Clasper bottle technology has won the prestigious Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) 2017 AmeriStar Package Award in the alcoholic beverages category.

The Clasper™ bottle—engineered by Plastic Technologies, Inc. (PTI)—is a combination of two polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers and a shrink label. The first commercialization of this new technology was the recent introduction of Yumix portable, shelf-stable line of cocktails.  The bottom holds 50 ml of premium alcohol and features a heat-applied aluminum-foil seal.  The main bottle holds 6.5 ounces of hot-filled, shelf-stable juice and is topped by a 38 mm polypropylene closure. Added visual appeal is provided by shrink-label graphics which also include usage instructions.

To use, the consumer simply separates the shrink sleeve at the seam between the top and bottom containers, via a perforation, unsnaps the bottom container from the base of the primary bottle, removes the heat seal and closure from the bottom and top components respectively, and pours the alcohol into the juice.  Instant cocktail.

The Clasper™ blow molded bottle technology is now being made available to other brand owners who want to market a product in a package with two separate containers.  It provides a unique packaging solution for boundary-pushing food, beverage, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, industrial and household chemical products. The Clasper concept enables two different products to be consumed in sequence or mixed together and then consumed.

AmeriStar Package Awards Competition judges considered more than 80 packages for 12 category awards, four student awards and AmeriStar’s top three awards. A roster of nearly 20 judges from various segments of the packaging industry evaluated this year’s entries in person, examining package innovation, product protection, economics, performance, marketing and environmental impact.