First commercial Klear Can release and recyclable single use coffee pods

With its breakthrough Klear Can T technology, Milacron has just reached another significant milestone. The group confirmed the sale of the first Milacron Klear Can production system. After extremely successful qualitative testing with consumers in Asia conducted by Nielsen Market Research, the customer plans for the Klear Can to be in-market, on retail shelves and available for consumer purchase no later than quarter 1, 2017.

Revolutionary Klear Can technology sees the first-to-market clear plastic can. It is immediately available to leading-edge food companies dedicated to being at the forefront of groundbreaking innovation and to delivering new value-added product experiences to consumers. The Klear Can allows brand owners the opportunity to provide consumers a window into their high quality ingredients.

Milacron Co-injection Department developed the Klear Can, which is a disruptive technology in food packaging. It is an ideal alternative to antiquated metal cans for fruits, vegetables, soups, meats, and other products. In fact, the Klear Can is the first truly transformational innovation in the canned food preservation industry's nearly 200-year history. Now for the first time ever, the Klear Can’s unique crystal clear transparency allows brands to demonstrate the true quality of their products to consumers - starting at the critical moment in store where most consumers make their purchase decisions. These design advantages have led to the first major commercial sale of the production system for a large brand owner focusing on tropical fruits.

“After years of development and strong, positive consumer results, we’re excited to launch the Milacron Klear Can in key global markets. We are also thrilled about the prospect of transforming the metal can industry. 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”, stated Milacron’s president and Chief Operating Officer, Ron Krisanda.

The Klear Can 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; so low, it is microwavable. The product is over 98% plastic after the can is opened. Its PP qualifies as a “5” for recyclability.

Based on barrier layer percentage, the Klear Can provides more than 2-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 mold cans at the filling site (i.e., via “through-the-wall” supply operations), which offers operational efficiencies.

The Milacron Klear Can is a patented co-injection moulded, polypropylene EVOH plastic can, which can be cooked and seamed meeting all industry standards. It is BPA-free for safe food contact. It is designed to withstand standard retort pressures and temperatures (up to 130°C), and to work with existing standard metal can manufacturing processes. So minimal downstream investment is required.

Klear Can uses a single standard metal can end, and uses the industry standard can end double-seam process. Rigorous testing has verified that its seal integrity is approved and proven safe and reliable. In addition, while Klear Can is lightweight, it is stackable and dent-resistant through all aspects of the manufacturing and transportation process.

100% recyclable single use coffee pods

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.

Another Milacron co-injection technology seeing traction, the systems with Kortec embedded technology are 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’s technologies ensure that the newly designed pods are able to enter the recycling stream rather than the landfill. Injection molded 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 co-injection technology can be applied to production of PET blow moulded containers, PP blow moulded containers, thin wall containers, closures and medical parts.