Amcor Unveils Major Innovations: Lighter Closures, Heat-Resistant PET Jars, and New Film Line in Europe

Amcor has recently officially launched a series of transformative packaging technology innovations aimed at enhancing sustainability, operational efficiency, and product performance across multiple industries.

The company has launched a model equipped withElevate TechnologyAmcor's new generation Apex polyethylene terephthalate (PET) container. Just days ago, Amcor launched the lightweight Flava flip-top cap and announced an investment of several million euros to expand its industrial film production capacity in Europe.

Apex PET Can with Elevate Technology

The newly launched product is the latest iteration of Amcor's premium PET can series, Apex, featuring the newly developed Elevate technology. This technology enables more efficient adaptation to hot-fill processes, allowing food manufacturers to fill Apex cans at a maximum temperature of 205°F (approximately 96.1°C), while significantly enhancing the can's resistance to deformation and reducing can deformation caused by temperature fluctuations on the production line.

The Apex jar is fully transparent, lightweight, and comes with a metal lid, offering a more convenient and stable alternative to traditional glass jars for pasta sauce brands. This product can effectively reduce logistics costs, minimize production downtime, and lower the breakage rate of jars, achieving significant cost savings.

Amcor states: "The weight of seven empty Apex cans is equivalent to just one empty glass jar, allowing producers to transport up to 36% more product per truck." Additionally, the Apex cans are compatible with most producers' existing production lines and equipment, further reducing the cost of switching production lines.

Dan Rardin, Director of Amcor’s North American Rigid Packaging Solutions product line, said: “At Amcor, we’re redefining what customers and consumers expect from PET jars. From consistent performance under varying production line conditions to the satisfying ‘click’ sound consumers hear when opening the lid, the Apex jar with Elevate technology delivers a reliable experience. Combined with a lower total cost of ownership, switching to this product is clearly the smart choice.”

Apex cans also support customized options, helping fast-moving consumer goods brands and private label manufacturers to create exclusive visual identities, accurately reaching target consumer groups.

Flava Flip Cap: Lightweight and Sustainable

Amcor has simultaneously launched a new 55mm Flava flip-top closure (38/400), a lightweight upgraded version suitable for products such as mayonnaise, ketchup, and sweet sauces. The closure weighs 1.9 grams less overall, bringing its total weight down to 8.5 grams—a reduction of 18.7% compared to the previous generation.

This single-material bottle cap is designed for co-recycling with PET, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and polypropylene (PP bottles), provided that a comprehensive recycling system is in place locally. The cap is available in multiple color options and can be paired with various PET and HDPE bottles from Amcor's portfolio.

Peter Briggs, Sales Director of Amcor's Food and Beverage business in the UK, said: "The new Flava push-up bottle cap, with its lightweight design, helps customers achieve carbon reduction targets. Weight reduction is key to lowering the carbon footprint of bottle caps, while product performance remains unaffected, achieving a balance between performance and environmental protection, which is crucial for consumers. Consumers can use the product with confidence, as it provides a clean and convenient dispensing experience."

Increase European Market Investment to Expand Industrial Film Production Capacity

In addition to the new product launch, Amcor announced this month the addition of a new printing line at its Hardenberg production site in the Netherlands, with an investment of several million euros. This investment will enhance the company's industrial film production capacity to meet the growing market demand in sectors such as growing media, peat, fertilizers, wood chips, animal bedding, wood pellets, salts, and other bulk materials.

A new high-performance flexible printing system enables large-scale, stable, and high-quality production output, meeting both the functional requirements of packaging and brand visual presentation. After full commissioning, the production line will add 6,000 tons of packaging printing capacity annually.

Daniel Stauber, Sales Director at Amcor, stated, "The investment in the Hardenberg site is part of our strategy to serve customers in Europe's core industrial and agricultural markets. This move will strengthen our existing industrial network and enhance service levels for regional customers."

Amcor's industrial footprint in Europe includes production, printing, and service facilities located in Addlestone, UK; Steinfeld, Germany; Zelzate, Belgium; and Zdziechowice, Poland.

Stauber added, "The industrial and agricultural markets are key growth areas for the company. New capacity will enable us to serve regional customers more efficiently and meet their continuously evolving needs in terms of material utilization, recyclable packaging, and compliant use of recycled materials."

Regarding Amcor

Amcor is a global leader in packaging and distribution solutions, providing multi-material packaging products for the nutrition, health, beauty, and personal care sectors. The company produces a variety of flexible packaging, rigid packaging, paper boxes, and bottle caps, combining environmental sustainability, functionality, and aesthetics. Amcor operates over 400 facilities in more than 40 countries, with over 75,000 employees and annual sales of $23 billion.