Abstract

Returnable PET bottles nowadays are all suited with a two-piece closure solution. The closures seal with a foam liner on the inside of the cap pressing on the top of the bottleneck. This is necessary as the returnable bottles have high deviations on the diameter of the neck due to growing wear depending on how often they have been used and washed. A typical plug seal solution like used for all single use PET bottles is therefore not working. 

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However, today’s market demands a circular economy solution, and the two-piece closures are not ready for this. 

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ALPLA and Z-MOULDS developed with the intellectual property of Universal Closures, the patented ODS seal technology, a solution for a 1-piece closure. This innovative seal design enables the closure to seal like with a foam liner on the top of the neck and handles wide diameter differences. 

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In our presentation, we will highlight the path towards developing this solution and introducing it to the German returnable PET market. 

Bios

Benedict Reimann is Product Manager IM Caps at ALPLA Group. He joined the company in 2023 and is responsible for the development, maintenance, and championing of ALPLA's global injection moulding caps business.

Before joining ALPLA, Mr. Reimann, who holds an MBA degree, worked in leading positions in marketing, consultancy, and project development in the automotive and packaging industries.

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Since 2023 Michael Fink is the new CEO of z-moulds, the closure and mould specialists from Austria. He is working with z-moulds since 20 years and was in his former roles he was responsible for Sales and Marketing globally.​