Milacron’s Klear Can to be commercialised in Asia; growth of recyclable coffee pods

US machinery maker Milacron Holdings Corp. says it has confirmed the sale of its first Klear Can technology, after what it says were “extremely successful qualitative testing with consumers in Asia conducted by Nielsen Market Research.” Though Milacron would not comment on the end customer, it is reportedly thought to be tropical fruits packer Del Monte, since Milacron mentions that “the first major commercial sale is for a large brand owner focusing on tropical fruits.”

Milacron did say that the customer plans for the Klear Can to be in-market, on retail shelves and available for consumer purchase no later than Q1 2017 and that the license to mould the components is included within the purchase price of the entire system.

Klear Can is a patented co-injection moulded, PP/EVOH plastic can. Milacron Co-injection developed it as an alternative to metal cans for fruits, vegetables, soups, meats, and other products. The firm also says that Klear Can “is the first truly transformational innovation in the canned food preservation industry’s nearly 200-year history.” The unique feature is that its transparency allows brands to demonstrate their products to consumers.

According to Milacron President/CEO, Ron Krisanda, the Klear Can is fully recyclable. “After consumer use only a small amount of metal remains on the can’s upper rim, the residual ring on the flange will separate during the grinding phase.”

It is similar to many PP plastic containers with double seam EZO can ends found in stores today. Although it behaves like a can, it is recyclable. The base is plastic and the rim is a very low percentage of the package, making it microwavable. The product is over 98% plastic after the can is opened. The PP Klear Can qualifies as a ‘5’ for recyclability.

Based on barrier layer percentage, the Klear Can provides more than two years shelf life, and is also cost competitive to metal cans. It uses the same filling, seaming and retorting machinery as metal cans, so minimal downstream investment is required. In addition, it allows manufacturers the flexibility to mould cans at the filling site (i.e., via ‘through-the-wall’ supply operations), which offers operational efficiencies.

Other benefits are: it is BPA-free for safe food contact; lightweight, stackable and dent-resistant, designed to withstand standard retort pressures and temperatures (up to 130° C), and to work with existing standard metal can manufacturing processes. Klear Can uses a single standard metal can end, and uses the industry standard can end double-seam process.

Meanwhile, another Milacron co-injection technology seeing traction is Kortec embedded technology, now being used in the production of 100% recyclable single use coffee pods. The single use coffee pod market has grown rapidly over the past decade and Milacron says its technology ensures that the newly designed pods are able to enter the recycling stream rather than the landfill.

Steve Morris, Milacron Vice President/General Manager Milacron Systems, elaborated, “Recyclability is driving major design changes within the coffee pod market, and will continue to create new capital equipment demand to support this growing consumer product. Today, cups molded on a Milacron platform qualify for a ‘5’ for recyclability. A key benefit of an injection-moulded cup is the ability to mould features into the cup that replace the addition of costly components such as filters. This benefit also eliminates a second moulding process, scrap, assembly costs and part weight.”

Currently, most single use pods are thermoformed polystyrene and not recyclable. Manufacturers are eager to move to recyclable injection moulded PP cups over the next 3 years. Globally there are billions of single serve cups on the market.

Injection moulded cups also have better mechanics allowing them to use more shapes, provide wall and barrier consistency and produce better clarity in clear parts. These cups also have a flange seal off area and no barrier breakthrough.

Milacron says it is the world’s largest supplier of turnkey co-injection systems to the plastics and packaging industries all with embedded Kortec Technology. Its manufacturing and service footprint combined with Kortec Technology creates multi-layer packaging that meets the plastics industry’s need for high barrier applications in food packaging, closures, medical and many other applications.

(IMA)