The Packaging Conference, sponsored by PTI (formerly Plastic Technologies, Inc.) and SBA-CCI, has become known as the go-to event to hear about the latest launches in packaging equipment and materials. This year’s event, held in Orlando Feb. 5-7, has been no exception.
On the first day of the event, Betty Jean Pilon, President of Montebello Packaging, provided an overview of the company’s new uShape blow-molded aluminum bottle technology, which has been in development for 10 years. Montebello has traditionally been known as a supplier of collapsible aluminum tubes, aerosol cans, laminated tubes, and all-plastic tubes. However, Pilon said when the company saw a downturn in its market, it looked to new packaging innovation. One of the largest drivers of uShape: the tremendous opportunities presented by the beverage market.
“We know that Canada, the United States, China, and Brazil are the largest beverage markets in the world,” said Pilon. “They singlehandedly produce 100 billion bottles each year. The Europeans consume about 63 billion, the South Americans about 32 billion, and the rest of the world, approximately 20 billion. So that’s why we got into it.”
The advantage of the patented uShape technology is the ability to create aluminum bottles with shapes previously possible only with PET, with the features and functionality of aluminum. To create uShape, Montebello partnered with Novelis, taking their patented technology and building upon it. The bottle is made from impact extruded aluminum that is turned into a preform and blow molded “in any shape you’d like,” said Pilon. This includes flutes and asymmetric shapes.
