dark blue-tinted, 20-ounce PET bottles and high-strength, flexible, HDPE multipack carriers. Previously, Le Bleu used clear PET bottles and rigid plastic six-pack carrying collars.

The suppliers and structural details of the bottles, closures, and labels were undisclosed. But Roberts PolyPro Inc. (www.robertspolypro.com) supplies both the plastic carriers and the carrier application equipment.

Ed Hauser, plant manager for the Le Bleu bottling facility, says, “We looked around for our best options for plastic multipack carriers and application equipment. The Roberts PolyPro system gave us the compact design and high-speed performance we were looking for.”

Le Bleu president Jerry Smith notes, “The new system operates at rates of about 20 cases of six-packs per minute versus the old rate of 10 cases of six-packs per minute. And the flexible plastic carriers are user-friendly—easy to remove from the bottles without the need for cutting utensils. The new packaging enhances shelf appeal and our branding.”