InnoConcepts N.V. (via its 100% subsidiary I-Pac Technologies) has entered into cooperation agreements with US based Plastics Technologies Inc. (PTI) and Danish brewer Carlsberg with respect to the use of I-Pac’s proprietary injection moulding technology in the production of plastic beverage packaging.
I-Pac’s technology: lower costs and more flexibility
The proprietary I-Pac technology allows the manufacturing of plastic packaging at a lower cost while at the same time allowing for more flexibility and design freedom. The cost benefits of the technology are the result of lower capital investments, lower cycle times, less energy usage, less material usage, more products per cycle and a higher degree of recyclability of material. One of the development programs within I-Pac is the assessment of using this technology for the production of preforms and the blow moulding of PET or Polypropylene bottles. Initial positive testing has resulted in the cooperation mentioned above.
Cooperation in the beverage market
I-Pac and PTI intend to jointly develop a new generation of beverage packaging, including an initial application for Carlsberg, utilising I-Pac’s technology. InnoConcepts is proud to report that it will be able to enter this market with such recognized and reputable partners as PTI and Carlsberg. At this moment, it is too early to fully assess the opportunities, however, the global beverage market is large, with an annual usage of hundreds of billions of bottles. Only a marginal reduction of costs or improvement of the packaging in this market can obviously have a substantial impact.
I-Pac entering beverage market: strategic implications
I-Pac has identified the packaging markets for food and beverage applications as a core priority considering the huge potential of its intellectual property in these highly fragmented markets. These markets require an alternative role from I-Pac other than merely selling an exclusive licence to one partner only. Following the earlier acquisition of HTP Tooling, the cooperation with PTI and Carlsberg could serve as a platform for a broader market approach for the beverage market, in which intellectual property rights of the I-Pac’s moulding technology, blow moulding process and material knowhow developed within I-Pac’s associated company TEA (production of light weight polypropylene bottles) and the Sippr project (carbonated drinking device applications) could be marketed. Other applications and technologies are currently being assessed to be added to this proprietary portfolio enabling a broad distinctive and innovative offering to the larger beverage companies. Further steps are expected in the short term to complement the strategy.

About Plastics Technologies Inc.
PTI is a leading engineering services organization and is recognized worldwide as a primary source for preform and package design and package development in the beverage market. Their services range from design to prototyping and from testing to recycling technologies up to designing full manufacturing infrastructures. PTI is based in Ohio, USA and Switzerland and offers its services to the major global brand marketeers in the industry.

About Carlsberg Group
Carlsberg is a worldwide top 10 brewer and is the largest in Northern Europe. Besides beer (10 billion liters a year) it offers a range of other beverages with sales in more than 150 countries. Carlsberg sells more than 80 million bottles a day.