Closure puts blend in consumers' hands
a means to create their own blended drinks on demand.
Erie Plastics is targeting its Pop N Shake closures at beverage makers who want a novel means of getting a foothold in the market for fortified drinks. The company said yesterday its Pop N Shake closures can be used for bottled water, juice, tea, coffee and dairy, as well as nutraceuticals and organics. The closure is designed to allow ingredients to dispense with the turn of a tamper-evident dust cover. Consumers then pop of an inner-cap chamber, which allows them to watch a flavor, vitamin or mineral fuse with their bottled drink. They then have to shake the beverage to mix the ingredients. Beverage makers can customise the Pop N Shake closures, the company stated. Erie Plastics said it recently completed the development and installation of a fill, seal and assembly production line in a food-grade processing and filling white room, which is also equipped to run leak testing and metal detection operations. "We've actually been working under the radar for some time on our unique Pop N Shake technology," said Hoop Roche, the company's chairman and chief executive. "Our strategy was to focus on superior design and full functionality, and to launch the closure once we established a vertically-integrated closure system and turnkey solution for beverage producers." The closure is made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which has a chamber that can contain both liquid and powder ingredients for mixing. The closure has a dual tamper-evident design with moisture and oxygen barrier that separates active from and inactive ingredients. Pop N Shake closures are currently available in a 26 mm size. The company is currently working on a a 38 mm closure, due to be available in late August.
