Krones acquires rights to elastic stretch-sleeves from CCL

By acquiring a license for CCL´s patented label application process, Krones has obtained development and global marketing rights for TripleS films.

New labeller planned ​

To support the market development of the sleeves, Krones is designing a labeller specifically for them, which is scheduled for launch in late 2010.

Canada-based CCL and Krones will now market the TripleS technology together, mainly to the beverage and dairy industries.

Explaining the reasons for the deal, Guenther Birkner, VP of the CCL Group, said: “This alliance enables us to make TripleS as a new form of decoration accessible to our customers all over the world significantly faster. ​

“Which means CCL can concentrate on its core business of producing labels, and further extend its technological lead.”​

The main distinguishing feature of the TripleS films is their elasticity. Krones said they have a stretching capability of 55 per cent, whereas conventional stretch-sleeves tend to come in at around 20 per cent.

TripleS features ​

Because of this elasticity, Krones said the TripleS stretch-sleeve films can be compared with conventional shrink-sleeve ones. Krones said the unusual elasticity and recovery properties mean the TripleS sleeves fit snuggly around bottle contours.

And their stretching capability means that material usage can be cut and a shrink tunnel is not needed during the packaging process.

The company said TripleS sleeves are particularly well suited to individually designed and strikingly shaped containers. It also said companies that have committed to eco-awareness will be keen to examine the technology. This is because of the material use implications and the recyclability of the container dress.