Milacron partners with S&W on Klear Cans
Industrial technology company Milacron Holdings has collaborated with S&W Fine Foods International, a Del Monte Pacific Ltd company, to create the Milacron Klear Can. Available exclusively in Asia, the can-packaged pineapple chunks and slices are available in stores across Seoul, South Korea and Shanghai, China; there are plans to expand over the coming year.
S&W chose the Milacron Klear Can to highlight its products’ quality and freshness through use of transparent packaging. According to S&W, it is the first company in the world to offer tropical fruit in a clear plastic can. Thousands of cans were moulded, filled, seamed, retorted and shipped to grocers.
Milacron Co-injection developed the Klear Can as an alternative to metal cans for fruits, vegetables, soups, meats, and other products.
The Milacron Klear Can is IML (In Mould Label) compatible, using the same industry standard can ends, filling, seaming and retorting machinery as metal cans. As such, minimal downstream investment is required and the final product is stackable, Milacron says. Klear Can allows manufacturers the flexibility to mould cans at the filling site (i.e., via ‘through-the-wall’ supply operations), which offers operational efficiencies.
Milacron CEO, Tom Goeke, stated: “After years of development and strong positive consumer results, we’re excited to have S&W Fine Foods International on-board as a partner to launch the Milacron Klear Can in key global markets. We are also thrilled about the prospect of transforming the metal can industry.”
The Milacron Klear Can is a patented co-injection moulded, polypropylene EVOH plastic can, which can be cooked and seamed meeting all industry standards. The Klear Can is BPA-free for safe food contact, recyclable, and is fully microwavable. It is designed to withstand standard retort pressures and temperatures (up to 130° C).
Klear Can uses a single standard metal can end, and uses the industry standard can end double-seam process; ideal for those who process foods in metal cans today.
Steve Morris, president Milacron Systems, added: “We’ve gained a tremendous amount of in-house technical knowledge during the development of Klear Can, which allows us to support our customers and the industry in the adoption of this ground-breaking technology. Klear Can is a natural extension of Milacron’s industry-leading co-injection molding expertise.”
