Closure stores and mixes active ingredients
ingredients into liquid, could increase the shelf life of
products such as sports drinks and functional beverages.
The shelf life of products, such as sports drinks and functional beverages containing active ingredients in solution is shortened because active ingredients lose their effectiveness with time. The new development ensures active ingredients, like dietary supplements, are separated from the solution until the product is to be consumed, lengthening the potential shelf live of the product. Erie Plastics claims its Pop N' Shake dispensing closure is customizable to meet a wide range of beverage needs across the bottled water, juice, dairy, tea, coffee and health drink markets. Made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the closure is provides an oxygen and waterproof barrier between active and inactive ingredients, the company claims. Ingredients dispense with the turn of a tamper-evident dust cover and subsequent "pop" of an inner-cap chamber. This allows the stored flavor, vitamin or mineral for example to contact the liquid and mix, which can be enhanced by shaking. Allowing consumers to "mix" drinks as they choose could open many new product possibilities for manufacturers. To provide a "turnkey" solution for beverage manufacturers, the company recently completed 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 Erie said. Hoop Roche, chairman and chief executive officer of Erie Plastics, said the company has been developing the closure and a system to attach it beverage containers. "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," he said. "From what we've already heard from a number of global beverage and nutraceutical companies, Erie Plastics' Pop N' Shake closure is in the lead when it comes to both functionality and readiness for market." Pop N' Shake closures are currently available in a 26 mm size, with a 38 mm version expected shortly. Erie Plastics, with headquarters in Pennsylvania, specializes in the design, development and custom injection molding of rigid plastic packaging components for the household chemical, personal care, pharmaceutical, food and beverage and consumer markets.
