Esterform News
Stop Press : Esterform launches new products for the food sector
The demands of the modern supply chain are encouraging retailers to move away from traditional glass packaging because of the hazard of breakages, the need to reduce their carbon footprint, and the significant weight saving from the utilisation of PET.
The PET squeezy jars for honey from Esterform offer convenience at the table, coupled with ease of handling throughout the supply chain.
Moreover, because Esterform Packaging are producing their range of PET honey jars via the 2 stage, rather than the single stage route, options for JIT supply are much greater. PET preforms for the jars can be produced in advance, and higher speed reheat blow moulding machines respond swiftly to customer requirements. Typically a relatively small 2 stage blower can produce 120K bottles a day, in comparison with 12K per day from a single stage machine. This is far better matched to the needs of the modern supply chain.
A further advantage is that the honey jars have a 38mm SP400 neck – for which closures are available from a number of suppliers.
The same advantages hold good for the other new PET jars being launched by Esterform. For example, their PET spice jar is approximately 85% lighter than the equivalent glass spice jar, offering economies in transport and reduced breakages.
Drawings of the honey jars, and the 100ml spice jar, are already available on the Esterform website.
Click to view product drawings downloads
A key future development, currently under trial, is a range of bottles and jars, suitable for hot fill and ambient fill. The bottles, which have a 38mm SP400 neck, will be primarily for sauces (sweet and savoury). Sizes will be from 200ml to 500ml. Competing polymers do not offer the same recyclability as PET, or the same speed of response for JIT supply, for this type of application.
The planned jars will be suitable for peanut butter, pickles, and similar products. These will have a standard 63mm neck (for which a number of possible closures are available). Jar sizes will range from 200ml to 1000ml. Ambient fill jars will be the first to be launched.
In summary, in comparison with glass, PET offers a substantial weight reduction, with energy savings that minimise the carbon footprint, and reduce transport costs. Moreover, the hazard of breakages is removed from the supply chain. In comparison with other polymers PET offers recyclability. Overall, the 2 stage production route can match the demands of JIT supply to the customer.
Please contact Esterform’s Terry Evans by email or by phone (
terry.evans@esterform.com
; 0787 981 0246) if you need a number of samples for a trial run. Esterform.