FDBusiness.com

Plastipak, a plastic packaging manufacturer,  has coproduced with AriZona Beverages to commercialise the very first ThermoShape lightweight hot-fill technology in the United States.

Plastipak’s proprietary ThermoShape and DiamondClear barrier technologies were used to develop a lightweight, recyclable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) container, which features a smooth wall, hot fill capabilities, and an extended shelf life.

The collaboration was formed after AriZona challenged Plastipak to provide a hot fill PET package, while maintaining the appearance of the company’s existing glass packaging design.

Plastipak food and beverage category global vice-president Tim Eppinga said: “Over the last several year Plastipak has devoted resources to broadening our hot fill and barrier capabilities, so when AriZona came to us with this challenge, we were confident that we had the right combination of solutions to be successful.”

The company’s ThermoShape technology enables food and beverage producers to use existing hot-fill process lines, which can also be converted to create lighter weight, unbreakable PET packaging.

The technology also eliminates the need for vacuum panels and other vacuum-resistant features required by traditional PET hot-fill processes.

Plastipak Packaging was founded in 1967. It was an innovation by Bill Young. AriZona Beverages was originally founded in 1971, but the very first product was sold in 1992.