Within a very short time, new beverage additives have turned into a real lifestyle product. This development is another manifestation of the global trend toward increasing personalization with us adapting the products we use to our own preferences and wishes.

Water is perhaps the most valuable beverage given to us by nature. We should drink up to 3 litres a day. Many people find that difficult, as they experience water as having a very boring taste. It therefore comes as no big surprise that aromatic beverage additives and flavour enhancers are all the rage. They are often the ultimate guarantors for enjoying water as a beverage. The packaging of aromas usually takes the form of small 50ml bottles, which are easy to take along - to the office, on a trip, for a picnic or to many other places; they do not even cause a problem as carry-on baggage for air travel. Producers focus on the target group of young adults and the young at heart, who wish to have customized products and definitely do not want to be bored, when their enjoyment is at stake. Whatever the flavour may be - for the best possible results, exact product dosage is a must.

On behalf of a US manufacturer, Weener has recently started to produce a complete package for such added flavours. The handy bottle contains almost 50ml of concentrate. The innovative feature is its cap: the hinged lid is fitted with the innovative Weener valve which has been especially designed for this type of application. The aim of the development effort was to mix the added flavour and the water as fast as possible. This first requires a particularly safe valve with a totally reliable seal. Stirring is unnecessary.

System packaging generates optimum results

As a producer of system solutions, Weener offers its customers the indispensable optimum match between the bottle and the sealing features which then enable an optimum product handling. "Our valve is no "off-the-peg" product, we customize it to work with the target product", says Jens Brauer, the Project Manager. In this case, the valve does not release the product as a drip; the product is instead released as a quickly propagating fine jet. This quick product release already ensures a good mixture of syrup and water.