Our Heated Products

An assortment of electronic cigarette devices

17 September 2024

CHAPTER 5 . OUR SMOKELESS PRODUCTS

Our Heated Products

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Our Devices

The latest glo devices, Hyper Pro and Hyper, utilise induction heating to externally heat our tobacco and non-tobacco consumables that contain nicotine. Energy is transferred from the induction coils via a magnetic field to a heating element that surrounds and heats the consumable to a specific temperature range.

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Heating Technologies

Resistive Heating

Heat is generated through an electrical current flowing through a resistive material (Figure 1). Our resistive heating devices utilise this technology with a flexible thin-film heater. The resistive heater is wrapped around a metal tube, in which the consumable is inserted.

Induction Heating

Heat is generated through a magnetic field that heats up a specific electrically conductive material. The magnetic field is generated by an alternating current passing through a wire coil (Figure 2). Our induction heating devices utilise this technology with an electrically conductive metal tube (1) surrounded by a specific wire coil (2). The wire coil generates the magnetic field (3) that heats the electrically conductive metal tube, in which the consumable is inserted.

Figure 1. A simplified representation of a resistant heater

Figure 2. A simplified representation of an induction heater

Our Consumables

Specifically designed for use with our glo devices, our consumables deliver an aerosol that comprises mainly of water, glycerol, nicotine and flavours when heated. Our consumables are not combusted but heated to temperatures closer to a baking experience. Controlled heating has a direct impact on the complexity of the heated product aerosol compared to cigarette smoke.

Why do adult consumers demand Heated Products?

With the objective of meeting our consumer demands, it is important that we can understand the drivers of choice and bring meaningful innovation through bespoke science to deliver and build on the future of the category.

Our Consumer Drivers of Choice are:

01 Reduced-Risk*^† Potential

Non-combustion for Heated Products results in aerosol that has ~90-95% reduction in key toxicant levels relative to cigarette smoke.*^†#

02 Taste Satisfaction

Familiarity in taste satisfaction compared to their current nicotine product.

03 Ritual & Intuitiveness

Ease and familiarity when consuming the product.

04 Product Availability

Can the product be found everywhere?

05 Value

Is the product at the right price?

06 Identity

A brand that delivers through innovation and progression.

Understanding Heated Products

The Evolution of Our Heated Products

Charcoal Tip Heated Products

Premier

The first heated tobacco product was introduced by RJ Reynolds in 1988. Premier was the same shape and size as a traditional cigarette, but used a carbon-based heat source attached to a tobacco roll and aluminium capsule containing tobacco extract and glycerol that would heat up to 225°C. Premier’s distinct taste and odour led to low consumer acceptance.

Eclipse

Eclipse was the second-generation heated tobacco product introduced by RJ Reynolds in 1996, after undertaking substantial efforts to address the consumer acceptance issues that arose with Premier. Like Premier, Eclipse was the same shape and size as a traditional cigarette, but used an advanced carbon heating element, along with a two-segment roll of tobacco and glycerol. Eclipse continues to be sold in the United States but has had low consumer acceptance.

Resistive Heating, Kingsize Superslim (KSSS)

Launched: 2016 ( ❶ Series 1), 2018 ( ❷ Series 2) and 2019 ( ❸ Mini, ❹ Nano)

The first glo devices used resistive heating to heat a KSSS consumable to 240°C. The glo resistive heating series offered a single 3 minute 30 seconds heating mode with a ramp-up time of 40 seconds. Series 1 and 2 provided up to 30 sessions per charge; however, miniaturisation to Mini and Nano, saw this decrease to 15 and 10 sessions, respectively. Overall, a well-received series; however, the biggest negative was the ramp-up time, which adult consumers wanted shortened.

Induction Heating, Kingsize Superslim (KSSS)

Launched: 2019 ( ❺ Pro) and 2021 ( ❽ Pro Slim)

Induction heating is a more effective and energy efficient technology. This technology in glo resulted in three key improvements: 1. Two heating modes, 2. Shorter ramp-up times (20 seconds Standard, 10 seconds Boost), 3. 30 seconds longer standard experience. The Pro device was a similar shape and size to Series 1, whereas Pro Slim offered a slimmer and lighter design. Total sessions per charge for Pro and Pro Slim were up to 20 and 16, respectively.

Induction Heating, Demislim (DS)

Launched: 2020 ( ❻ Hyper), 2021 ( ❼ Hyper+), 2022 ( ❾ Hyper X2), 2023 ( ❿ Hyper X2 Air and ⓫ Hyper Pro)

Our glo KSSS systems were often described as offering a different sensory experience, which did not resonate with many adult smokers. The power of induction heating technology allowed us to move to a larger consumable size, which delivered adult smokers an improved sensory performance.

Our Hyper devices are our best performing Heated Products systems. Each device delivers two heating modes, standard and boost, with ramp-up times of 20 seconds and 10 seconds, respectively, and up to 20 sessions per charge.

The evolution in design for our Hyper devices is clear. Hyper X2 and Hyper Pro offer adult consumers a more differentiated device with the latter our first device to feature an Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode (AMOLED) display screen. Hyper Pro also provides a TasteSelect™ rotation dial to enable adult consumers to open the consumable chamber and select their preferred heating profile.

Overall, our induction heating Demislim range has resulted in a real step-change in our Heated Products' performance.

Footnotes

* Based on the weight of evidence and assuming a complete switch from cigarette smoking. These products are not risk free and are addictive.

† Our products as sold in the U.S. including Vuse, Velo, Grizzly, Kodiak, and Camel Snus, are subject to FDA regulation and no reduced-risk claims will be made as to these products without agency clearance.

# Comparison with smoke from a scientific standard reference cigarette (approximately 9 mg tar) in terms of the average of the nine harmful components the World Health Organization recommends reducing in cigarette smoke. These products are not risk free and are addictive.