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With the combiSwift spout, SIG Combibloc has launched a closure system that is equally advantageous for consumers, filling companies and the retail trade. combiSwift is a handy, flat screw cap for liquid milk products as well as for fruit juices and other non-carbonated soft drinks. It will be available in various colours, so that it can be matched optimally to the respective beverage carton designs.

The combiSwift spout is based on a new technology: The three-part spout is applied to an “over-coated” hole – a process that allows the spout which has an inside diameter of 18 mm to be opened easily without a lot of strength. To this end, precisely dimensioned holes are punched into the cardboard in the SIG Combibloc packaging plants before the raw board is coated with aluminium and polyethylene. After the beverage carton has been filled in the customer’s plant, combiSwift is applied to the over-coated hole.

CombiSwift consists of a flange with an integrated cutting ring and a cap. A single twist is all it takes for the cutting ring to cut through the extremely thin aluminium and polyethylene layers easily and precisely. Handling tests with consumers have confirmed the simple and convenient opening procedure.

The new spout is equipped with a three-bridge tamper evidence feature that re-veals at a glance whether the beverage carton had been opened before or not. In order to re-close the beverage carton securely after opening, the cap just has to be screwed on again. Its leak-proofness is ensured.

combiSwift is applied with the tried-and-tested ACB applicators for combibloc formats and ACF applicators for combibloc and combifit formats. This means that combiSwift is not only an attractive solution for new customers. Companies already using opening systems from SIG Combibloc can utilise existing systems to apply combiSwift after simple, fast and inexpensive modification, ensuring continued efficiency of the filling line. The applicators feature top speeds of up to 15,000 carton packs per hour.

The new combiSwift spout also offers attractive logistical advantages for both filling companies and the retail trade. With a total height of 12.6 mm and a weight of 2.7 grams, combiSwift is particularly flat and light. This means that carton packs fitted with the new spout take up less space on pallets and shelves.

Milchwerke Thüringen GmbH, a subsidiary of the Humana Milchunion Group, is the first supplier worldwide to make use of the benefits of combiSwift. The full-cream long-life milk (3.5 percent), low-fat long-life milk (1.5 percent) and skimmed long-life milk (0.5 percent) of the company’s Osterland brand are now available on the market in combiblocSlimline with combiSwift.

Campina, a leading dairy company in Germany, will launch the new UHT-range of its Landliebe brand with combiSwift. Hitherto Landliebe was only active in the segment of fresh milk. The new UHT-premium products (full-cream milk 3.8 percent and low-fat milk 1.5 percent) will be available in combiblocSlimline with combiSwift screw cap. In the juice segment, combiSwift is meanwhile also being used on combiblocMagnum, 1,500 ml. Its use on other formats from SIG Combibloc will be introduced in the course of this year.

With the innovative combiSmart spout, SIG Combibloc is presenting a screw cap for small formats at ANUGA FoodTec 2006 for the first time. By applying this innovative screw cap to combifitSmall (200, 250, 300, 330 and 350 ml), SIG Combibloc is meeting the growing demand for packaging solutions that are suitable for on-the-go consumption. combiSmart is also a three-part opening system with flange, integrated cutting ring and cap. It is easy to drink directly from the carton pack thanks to the slanted top of combifitSmall and the higher 14.3 mm flange. After opening, the cap just has to be screwed on again and the carton pack can be transported safely.

combiSmart is a practical innovation on the aseptic beverage carton – not only for on-the-go consumption. In fact, combiSmart on the small format combifitSmall is also a practical pouring aid, allowing products such as evapo-rated milk, cream or sauces to be poured accurately. With these new developments in the spout sector, SIG Combibloc has once again clearly demonstrated its long-term experience and know-how in respect of opening systems. As early as 1993, SIG Combibloc introduced combiTop, the world's first spout on a beverage carton – an innovation that quickly won over consumers. This was followed by other innovative spouts such as combiLift and combiTwist which are still enjoying great success on the market.