Beef Jerky sticks in a new canister that Oberto makes in-plant from flat blanks of polypropylene. Both the container materials and the container-forming equipment are provided by Huhtamaki (www.huhtamaki.com), which calls the novel system Velocity®. The Oberto application represents the commercial debut of the Velocity container system.
Made from preprinted polypropylene-based sheet, the canister sidewalls are formed around mandrels. A side seam is produced via heat-sealing and a PP bottom is heat-sealed in place, as well. This technology and the machinery used are very similar to the long-standing Huhtamaki mandrel systems used for paperboard canister forming.
Oberto was interested in improving its retail graphics presentation, and the Velocity format supports strong graphics. The sidewalls are printed on 6-color, off-set lithography presses, with 100% ink coverage possible on opaque or clear sheet.
The packaging design also incorporates a see-through display window area and an easy-open and reclose overcap. The black, injection-molded overcap further enhances shelf presence. After filling and capping, the canisters are sealed with tamper-evident shrink bands around the overcaps. The new canisters provide sound package integrity and product safety without over-packaging.
Oberto should also score some points in the sustainability game by using an in-plant packaging system. From a fuel-consumption and distribution standpoint, a container made on-site from flat blanks and bottoms is almost always inherently more efficient and sustainable than shipping truckloads of empty preformed containers.
