Huhtamaki group&rsquos cyclero beverage pouch that looks like a can but weighs but onetenth, has finally hit commercialisation for the first time after five years in development with a new product launch in thailand. The &ldquodrinkbags,&rdquo as huhtamaki calls them, are being used for thailandbased maxx drink&rsquos range of fruitflavoured products, which are sold in thailand via a fleet of tuktuk motorised rickshaws owned and operated by the parent company to sell ice cream.
The allflexible version of huhtamaki&rsquos cyclero pouches have a peeloff lid that allows the consumer to drink directly from the pouch without using a straw or spout, said gerhard hartmann, huhtamaki&rsquos european marketing director for flexibles. The pouches, which were developed over five years, are made with an 8micron foil layer in the laminate and have a oneyear shelf life due to a 90degree c pasteurization process. Each empty pack weighs less than 4 grams and can be customised for various drinks.
Although the lightweight package might be an attractive option for many first world markets for reducing packaging and lowering carbon footprints, finlandbased huhtamaki is looking to developing markets for growth. The cyclero pack might not be suited to the european market as &ldquoit may look rather cheap,&rdquo said miroslav hinkov, md of bulgarian company mechatronica, which manufactured the formfillseal machine that makes the packaging in thailand.
Earlier versions of the cyclero packaging, which won awards back in 2007 and 2008, were produced on machines made by other manufacturers, such as optima machinery corp and laudenberg , both of which are based in germany. Httpfoodstuffsa.co.zapackagingstuffmainmenu79packagingnews20112084firstcommerciallaunchofthepouchthatsacan
