ITW HI-CONE INTRODUCES PACKAGING SYSTEM
DESIGNED FOR CRAFT BREWERS

SAN DIEGO, April 17, 2008 – A minimal, environment-friendly packaging option, shown at the Craft Brewers Conference and Brew Expo America, offers brewers a longawaited alternative to costly and wasteful six-pack paperboard basket carriers. Called BrandPak™, www.brandpak.net, the new packaging system utilizes a top-lift handle, glass bottle ring carrier with a wrap-around stretch band. It is designed for six-packs of bottled beer, or for multi-packaging cans in 4-6-8 and 12-packs.

Two ITW companies, Hi-Cone and United Silicone, introduced their portable, lowspeed, ring-carrier application machine designed for brewers upgrading from manual multi-packaging operations or for use with low-speed filling lines. “Developing the RingMaster™ carrier application machine for BrandPak was a natural fit for our engineering expertise,” stated Dave Schutrum, business unit manager, United Silicone. RingMaster will automate production for the BrandPak packaging system, which will be marketed to craft brewers by Mumm Products.

Craft beers are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. beer market, and many brewers are looking to expand the reach of their brands beyond home-town regions. “To take advantage of growth opportunities, many craft brewers face the challenge of automating in-line production, but don’t need expensive packaging systems used with high-speed filling operations,” said Gary Privett, general manager, breweries, ITW Hi-Cone. “The RingMaster application machine for low-volume brewers is affordable and will eliminate the need to manually insert bottles in cardboard basket carriers.”

BrandPak evolved from Hi-Cone’s work with high-stretch packaging technology. After many months of product development and testing, the new concept was first shown in late 2005 at the world’s largest beer exhibition, Drinktec in Munich.

The package is produced in a two-step application process in which Hi-Cone’s top-lift ring carriers are applied to glass bottles and the wrap-around plastic band is stretched onto the six-pack. The package is secure and serves as an attractive billboard on the shelf for brand graphics and promotional messages.

Privett added that craft brewers looking to expand their distribution might want to add cans to their product mix. “The low-speed RingMaster application machine series is suitable for packaging either glass bottles or cans,” he said. “Cans are advantageous when transporting beverages over long distances because they occupy less space on the truck and breakage isn’t an issue.” He added that for bottles the low-speed applicator will produce 10 six-packs a minute, fits in small production areas, and can be moved easily. The lightweight and mobile applicator for cans will be rated at up to 15 six-packs per minute.

Other advantages, according to Privett, that make BrandPak superior to paperboard are beer bottles won’t fall out of the waterproof band carrier and a six-pack can be chilled anywhere on ice without moisture damaging the package.

With sustainability becoming a major concern in beverage packaging, BrandPak is minimal packaging that conserves materials, occupies less shelf space, and reduces the amount of packaging waste for disposal. “For protecting the environment, less definitely is better,” said Privett, “and BrandPak gives brewers an opportunity to offer consumers an attractive, convenient and environment-friendly package.”

“This unique and exciting package helped launch our Miner’s Gold brand in bottles quicker and more economically than with paperboard carriers,” said Max Pigman, owner of Lewis and Clark Brewery in Helena, Montana. “Our customers appreciate the environmental benefits of this package.”

The introduction of the RingMaster machine series for the craft brewing industry is the first collaboration between Hi-Cone, www.hi-cone.com and United Silicone, www.unitedsilicone.com, which specializes in the design and production of hot stamp/heat transfer machines, high speed equipment, heat-seal solutions, tooling and supplies. The company’s engineering and manufacturing departments offer complete capabilities ranging from integrated applications to full turnkey systems. Automated sleeving systems are provided by PDC Europe or CCL Label/Auto-Sleeve.

Based in Itasca, Ill., ITW Hi-Cone was formed in 1962 to focus on manufacturing and marketing beverage packaging systems and is the leading supplier of plastic ring carriers for beverages and canned food products. Hi-Cone is a division of Illinois Tool Works, Inc.

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For more information please contact Laura Baumann, Marketing Manager, United Silicone +1-716-681-8222 ext. 187 or lbaumann@united silicone.com