Redefining PET closures
K show: Z-MOULDS, Hall 10 – Booth G32
Drinktec: Z-MOULDS, Hall C6 – Booth 419
The PET beverage packaging industry is going through a major transformation – not just through small improvements, but by intentionally breaking away from traditional standards. Austrian mould-making-specialist Z-MOULDS, in collaboration with long-term partners NETSTAL and MHT (both Krones Group members), has developed a mono-material PET closure that integrates sustainability with industrial feasibility.
This closure is designed with circular economy principles at its core. It is engineered for immediate functionality upon ejection from the mould and optimised for high-volume industrial production. Central is a new disruptive moulding concept.
A new standard for sustainable design
In contrast to multi-component closures, this mono-material closure is composed entirely of PET, ensuring seamless integration into existing bottle recycling systems. Produced with a new mould technology, the closures are de-moulded fully formed and ready to use with a functioning TE-band. No post-processing is necessary. This boosts manufacturing efficiency, states Z-MOULDS.
The key features of the closure solution are that it is a 100% mono-material PET construction, enabling full recyclability. It uses a de-moulding approach, which allows for an immediate post-mould functionality, eliminating the need of any secondary step on the TE-band. Therefore, the design is optimised for fast, large-scale industrial rollout. The collaboration between Z-MOULDS, NETSTAL and MHT shows how combining expertise from different engineering fields can lead to advances in both product quality and more sustainable packaging practices.
Industry launch at drinktec and K Show
The first public presentation of this new closure solution is scheduled for two major industry events in the autumn:
- drinktec: Hall C6, Booth 419
- K Show: Hall 10, Booth G32
Attendees will be able to observe the closure solution first-hand, engage with the engineering teams behind its development, and assess its potential to improve both sustainability and operational efficiency in beverage packaging.
Future of PET packaging
This development marks a pivotal moment in closure technology, says Z-MOULDS. It has been developed to reconcile ecological responsibility with production efficiency – two objectives often perceived as conflicting – through a design ready for market-scale implementation. As the industry faces rising demands and a need for process optimisation, innovations of this nature are expected to shape the future of PET packaging.