Innovative approach to beverage can hygiene

A new technology called Healthy Cap is designed to give producers of canned beverages and their customers an enhanced sanitation advantage. Contamination on beverage cans may be caused by external matter such as molds, condensation, etc. Healthy Cap can preserve the hygiene of beverage can tops, even after the containers have passed through all stages of the distribution system.

Healthy Cap protects cans with a special thermoforming process which produces a plastic material cover that fully sticks to the can and completely evacuates trapped air. The sterile vacuum precludes the possibility of residual air being entrapped between the can and the wrap where bacteria might otherwise have the opportunity to grow.

Italian packaging company SACMI Imola has acquired the rights to manufacture and market the Healthy Cap system. The Pepsi Cola company was the first in Italy to perceive the importance of this solution and immediately made use of it, getting a great competitive benefit and significantly increasing market share. Other beverage companies also are implementing the system.

The results of lab tests on cans sealed by Healthy Cap show that bacterial contamination is eliminated at the cans' end-closing stage. So, if the can-end is cleaned (for example, with UV rays) right after closing the can and then covered by Healthy Cap, hygiene remains unchanged through the distribution channels.

Besides the hygiene-related feature, the Healthy Cap system also offers the interesting possibility of providing a can-wrapping solution for multi-cans units, at no extra cost. With this system, cans may be packed in groups of 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12, replacing other multi-pack equipment. The Healthy Can & Healthy Pack-making machine is installed at the end of the filling and seaming lines and has a production capacity of about 1,000 cans per minute.

The SACMI team can meet with clients on-site to eliminate any plant-related problems of integrating the Healthy Cap & Healthy Pack machines to the existing systems. SACMI sees Healthy Cap as a safe, cost-effective packaging solution, enabling consumers to drink with confidence and guarding beverage processors against possible claims concerning sanitation.

For more info: Valentina Gollini, valentina_gollini@sacmi.it.

Edited by Judy Rice,
Managing Editor, Beverage Online