Source: Packaging News Magazine (Jan-Feb 2019)

A success story at the 2019 WorldStar Packaging Awards, Caps and Closures’ Precise Pour lid is designed as a pouring solution that doubles as a cap and can be applied through traditional capping methods.

 

The Precise Pour picked up a nod in the domestic and household category at the prestigious global WorldStar packaging awards. “This award is truly exciting for our company as it shows the skills of every aspect of the team from design, through to tooling and into production,” says Brendon Holmes, managing director of Melbourne-based Caps and Closures.

“It shows the world that while we may not be the largest manufacturer in our market, we are definitely an innovative player who is looking for the next step into international markets.”

Manufactured at the company’s site in Dandenong, the Precise Pour went through more than 80 3D-printed prototypes.

“This led to a design that takes a leap forward in the functionality of the simple tap, both for the consumer and the packer. It is simple to apply, intuitive to use, hard to damage, and performs unlike any other tap on the market,” says Michael Van Dord, technical and design engineer at Caps and Closures.

“The Precise Pour has features in all areas of the cap which create a unique user experience. It offers tamper evidence, anti-surge, variable flow, 180-degree opening action, 360-degree pour, plus it has anti-binding lugs and an anti-drip lip,” he says. “The cap is suitable for any product with a water-like consistency; therefore, the scope for the Precise Pour is huge and includes products that require venting, as it can easily be adapted to have a venting feature,” Van Dord says.

“The current applications are agriculture, chemical and food product markets and, in particular, hazardous chemicals where prevention of glugging and spills are paramount, providing excellent safety solutions.”

According to Van Dord, the initial impetus for the project came from the company’s customer Seasol.

“It shows the world that while we may not be the largest manufacturer in our market, we are definitely an innovative player who is looking for the next step into international markets.”
– Brendon Holmes, Managing Director, Caps and Closures

“Seasol’s only comment was that they would be interested in a tap that has the ability to pour through the centre of it,” he says.

“The initial design was around a 38mm neck; however, it quickly developed into both a 38mm and 58mm project with a few concepts designed around making it adaptable for many neck sizes, including a design for a water container with a short neck.

“As it wasn’t a project that was specifically required by any one customer, much R&D went into keeping the technology as broad as possible for use in multiple applications,” says Van Dord.

Caps and Closures currently manufactures Precise Pour for the local market but plans to take it internationally as well. The company is not resting on its laurels, either. Without revealing any details, MD Brendon Holmes hints at a project currently underway that his team believes will disrupt the market much as Precise Pour has done.