New closure enhances convenience of retort

PHILADELPHIA  — Brand owners can add a new level of convenience for hotfill and retort applications such as nutritional beverages, coffee and tea with the help of this new closure offering.

The 40mm Ideal Closure comes from Crown Closures Americas, a business unit of Crown Holdings, Inc. Compatible with plastic or glass containers, the Ideal Closure is said to deliver superior barrier performance, easier opening and brand differentiation on the retail shelf.

The Ideal Closure is a unique hybrid of a plastisol-lined metal disk and a plastic band. The metal disk forms an airtight seal against the container to guard against oxygen ingress while the consumer-friendly plastic band is easy to grip, enhancing the opening experience.

The closure's two-stage opening mechanism separates the force required to overcome the friction between the closure threads and the container from that required to release the vacuum in the package, further easing opening for consumers.

The design of the closure also creates multiple opportunities for brand owners to differentiate their products on the shelf. Logos, messaging and nutritional value can be printed on the metal disc and different flavors can be communicated with distinctively colored plastic bands.

The Ideal Closure is also fully recyclable, allowing consumers to include it in the same recycling system as the rest of the package.

"The Ideal Closure provides a powerful brand-building packaging option for hotfill and   retorted food and beverage applications," says Sheila Heath, Director of Marketing for CROWN Closures Americas.  "It protects product quality and freshness, is easy to recycle and at the same time, has a striking presence on the retail shelf."