The long-skirt, high-flow, pull-push sportscap closure is used for Castle Springs' 20-oz and 1-L polyethylene terephthalate bottles, introduced last spring and summer. A polyvinyl chloride band is shrink-wrapped over the closure to provide tamper evidence. "We researched our options and suppliers when it came to selecting a closure for these two new sizes," says Mark Wiggins, executive vp of operations. "In the evaluating process, we found these caps to be our best quality alternative, and we've been happy with them." He notes that the company's 12-oz, 1/2-L and 1.5-L PET bottles receive more standard closures. "The decision to use sportscaps on the two new sizes was a marketing decision we made based on consumer acceptance of 20-ounce and one-liter bottles with sportscaps." All five sizes of PET bottles, as well as a 10-oz glass bottle, are filled on a single line at the company's Moultonborough, NH, headquarters manufacturing plant. "These closures didn't demand any unusual line changes," says Wiggins.
