    According to ICCPP, 20 mg of nicotine salt in liquid vaporized with Gene Tree can achieve the same result as 30 mg of nicotine salt used in a competing product. Weighing about 0.07 g, Gene Tree’s volume is also 50 percent smaller than existing ceramic cores.

    ICCP says the Gene Tree ceramic core is made of environmentally friendly mineral materials.

  • KT&G to Launch Lil Solid in Eastern Europe, Central Asia

    KT&G to Launch Lil Solid in Eastern Europe, Central Asia

    KT&G launched its heated tobacco product (HTP), lil SOLID 2.0, in four countries – Armenia and Serbia in Eastern Europe and Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia in the second quarter of this year. KT&G is now exporting the lil SOLID series to seven countries and plans to ship them to more countries in the near future.

    Credit: KT&G

    The latest version of the lil SOLID series the tobacco firm introduced in 2017, the lil SOLID 2.0 has an upgraded design and performance. Lil SOLID is an HTP used to smoke Fiit tobacco sticks, according to the Korea Times. The new version was launched first in the Korean market in January and customers praised the products product for the battery life offered and its induction heater system.

    “Our product, lil, is gaining popularity in the export markets thanks to our collaboration with Philip Morris International,” Lim Wang-seop, head of KT&G NGP Business Division, said during a conference call held in February. “We originally set a goal of entering a single-digit number of countries this year, but we have changed it to the double digits.”

    KT&G previously entered the overseas markets in August 2020, with Russia as the first export country for its very first lil SOLID product. One month later, the tobacco firm started selling the e-cigarette in Ukraine as well.

    In the following month, KT&G also advanced into the Japanese market with lil HYBRID 2.0 and MIXX. The product was only available in Fukuoka and Miyagi first, but after the had gained popularity in just four months, KT&G decided to expand across the country.

    Japan is globally the largest consumer of e-cigarettes and is a market where various products are vying for market share. Industry sources say that KT&G’s hybrid e-cigarette successfully differentiates itself from the existing products and has received positive feedback.

  • VPZ Launches AEQ Pod Device Kit in U.K. Stores

    VPZ Launches AEQ Pod Device Kit in U.K. Stores

    A new pod device has been launched by the largest vapor retailer in the U.K. VPZ’s AEQ Pod Device Kit has been designed and developed in VPZ’s purpose-built facility in Edinburgh to support smokers looking to make the switch to vaping, according to a press release.

    Credit: VPZ

    “The device is an easy-to-use new to vaping product which offers smokers the freedom to choose a range of flavors and e-liquid strength,” the release states. “The AEQ is already outselling other packages in the new to vaping category and has been introduced as VPZ launches its first ever Vape Clinic.”

    Doug Mutter, director of VPZ, said VPZ is spearheading the fight against the U.K.’s No. 1 killer: smoking. “The Pandemic has triggered an increase in smoking rates and the public health problem has been compounded by funding cuts for NHS stop smoking services and local support groups,” he said. “The launch of our new AEQ device has been developed by us in response to helping smokers take the first steps in their stop-smoking journey. The development of this dedicated new to vaping product, as well as the launch of our pilot Vape Clinic truly underlines our commitment to helping the UK achieve its ambitions to be a tobacco-free nation by 2030.”

    VPZ is the UK’s largest vaping retailer with over 150 stores. A new report from Royal College of Physicians Tobacco Advisory Group backs vaping as an effective treatment for tobacco dependency and recommends that it should be included and encouraged in all treatment pathways. The report also found that the long-term impact of vaping is 95 per cent less harmful than smoking cigarettes.

  • Japan Tobacco Launching Ploom X in August

    Japan Tobacco Launching Ploom X in August

    Photo: JT/JTI

    Japan Tobacco is launching Ploom X, its next-generation heated-tobacco device, on Aug. 17, 2021. Ploom X will gradually be made available across Japan, including in convenience stores and select tobacco retail stores. Ploom X will also be available for pre-launch sale at the CLUB JT online shop from July 26, 2021.

    The device was jointly developed by JT in Japan and JTI, the group’s international subsidiary, headquartered in Switzerland.

    “Ploom X is the first global device developed by JT and JTI, bringing together all our resources to offer the best user experience of our time,” said Daniel Torras, senior vice president of reduced-risk products, in a statement.

    “We are delighted to be able to offer this new innovative product to adult consumers in Japan, the world’s leading heated-tobacco market and where product standards and quality are of the highest importance. Listening to consumers globally, we have created a proposition that is aligned with today’s lifestyles and choices. This includes a more authentic tobacco taste, new connectivity possibilities and several options to personalize the device to everyday needs.”

    Ploom X is the first global device developed by JT and JTI, bringing together all our resources to offer the best user experience of our time.

    Daniel Torras, senior vice president of reduced-risk products, JTI

    The new device adopts the aesthetic and innovative “Nastro” design with a more intuitive user experience, with no buttons on its surface. In addition to allowing users to precisely control heating temperature, Ploom X is equipped with a new heating technology, Heatflow, which focuses on airflow.

    Ploom X is also equipped with Bluetooth functionalities that connect with users’ smartphones, enables consumers to see the battery status, lock the device and much more.

    Along with the device, improved heated-tobacco sticks are being rolled out. The regular tobacco stick flavor is blended with lamina, the most aromatic part of the tobacco leaf. There is a range of 12 different heated-tobacco sticks.