Alufoil Trophy 2019: Winning entries focus on more convenience and a better environment

The EasyOpenLidretort from Constantia Flexibles is a newly developed solution for alufoil-based food container systems, used for in-pack sterilization processes, allowing easier and more convenient opening. It addresses the challenges often identified by consumers using containers with peelable alufoil lids, such as the force needed to open them or torn lidding material during the opening process.

The PP composition has been optimized to greatly reduce opening forces without compromising the mandatory seal-integrity for sterilisation.  The peel-force reduction is significant for all container geometries. In addition, the optimization of sealing-parameters, which is applicable for sealing against PP-based trays, is possible.

The DecoTainer from Constantia Flexibles and saturn petcare offers modern styling for premium pet food products. The round, alufoil container was designed to communicate a high quality packaging appearance by printing 100% of the surface, fully visible at the point of sale (POS). The design also improves stability while the ergonomic bowl shape supports the easy removal of the contents.

Using rotogravure ensured overall printing quality to further increase the appearance of packaging. The POS system comprises the round alufoil containers in corrugated display trays, all in a harmonized design, to create a high-end look for consumers.

The Shelf Ready Smoothwall Container from i2r Packaging Solutions is designed particularly for 'ready to cook' vegetables and is able to stand in the upright position on a supermarket shelf, giving consumers a direct view of the product. Most containers used for this type of packaged food are merchandised on their bases, limiting the product visibility.

By designing a combination of strengthening features below the rim, and ribs which flow into the base of the packaging, there is no need for an outer cardboard sleeve/carton. Both design features allow for an additional gauge reduction, reducing the packaging weight significantly.

A joint development by Amcor Flexibles and GSK, the Formpack® Dessiflex Ultra for Augmentin® replaces a glass container with a new blister pack, offering enhanced protection for this antibiotic, which is very moisture sensitive. The desiccated patient blister pack combines a Formpack® Dessiflex Ultra Blister System with a specific lidding foil.

Exposing tablets to moisture when a bottle is opened is far more likely, as are breakages. The blister also meets GSK’s criteria to protect medical operators and patients. In addition, due to the specific colour (green) of the Dessiflex product contact layer, it is far harder to counterfeit.

Ardagh Group and Orkla Foods Norway have developed a new Hansa Can for Stabburet, which is a printed, easy open, alufoil-based container for a traditional fish fillet pack, with a 10% reduction in material use.

The challenge was to reduce pack weight without altering the can format, performance, or iconic printed branding on this national Norwegian product. The reduction in material thickness from 0.21mm to 0.19mm, was achieved without loss of performance during the retorting process. In addition the aluminium lid improves easy opening and, due to the thickness reduction, less force is required to open it.

Hygrosieve®, is an innovative lacquered aluminium foil developed by Italcoat. The hygroscopic lacquer, with a molecular sieve effect, improves the performance in terms of selective vapour adsorption/desorption, resulting in a 15% energy saving. The product has been specifically developed for energy recovery rotors.

The aluminium foil is chemically degreased and lacquered both sides with the hygroscopic formulation and anticorrosion primer. The formulation is applied through coil coating. An additional benefit is a reduction of the flow rates of refrigerant fluid, which also contributes to higher efficiency of the rotor.

The Braille Embossing Lid, an advanced aluminium foil lid manufactured by ConSeal, with patented technology from Austrian company Gerhard Rauch, has been specifically developed for vision-impaired people. In addition, it guarantees to industrial manufacturers the easy separation of stacked lids on the line.

Through the application of an adjustable, innovative stamp on the punching machine, the braille reading system is applied directly onto the aluminium foil lid. Developed for dairy product lidding, these manufacturers now have the possibility to inform the visually impaired about details of their products, with variable information for each product in the range.

Selig Group has developed a unique sealing technique, called GlassFuze™, using aluminium foil as a key material to create a hermetic seal to glass containers. This is the first and only induction heat sealing technique for an alufoil membrane that provides a complete hermetic seal that withstands liquid and high oil content substances, says the company.

The use of the aluminium foil is key to the process. Not only does the foil create a barrier to oxygen and moisture, it also heats up to create the actual seal. Without the use of aluminium foil, this hermetic seal would not be possible.

e-WAK® from Guala Closures Group is the first patented NFC (Near Field Communication) closure dedicated to wineries, allowing them to start a one to one relationship with consumers. This new intelligent technology has been integrated in a WAK aluminium closure, which can also carry brand personalisation.

The NFC chip allows any bottle of wine to become a “connected bottle”. Positioned in the cap, it sends a signal to enabled mobile phones, offering four potential benefits. The wine owner gets marketing data acquisition and logistics track & trace, while the consumer receives authenticity certification and direct engagement with the brand.