Optima InlineCan celebrates first foray into the coffee industry
The cube-shaped carton packaging is an alternative to vacuum packaging and as well as ground coffee is suitable for whole beans and instant coffee.
Further inquiries
Michael König, MD, NewCoffee & Co. (a subsidiary of Aldi Süd) said the concept took several years to develop and it’s the first time it has been used for coffee.
Optima has already received further inquiries for the packaging.
According to König the end-users were the focus during the development phase because due to the re-closeable lid and easy to open can no refilling is necessary.
“The cube shape of the InlineCan makes it easy to remove any remaining coffee and it protects the aroma and freshness of the coffee,” he said.
“Up to 800 different aromas are hidden amongst the beans.”
The InlineCan is produced in-house on a Hörauf machine and transferred to an Optima CFS filling and closing machine at two production plants in Ketsch and Mühlheim on the Ruhr, Germany.
The CFS filling and closing machine takes the semi-completed packaging and fills the coffee into the InlineCan and gas flushes the can with nitrogen and seals it.
Market needs
“With this machine we accommodated the market needs,” said Ulrich Burkart, sales director, Food Solutions, Optima.
Other benefits of InlineCan according to Optima include reduction of warehouse space costs, protection of the aroma and freshness of the coffee filling with a gas blanket right after the coffee is ground, sealing the can with an aroma-proof membrane and space on the can for advertising.
Burkart said the InlineCan grabs attention with its eye-catching and trendy design and the outside of the packaging has space for detailed product information.
He added, the aluminum vacuum bag was established in the 1960s and not much has changed since then.
“For years coffee manufacturers and the packaging industry have been trying to optimize coffee packaging,” he said.
“Whether or not the InlineCan will replace the vacuum package has to be seen. However, several companies have already inquired about the packaging.
“Optima’s next objective is to design a recyclable InlineCan striving for an aluminium free version.”