Swedish packaging giant Tetra Pak (Lund; www.tetrapak.com) has launched the “Tetra Brik Aseptic 1000 Edge” drinks carton. The company said the package, with the “LightCap” 30 screw cap, adds a distinctive sloping top panel to the familiar shape of the “Tetra Brik” aseptic package. Incorporating the latest closure technology, the new package provides cost benefits, improved stacking capabilities and significant environmental advantages and will be available from the spring of 2012 with 30mm green PE closures.

Targeted at in-the-home use, the package offers large-volume producers a competitively priced carton for long shelf life beverages such as milks, vitamin-enriched milks, omega-3 milks, flavoured milks, dairy alternatives, juices, nectars, still drinks and wines distributed in ambient conditions and without the need of preservatives.

A key feature of the Tetra Brik Aseptic 1000 Edge is the ability to maximise the size of the opening while minimising the use of raw materials. This has been achieved by moulding the base of the neck as flat as possible to the underside of the packaging material using a combination of direct injection moulding concept (DIMC) and pre-laminated hole (PLH) technologies – see Plasteurope.com of 19.08.2011.

Günter Berz-List, CEO of dairy products specialist Schwälbchen Molkerei, said: “The Tetra Brik Aseptic Edge is bringing us immediate advantages in the increasingly competitive long-life beverage market. Robust and efficient packaging saves us warehouse space and cuts road journeys. It looks great on the pallet and its sloping top and big screw cap ensure excellent pouring.”