Weekly Roundup: Coca-Cola rolls out KeelClip in Europe, Pont Europe unveils PET dropper bottles

20 Nov 2020 --- In packaging news this week, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (Coca-Cola HBC) rolled out the paper-based KeelClip can multipack carrier in The Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Austria, replacing plastic wrap. Pont Europe launched glass-alternative PET dropper bottles for accurate liquid dosing. Stora Enso announced several investments to shape its business for higher growth and value and support its innovation agenda, including building a pilot facility for lightweight, fiber-based foam material for protective packaging and cushioning.

In brief: Eco-conscious roll outs
Coca-Cola HBC rolled out KeelClip technology in The Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Austria as the first step in its commitment to replace plastic wrap on all can multipacks in EU markets. The initiative will save more than an estimated 3,000 metric tons of CO2 and 2,000 metric tons of plastic each year. The new “Grip&Go” packaging is the result of a €15 million (US$17.9 million) investment by the company in a strategic partnership with Graphic Packaging International (GPI). As part of the initial GPI agreement, Coca-Cola HBC will install 11 KeelClip machines in seven countries. The roll out across all the company’s EU markets plus Switzerland will complete by early 2022.

Pont Europe developed glass-alternative PET dropper bottles for accurate liquid dosing. Pont sees traditional glass bottles as too heavy and fragile for the modern world of online sales and on-the-go products. The new PET range is available in 10 ml, 30 ml and 50 ml. The dropper bottles are lightweight and robust, resulting in lower transport costs and quicker deliveries with fewer breakages.

Ecolean provided lightweight packaging solutions for South Korean fresh food company Pulmuone. Pulmuone launched its first beverage products – Cocoa Classic and Golden Apple – in Ecolean’s plastic packs. The key consumer group is schoolchildren, where the products are an easy-to-use and nutritious companion for their lunch meals. Ecolean’s packages were recently confirmed as easy-to-recycle in South Korea by the Ministry of Environment, adding to the benefits of aluminum-free aseptic packaging.Pont Europe’s PET dropper bottles.

CCL Label supplied NÖM with innovative EcoFloat sleeves for its recycled PET milk bottles, supporting bottle-to-bottle recycling. The renowned Austrian dairy brand NÖM (Niederösterreichische Molkerei) sells its 1 L milk bottle from Alpla in a 100 percent rPET bottle, lowering the CO2 footprint by using recycled materials and supporting a circular economy. EcoFloat is endorsed by the European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP) as not hindering PET recycling and certified by interseroh’s “Made for Recycling” where it received a “very good” rating.

In brief: Investments and acquisitions
Stora Enso announced several investments to shape its business for higher growth and value and support its innovation agenda. The supplier plans to commence a feasibility study on expanding the pulp and board production at its Skoghall Mill in Sweden. It will build a pilot facility for producing biofoam, a lightweight, fiber-based foam material for protective packaging and cushioning at its Fors Mill in Sweden. Stora Enso is also investing €10 million (US$12 million) in dispersion barrier technology at its Forshaga site in Sweden, and approximately €79 million (US$94 million) in a new production line for cross-laminated timber (CLT) at its Ždírec sawmill in the Czech Republic.

Berlin Packaging acquired Consolidated Bottle Corporation, a leading packaging supplier in Canada. The transaction significantly expands Berlin Packaging’s footprint in Canada, enabling the combined businesses to offer more packaging solutions and value-added services to its customers. As one of Canada’s most established companies, Consolidated Bottle has over 110 years of experience supplying innovative plastic, glass and metal containers and closures across various industries, including personal care, pharmaceutical, cannabis, food, beverage and industrial.Ecolean and Pulmuone's lightweight fresh food packs.

Klockner Pentaplast added thermoforming capabilities to its Beaver, West Virginia, US site, growing its North American sustainable food tray offering. The trays will be made from 100 percent PCR, using advanced technology upgrades to extrusion assets, including super cleaning technology for leading food safety compliance. The investment will convert thousands of tons of PCR bottles into food-safe packaging.

Klockner Pentaplast also committed to expanding its PET extrusion with in-line stretching capacity by 10,000 metric tons. The expansion will occur at the company’s Rural Retreat location in Virginia, US to address demand growth for heat shrink sleeve labels for North American customers.

Sirane acquired the oven bags and film business of Terinex, strengthening its position as a leading global supplier of ovenable packaging. Terinex is a well-known name in the packaging industry, supplying a range of polyester products to retail, foodservice, airlines and more. The Terinex manufacturing operation will be moved to Sirane’s new factory in Telford, UK.

In brief: Machinery and industrial
Mondi introduced an innovative logistics solution for its large reels, providing benefits throughout the supply chain. The ProVantage Komiwhite reels with a width of 280 cm, a diameter of 139 cm and a weight of nearly four tons, present a logistical challenge for transporting krafltiner products. To address this issue, Mondi is now transporting large reels on more efficient “roll-on/roll-off” (RoRo) vessels from its mill in Syktyvkar (Russia), via Bronka (Russia) and Luebeck (Germany), to the Innocenti terminal in Milan (Italy) without needing to place the reels in shipping containers.Mondi’s ProVantage Komiwhite reels.

Mondi also announced it would expand its existing plant in Ansbach, Germany, to become the largest heavy-duty corrugated cardboard plant in Europe. The “Ansbach 2020” project, an investment worth €30 million (US$36 million), is in its final stages of completion. The plant successfully installed state-of-the-art machinery, including a new corrugator, die-cutting-machine, inline-machine, paper storage, shipping facility, waste processing facility and intralogistics system. The updated machinery results in less energy consumption and reduces the plant’s carbon footprint.

ULMA Packaging presented a new automatic packaging line for bars and baked goods with outputs of up to 200 packs per minute. The line consists of a receiving conveyor on which the products are sorted and lined up for subsequent, even and continuous distribution to one or more packaging machines. The products are distributed on a swivel conveyor placing the rows of products on a subsequent conveyor. The product can also be transferred to an accumulation conveyor or a reject conveyor if there is any defect.

Mosca launched Evolution SoniXs MS-6 H with vertical edge protection for eco-friendly, secure bundled products transport. Mosca Evolution SoniXs MS-6 H is tried and tested as a specialist for tall and bulky goods. It uses a movable frame to strap products at different heights for secure transport horizontally. This high-end strapping machine is available with a vertical edge protection applicator, making it ideal for users who need to secure sensitive products, plastic crates, or other stacked goods.

By Joshua Poole