ELOPAK

Packaging Systems for Liquid Food Products

At the centre of Elopak`s well established range of packaging solutions is the Pure-Pak carton, the world`s first paperboard carton. Today Elopak`s packaging pedigree has been enhanced to include a range of plastic solutions as well.

Based in Norway, and wholly owned by the Ferd Group (one of Norway`s largest privately owned industrial groups) Elopak is continually modifying its packaging expertise to match changing world demands for packaged food. Elopak`s business is to break new ground at every level of packaging; processing standards, food science, logistics analysis, packaging concepts, all alongside a total systems approach which uniquely characterizes Elopak`s contribution to the world of packaging.

Half a century of continuous development sees a truly global corporation operating on every continent. With in depth penetration through a network of market units and associates in more than 40 countries and customers in over 100, the Elopak Group seeks to bring its international expertise and product technology to new markets.

PACKAGING SOLUTIONS FOR CARTON AND PLASTIC BASED PACKAGING SYSTEMS

Elopak`s Mission

To satisfy market needs for attractive high quality carton and plastic based packaging systems for non-carbonated fresh and long-life liquid food products. This will be achieved by continuous focus on consumer and customer satisfaction, innovation, operational efficiency and human capital development.

Elopak Company Strategy for Aseptic Liquid Food Packaging

Elopak will focus on and be the leading international player in the fresh and premium aseptic liquid food packaging market.

This will be achieved by:

• continuous launch of product/systems developments and innovation
• continuous improvement of operational efficiency
• geographic expansion
• establish a strong system portfolio in the growing long-life liquid food packaging segment to support long-term growth

Environmental Responsibility

Elopak is committed to the principles of sustainable development and will conduct its business with due respect for responsible resource management and protection of the environment.

Elopak`s Environmental Objectives

We direct our efforts to:

• Be respected for our environmental responsibility
• Reduce the environmental impact of our products and services
• Influence the environmental impact in the total value chain

PRODUCTION OF USER-FRIENDLY PACKAGING

Elopak has been providing consumers with convenient, user-friendly packaging since 1957. We are packaging food, one of the world`s most precious resources that must be well protected. It should reach consumers in high quality and low price.

Loosing food through bad packaging wastes far more resources than packaging itself. Put another way, efficient, modern packaging reduces the impact on our environment.

Environmental Responsibility

The two areas that most affect Elopak are food safety and the environment. The liquid food producer is responsible for the content, but Elopak is responsible for ensuring that our packaging protects liquid food so it is safe for consumption. In terms of our responsibility to our environment, we have to produce packaging in a way that minimises environmental impact.

Our goals in terms of ensuring food safety are to preserve all the naturally occurring components of the liquid food that provide nutritional and health benefits. At the same time we must ensure avoidance of contaminants or exposure that could:

• endanger health
• change the composition of the food
• change taste or aroma - the sensory experience of the food

Our goals in terms of minimising impact on the environment are:

• Encouraging sustainable forestry
• Contributing to efficient recycling
• Continuously reducing consumption of resources within the areas we control

RECYCLING USED PACKAGING

Used packaging can be recycled after having served its main purpose: protecting the food, and saving it from going to waste.
Plastic materials can either be reused as raw material in the same type of plastic, or recycled into new plastic materials in a process called feedstock recycling.

Recycling of Plastic Packaging

Plastic packaging takes their raw material from natural resources such as oil and natural gas. Plastics accounts for less than 5% of the global oil consumption, and packaging less than that. As the products can be recovered, either in an energy incineration facility or through material recycling, the resources are re-used with a high degree of efficiency.

Plastic Systems

Elopak Plastic Systems offers plastic based packaging solutions to the dairy, juice and non-carbonated beverage industries.

Elopak`s offering comprises a fully integrated bottle supply system with graduated investment options. You can start with your own filler and we supply your PET or HDPE bottles, or you have the freedom to opt for a full `hole-through-wall` system.

PLASTIC SYSTEMS CONCEPT

Plastic Bottle Systems

This is a complete and unique new offering of PET and HDPE bottle systems to the markets for dairy, juice and other non-carbonated beverages.

Elopak Plastic Bottle Systems is offering a wide range of quality plastic packaging solutions for dairy, juice, water and other non-carbonated beverage products. A number of options are available, based on PET, HDPE and PP mono- or multilayer materials, for fresh, extended shelf-life and aseptically filled products.

Our goal is to create value for our customers by developing tailor-made solutions and supplying them in the shortest possible time in order to allow our customers fast entry to their markets.

COMPLETE PACKAGING SOLUTIONS

We are providing complete packaging solutions, not only products. We are generating business ideas, not only bottles.

Based on the needs and requirements of our customers, Elopak Plastic Bottle Systems is offering complete plastic packaging solutions comprising one or more of the following features:

• preliminary analysis
• consultancy
• systems evaluation

Bottle and Closure Design

Total systems supply and integration (blow moulding, filling/capping, labelling, handling equipment, and downstream solutions)

• Commissioning and running-in of the installation supplied
• Training of customer`s operators
• Supply of preforms, caps and labels

Technical Service and Maintenance

Our one-stop-shopping offering is eliminating the hassle of having to deal with different suppliers, creating inefficiencies and high costs in production and supply. It also reduces the interface problems and ensures improved machinery utilisation and availability.

OUR UNIQUE OFFERING

Hole-Through-The-Wall Operation

Elopak Bottle Systems is treating every plastic project opportunity as unique with the right mix of technology, design, engineering, materials, equipment and support.

Unique is also our `Hole-trough-the-wall` offer: Elopak is entirely responsible for the production and supply of bottles `through-the-wall` to the customer`s filling hall, thus saving delivery and logistic costs and ensuring just-in-time delivery of quality PET or HDPE bottles.

UNIFILL

A plastic portion packaging system for food and non-food products based on an innovative form-fill-seal machine concept.

The Unifill System is an attractive, user-friendly system for plastic packaging of liquids and semi-liquids which complements the well established Pure-Pak®.

It is a thermoform, fill and seal process for plastic containers with numerous applications for food and non-foods.

Unifill Technology

Unifill is based on a combination of two well-established technologies: the use of thermoformable plastic sheet in a form, fill and seal packaging system combined with the use of the blow-moulding system. These two technologies have been further developed and patented in unique and compact monobloc machines.

Using a vertical thermoforming technique, two thin films of plastic sheet are pre-heated and formed into strips of monodose portion packs. The strips are then filled with liquid or semi-liquid product, the top is sealed and the strips are cut into individual shaped packages or sales units of 5 to 15 doses, depending on volume and shape - a truly innovative method of plastic packaging.

Screw Caps and Closures

Since long-life products require the highest protection level possible, Elopak has at an early stage decided to implement a post applied screw cap solution, leaving the carton intact for highest safety and yet still meet the requirements set by our customers.

The innovative plastic screw caps that have been developed by Elopak also allow for differentiation between price and functionality, so catering for the main market, product segments, and different requirements

The Pak-Lok® Concept

Adding consumer convenience to cartons Elopak`s closure programme is called the Pak-Lok® concept. Our closures are available in a range of plastic screw cap sizes, pouring performances, opening styles, processing compatability and colours.

ELO-LOK APPLICATORS

The Elo-Lok closure is applied in the filling machine by an Elo-Lok applicator. Cartons manufactured for this screw cap are equipped with a full cut hole ready to receive the cap    

PURE-LOK APPLICATORS

The Pure-Lok closure is sealed in position by either hot air or hot melt glue over a pre-cut disc. The barrier properties of the cartons are fully maintained till the consumer opens the closure by breaking the board seal.

Filled Products

Elopak offers business partnerships by supplying original, attractive packaging that are functional for the consumer. Offering both carton and plastic packaging, Elopak is one of the leaders for chilled dairy packaging solutions and juice packaging solutions. Packages from Elopak have also proven to be brilliant solutions for wine and water as well as for liquid foods such as soups and desserts.

Elopak Packaging Possibilities and Product Profiles

Take a closer look at the vast possibilities Elopak`s packaging solutions can offer for the Dairy, Juice and Liquid Food segments! In these sections you will also find a series of profiles on different products filled in cartons, PET and HDPE bottles from Elopak.

• Dairy
• Juice
• Liquid Food

DAIRY PACKAGING SOLUTIONS

The dairy market has stabilized its volume in millions of litres throughout Europe, while experiencing marginal growth in units. The growth in units is in the added-value dairy segment and smaller pack sizes. Private labels have made significant inroads in the dairy market, resulting in tremendous pressure on consumer prices and customer margins. Elopak is committed to delivering cost-competitive packaging solutions with a clear value proposition of freshness quality.

• Milk & Milk Based
• Fermented Milk & Yoghurts
• Whey Based Drinks
• Extended Shelf Life

JUICE AND JUICE BASED DRINKS PACKAGING SOLUTIONS

The juice market continues to grow in millions of litres and in units due to dynamic growth of premium fresh and premium ambient juices throughout Europe. Furthermore, new fresh juice products such as a mix of juice and milk have also experienced significant growth.

• Juice and Juice Based Drinks

LIQUID FOOD PACKAGING SOLUTIONS

There is a large number of emerging new liquid food products in Europe such as new creams, soups, creamy soups, liquid desserts and yoghurts, neutraceutical and functional food, new cereal beverages, ices coffees and teas. Natural taste, freshness and product quality are the key attributes for most of these products. Elopak is partnering with key customers to develop new technologies and adapt existing ones for processing and filling new liquid food products.

• Liquid Eggs
• Wine & Alcohol
• Water
• Soups
• Edible Oil 
• Other

Printing Methods and Printing Inks

There are two basic printing methods available within Elopak:

• flexographic
• lithographic

Standard Flexo Printing Method

Standard flexography is a highly efficient printing method, but there are certain limitations which must be taken into account during the initial design process in order to obtain the best results from this medium. Standard flexo is used mostly for designs containing large solid areas, bold, sans-serif type faces and course screen rulings (20 l/cm)

Super Flexo Printing Method

Through continuous investment in new generation, high quality nine-and-10-colour printing machines which feature automatic colour to colour registration; gearless drive systems; thin printing plates and sleeves for accurate plate mounting, our flexo print quality has improved significantly. Elopak introduced this flexo improvement as super flexo in 1995. The maximum screen ruling for super flexo is 34 l/cm which is sufficient for many design types.

Offset Litho Printing Method

For over 12 years, Elopak has been using offset printing for the highest print quality demands. Offset permits reproduction and printing of finer screen rulings and photographic images.
Our sophisticated offset machines are equipped with UV (ultra violet) lamps between all printing units for fast ink curing which enables high-quality, high-speed printing on PE coated board.

UV Curable Printing Inks

UV-curing (drying) is a process which occurs when the inks are exposed to intense UV-light. Technically, UV curable inks offer many environmental and quality advantages, for instance increased abrasion and chemical resistance properties; they are non-flammable, non toxic and contain no solvents.

UV-Flexo Printing

Solvent reduction (VOC`s) and improved print quality continue to be key driving factors for the ongoing introduction of UV-flexo into our world-wide operations.

UV-inks do not dry until they are cured (exposed to UV light). They can be left on press overnight for example with no change to colour or performance. As a 100% solid system, UV-inks offer greater consistency in colour and viscosity and also sharper dot structure when compared to solvent based flexo inks.

UV-flexo inks are very similar to UV-offset inks although they are thinner (lower viscosity) and involve no water emulsification as is required with offset. Due to several small differences and a slightly thicker ink film, UV-flexo inks appear much glossier compared to UV-offset printing.

ELOPAK TECHNOLOGY CENTER

At the Elopak Technology Centre various properties are tested, such as filling performance, shelf life and off-taste during storage.

We have to ensure that the filling machine and packaging material protect the product for possible hazards and contamination. Packaging protects the product from the environment, and the level of protection is dependant on the barrier and mechanical properties of the packaging material.

The loss of vitamins and aromas, colour changes are parameters that need to be analyzed very carefully. We must also satisfy the customer expectations of product quality during storage. An internal sensory panel of qualified assessors is used to verify an excellent sensory quality of food products filled in our package.