caps & closures | Conference report
Chart 1: Key food closure types globally. Unit volumes and CAGR 2014-2019 Source: Euromonitor International
colours extends to 35 shades, each identifi ed by print on the bottle. However, in a salon environment they are typically stored in drawers, which makes it diffi cult for staff to identify the shade they need. Nebe said many customers have taken to making the caps with pens themselves. It required a means of marking the shade on the lid that was affordable and did not slow fi lling line speeds (around 38 per minute). He said laser marking was just capable of meeting the speed requirement but it was now looking for more depth and the ability to colour match.
Digital gains
Improvements in digital printing are also high on the company’s wish list. Nebe explained that another haircare product line comprising two ranges with a total of more than 250 variants is currently closed with a piston cap that is pad printed on the fi lling line. A full-colour digital alternative would dramatically reduce set-up times but it is yet to identify technology capable of running at its 60 per minute line speed.
Kraus identifi ed another challenge the company faces – the problem of water ingress beneath the deck of snap-on closures used in its tube-packed shower products. This presents particular problems for travellers, where the trapped water can leak out into baggage. Kraus said tests had shown considerable variation in water ingress between different closure manufacturers, suggesting the problem can be designed out.
Other development areas highlighted by the Kao packaging experts included the need for improved liquid-tight venting technology for fl ip-top closures used to package hair bleaching solutions and compact dispensing systems capable of dosing and mixing two-component products.
Neither Spadel nor Kao Group fl agged sustainability 22 INJECTION WORLD | July/August 2015
as their top issue but it sits high on the agenda for Global Closure Systems and the company’s Vice President of Research and Development Nicholas Thorne shared his perspective on the way ahead for a closure industry facing sometimes confl icting requests. “We are all told to be sustainable but what it is it? It is easy to be washed about like a cork,” he said. Packaging has a crucial function but also a highly exaggerated visibility, he said, making it easy to become a target. Producers must, therefore, do their part to minimise environmental impact. And with raw material accounting for around 60-80% of the carbon emissions for a typical plastic package that inevitably means focusing on the volume and types of materials used. While low emission polymers are available, Thorne said they are not easy to exploit commercially in closures. “New polymers from renewable resources have new properties – we are still learning how they perform. Traditional polymers from renewable resourc- es have known properties but at a cost,” he said. Meanwhile, he said the adoption of recycled resin, which typically yields a 50% emission reduction compared to virgin polymer, is limited by availability.
Focused on Eco-Conception
As a closure manufacturer, Thorne said the company’s most powerful contribution is to produce weight optimised designs that reduce emissions yet still fulfi l the demands of brand owners and consumers – a process he defi ned as eco-conception. “Caps and closures have seen an acceleration in eco-conception, led by the beverage market. As much as 20% of the weight can be designed out of old ‘standards’ while
Chart 2: Growth in plastic screw closure demand by country, 2014-2019 Source: Euromonitor International
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