This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at Los tapones de HDPE de una pieza triunfan en la industria europea de bebidas

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It is estimated that the production of beverage caps will grow above 4 per cent per annum until 2012

One-piece HDPE Stoppers triumph in the European beverage industry

Drafting PU26/09/2008

September 26, 2008

According to a new study published by Applied Market Information Ltd (Ami), in 2007 they were produced in Europe about 217,000 million lids and Stoppers, which led to a turnover of 1.5 billion euros. While production has been growing at rates close to 6 per cent per annum during the past three years, the use of HDPE of one-piece caps has grown close to 9 per cent per annum over the same period. This type of plugs is 64 per cent of the total of the plugs of standard drinks, up from 55 percent in 2004.

Photography: Cris DeRaud.

The trend towards the use of blocks of a piece has been reactivated thanks in part to cost reduction and initiatives of light weight. The shift towards blocks of a piece in the beverage market also influences the estimation of a sustained growth of 4 per cent per annum until 2012, with a total production of plastic caps that will reach 260 million units per year.

Custom earplugs, by contrast, represent a great opportunity to offer added value. They include products such as flat blocks of non-standard diameters, sports drinks, mechanisms of cardboard and closures for bags. The growth of this market sector will be motivated by a strong demand for sporting caps, but also by the development of blocks of 38 mm and carton mechanisms. Mai believes that in terms of units, 55 per cent of production is for custom caps while a 45 per cent is for standard plugs.

Drinks consume 64 per cent of the total of the closures produced in Europe in 2007.

Mai believes that in terms of units, 55 per cent of production is for custom caps while a 45 per cent is for standard plugs

It is estimated that the production of beverage caps will grow above the 4 percent annually until 2012, driven by developments in drinks not carbon, (for example sports drinks, juice..) and the growing penetration of use PET bottles replacing the cans and cartons.

It is also expected that the demand for plastic beer takes place in Europe, on the basis of a very low base, driven by a growing demand in Eastern Europe and with the forthcoming arrival of a plug of plastic type Crown for glass bottles. In what refers to non-beverage applications, liquid food sector is the largest industrial segment of plastic in Europe. In this area demand will be driven by the growing penetration of PET bottles in everyday applications, and by the increasing replacement of the glass from the plastic containers in the main desktop, canned, infant food sauces, sauces for cooking dehydrated products and snacks.

Not carbon beverages such as juices, grow. Photography: Ove Töpfer.

The production of caps was 770 tons of polymers in 2007, of which 55 per cent were of PP, while the PE and EVA joined together by 44 per cent of total consumption. Other materials (PS, SAN, ABS, PC, and POM) completed the remaining 1 per cent. PE/EVA has won a 5 per cent to the PP due to the growing demand for standard plugs of a piece since 2004. It is estimated that the European Parliament continue to grow to 5 per cent annual led mainly by the continued trend towards standard plugs of a piece until 2012. Polypropylene production growth will be in a lower ratio, with a 2 per cent per annum, driven by the closures for bricks and dispensing caps for applications not related to the drinks.

Comfort gain weight. Photo: Jose Fares.

Ami also predicts a greater level of development of the lid and plastic in applications of food in Europe. The arrival of PET stable to heat, more transparent PP and multilayer containers are opening up new markets to the blocks of plastic, such as juices, canned foods, sauces for kitchens, soups and infant food, that have traditionally been packaged in glass jars and sealed with closures of steel vacuum. Also opens a market of opportunities in filling applications in cold, such as honey.

You will experience a growing strategic divergence for the different geographical areas of Europe. In the area of the Eastern investments will be aimed to production mass of standard plugs of drinks to serve the international brands that have relocated to the region, while the maturity of the market will be Western Europe towards the standardization of Stoppers tailored to 38 mm, blocks for sports drinks and high-performance, as well as light plugs for carbonated beverages. The differential advantage of innovation and sustainability will be the focus of strategies over the next five years, based on the improved functionality, convenience and modernity. Increasing investments in Eastern Europe will lead to a rapid growth in this region of 8 per cent annually until 2012, much higher than the annual growth rate Western Europe, which will be of 3 percent.