Plastipak’s patented ThermoShape™ technology makes it possible to hot fill lightweight PET containers, providing customers with product integrity and cost effectiveness. This technology delivers with extensive brand-building design flexibility.

Plastipak's Director of Technology Integration, Jean-Guy Delage, said: "ThermoShape™ technology offers several significant advantages over alternative packaging options for the global non-refrigerated, high acid-sensitive beverage and food market segments, which include beverages such as 100% fruit and vegetable juice and juice drinks, non carbonated soft drinks, ready-to-drink (RTD) teas, flavored waters and functional drinks."

Specifically, he cited:

• Hot-Fill is a Proven Technology that is low-risk and requires less capital investment than aseptic filling and avoids the use of preservatives which are rapidly falling out of favor with consumers globally.
• Lightweight Bottle: ThermoShape™ enables food and beverage producers to use existing hot-fill process lines, but with the additional benefit of converting to lighter weight, unbreakable PET packaging – the first Al Ain ThermoShape™ bottle will be more than 30% lighter than a typical PET hot-fill bottle of similar volume.
• Design Freedom: Because ThermoShape™ technology eliminates the need for the vacuum panels and other vacuum-resistant features required by conventional PET hot-fill processes, producers have greater freedom to design attractive, eye-catching packages.
• Load Resistance: Bottles produced and filled using the ThermoShape™ process have slightly positive internal pressure, providing superior vertical load resistance for packaging and distribution.
• Extended Shelf-Life without Deformation: Using Plastipak's patented technology, ThermoShape™ bottles can achieve shelf life of up to 12 months at ambient temperature without bottle deformation due to standard loss of oxygen in the bottle headspace and water loss through bottle PET walls.