The new closure, which consists of a flange with an integrated cutting ring and a screw cap, weighs 1.85 grammes. By way of comparison, the first screw cap developed by SIG for aseptic beverage cartons weighed 4.9 grammes.
Explaining how the weight reduction was achieved, Hanno Bertling, product manager for opening solutions at SIG, said: “CombiCap is real lightweight due to its specific design: Flange, cutting ring and cap are molded as one part.”
The reduced weight means that the environmental footprint is eased and savings are made on raw materials. According to SIG, this makes the CombiCap perfectly suited to the highly competitive milk market.
“With the design and development of CombiCap, we’re now offering an ideal closure in the very price-sensitive milk segment,” said Bertling.
The new cap will be offered exclusively for the combiblocSlimline format.
Its first market outing is on UHT milks produced by the Humana group of companies in Germany. SIG said other dairy companies will be bringing out products with the CombiCap this coming summer.
The closure itself can be applied to SIG carton packs using the existing applicators from the company. It said only minor adjustments are needed for the machinery and no modifications in size or shape are necessary for the secondary packaging of the filled carton packs.
All the components of the carton pack, made with the CombiCap closure, can be recycled after use.