MATERIALS | CAPS AND CLOSURES


Derek Hindle, global


innovation director at the company, cited a number of innovative examples. One, the


IMAGE: APTAR


Rocket e-commerce sports closure, is a non-removable cap that also has a tamper-evident


band. The cap is made from impact-


resistant PP random co-polymer. Its E-disc top helps to protect against cracking or leaking during transit. It is PCR capable, and made from mono-material PE. And, its Future Disk top is made from 100% PE. The three-piece design has a slidable section for easy opening and closing.


Tethered approach


Above: Aptar’s Rocket sports closure is a non-removable cap made from impact- resistant PP


Cap Sustainable Solutions, as its name might suggest, develops closures with an eye on sustain- ability. The company’s Miquel Batlle and Sergi Garcia presented a number of its innovations. Several of these are to do with tethered caps – such as designs that address different opening angles (OAs). This is typically either 160 or 180°. It is already using a 160° OA design, using Husky closure design. “Closures submitted by Husky have been


approved by Coca-Cola,” they said. It is also looking at a 180° OA design. This is a


prototype-level design that is ready for commercial ramp-up, they said. Pepsi has approved the design, while closures submitted by Husky are awaiting approval from Coca-Cola. Despite the growing acceptance of – and, in


Europe, requirement for – tethered caps, they said the market is still “not mature”, with still a lot to be discovered and “consumers not satisfied”. The company’s approach is to listen to the voice


of the customer and invest in line with these learnings. “We need to choose the right technology that can be adapted to different solutions – such as 160/180 OA, tethered or non-tethered,” they said. “The more polyvalent the better.” Vladislav Medvedovskiy, head of service at Retal in Lithuania, also addressed tethering. The com- pany is a leading producer of bottles, preforms and closures. One key issue it identifies among custom- ers is technical issues on production lines – with products including closures. “Our customer survey shows that most custom-


ers are leaving the switch to tethered closures to the last moment,” he said. “Experts in implementa- tion are in great demand.” He said that common technical issues – such as


18 INJECTION WORLD | March/April 2025


closure jams in chutes – can be overcome by adjusting the height control of the chute. “Jams can also happen in the chutes due to the


protrusion of some tethered closure designs – an issue that is reduced when the protrusion is small,” he said.


Health benefits Mark Grazhul, global sales director at Vicap Systems – part of Nature Force Technologies – ex- plained how the company developed a closure to allow a neutraceutical product – containing vitamins and probiotics in a concentrated capsule – to be dispensed into water when the cap is activated. It if were ready-diluted, the active ingredients would likely be degraded by pasteuri- sation, and exposure to heat, water and sunlight. “At first glance, it looks pretty much like a conventional sport bottle top,” said Grazhul. However, the cap can discharge 12.5ml of liquid


concentrate or 7g of powder to create a flavoured drink, nutritional supplement or any other bever- age. The closure incorporates the concentrate capsule, closure with spout and adapter ring. “Most parts are multi-use – and only the capsule is consumable,” he said. The drink is prepared by filling the bottle with


water, putting the capsule in the adapter ring and then screwing the closure onto the bottle – which activates the capsule. The Vicap Smart Twist&Push fits to bottles with a 28mmneck.


Paper caps


With so much focus on reducing the effect of plastic closures, it makes sense to consider alterna- tive materials – such as paper. Sweden-based Blue Ocean Closures is doing exactly that – producing cellulosic fibre-based closures (both screw caps and lids) that are bio-based, biodegradable and recyclable. The closures are tough and strong – with high


torque – as well as stable, water-resistant and a drop-in on existing lines. They have a have a polymer top-seal liner, said Lars Sandberg, the company’s CEO. Production is based on high-density sintering using simple, robust moulds, he said. Key parts of the process include breaking up structures, vibrating and moving fibres then sintering them together using high force. The parts are made in a ‘short holding and cycle time’. “There is the possibility to adjust and tune mechanical properties,” he said. He claimed that the ‘low cost’ technique has


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