Constar 'Panel-less' Design helps Arizona Launch Infused Water; A Non-traditional look makes this new product stand out on the shelf

Constar International Inc., a leading producer of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic containers, announced today the results of their work with Arizona Beverage Corporation to design and produce an imaginative package for the launch of Arizona's new Infused Water product. This four-flavor line of 20 oz. enhanced waters in PET debuted in July of 2003. Constar's challenge was to create a unique package that would help Arizona differentiate this new product in a market that is seeing a large number of new entrants. Constar's Don Deubel, Vice President of Research and Development, explains, "Due to the vacuum generated as a result of being hot filled, new and innovative vacuum absorption features had to be designed and developed. Arizona Beverages did not want to use the standard under-the-label vacuum panels common to most hot-filled beverages." Don Vultaggio, Chairman and CEO of Arizona Beverages, provided Constar with a conceptual rendering illustrating a shrink sleeved spherical shoulder and a vertical ribbed body design with a wrap-around paper label. Using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Constar manipulated the design to produce an innovative combination of functional elements including material distribution, horizontal ribs and three customized vacuum panels. The entire bottle geometry works to relieve the vacuum. This design brings together a number of visual elements to create a distinctive look. The neck portion of the bottle is spherical and provides the right location for an eye-catching shrink label. The upper portion of the base section accepts a more traditional wrap-around label leaving the lower portion of the base for a unique use of "branding panels." These provide an easy grip feature for the consumer and reinforce the Arizona name, which is embossed in the center of the vertically oriented panels. "It was important for us to break away from the traditional looking hot-fill bottle," said Arizona's president, John Balboni. "Constar did a great job of giving us both the function we needed as well as a unique look for our new Infused Water product." Philadelphia based Constar International Inc. is a leading global producer of PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) plastic containers for food, soft drinks and water. The company provides full service packaging solutions, from product design and engineering to ongoing customer support.