Crown Cork & Seal, the global provider of packaging products, has said that the 10 billionth SuperEnd, a beverage can end that is claimed reduces aluminum use by 10 per cent, has been shipped.
CCS claims the lightweight end significantly reduces material costs, creating substantial savings for high-volume beverage producers annually. To date, beverage producers have converted over 70 filling lines in North America and South Africa to SuperEnd.
Crown's 202-diameter SuperEnd is said to enhance package integrity and improve performance. Its patented design provides increased panel strength, which in testing has proved it to be 8-10 psi more buckle resistant than standard 202 ends, thus ensuring integrity throughout pasteurisation, shipping and handling.
CCS claims that one of the biggest advantages of this type of can end is that it is easy and cost-effective to implement, without capital investment. The conversions consist of normal seamer wear parts such as chucks, rolls, knockout pads and cap pushers. Beverage producers are said to benefit from additional marketing advantages such as superior "finger access" to the easy-open pull-tab, improved pourability and enhanced drinkability.
"The lightweight SuperEnd is the next global standard in beverage can ends," said John Conway, chairman, president and CEO of Crown Cork & Seal. "Shipment of the 10 billionth SuperEnd is testimony to the advantages of this innovation. We are excited to have reached this landmark event and proud to help beverage producers substantially reduce material costs."
SuperEnd will be available in Europe in early 2003, enabling European beverage producers to achieve similar cost reduction benefits.