Milacron Holdings Corp., a leading industrial technology company serving the plastics processing industry, has revolutionized the canned food industry in partnership with S&W Fine Foods International, a Del Monte Pacific Ltd company. S&W, a brand synonymous with premium foods since its debut in 1896 in California, recently hit shelves in Asia with their pineapple chunks and slices packaged in the Milacron Klear Can. The Klear Cans are now on store shelves in Seoul, South Korea and Shanghai, China.

After extremely successful qualitative testing with consumers in Asia conducted by Nielsen Market Research, S&W Fine Foods International chose the Milacron Klear Can for their products to highlight their products’ quality and freshness in a way that consumers can see through the packaging. S&W Fine Foods International is the first company in the world to offer tropical fruit in a clear plastic can. Recently, thousands of cans were molded, filled, seamed, retorted and shipped to grocers; the first markets to receive the Klear Can products are in Asia with plans to expand over the coming year.

Milacron Co-injection developed the Klear Can, which is a disruptive invention in food packaging. The Klear Can is an ideal alternative to metal cans for fruits, vegetables, soups, meats, and other products. In fact, the Klear Can is the first truly transformational innovation in the canned food preservation industry’s nearly 200-year history. The Klear Can’s unique crystal clear transparency allows Brands to demonstrate the true quality of their products to consumers – starting at the critical moment in store where most consumers make their purchase decisions.

Brands, co-packers, converters and retailers can all easily integrate the Klear Can product line into their existing global business model as was the case for the S&W brand. The Klear Can offers very clear value to all owners of the canning process. It provides brand owners the ability to stand out versus competitive products found in metal cans. Co-packers are able to easily integrate the one piece body into existing production streams and require minimal customization or tooling additions. Converters are able to take advantage of the co-injection molded can with its repeatable and proven process using materials that are available globally. And finally, the Milacron Klear Can provides retailers with an attractive final product that is easily promoted, easily displayed, stacked and merchandised.

The Klear Can’s clarity is far superior to the competitions extruded 3 piece “clear” plastic can. The extruded can offered by the competition suffers from die mold streaking, greatly affecting clarity. The Milacron Klear Can is also IML (In Mold Label) compatible, using the same industry standard can ends, filling, seaming and retorting machinery as metal cans. As such, minimal downstream investment is required and the final product is stackable, all things the competition’s can is unable to claim. Klear Can allows manufacturers the flexibility to mold cans at the filling site (i.e., via ‘through-the-wall’ supply operations), which offers operational efficiencies.

“After years of development and strong positive consumer results, we’re excited to have S&W Fine Foods International on-board as a partner to launch the Milacron Klear Can in key global markets. We are also thrilled about the prospect of transforming the metal can industry," says Milacron CEO, Tom Goeke.

The Milacron Klear Can is a patented co-injection molded, polypropylene EVOH plastic can, which can be cooked and seamed meeting all industry standards. The Klear Can is BPA-free for safe food contact, recyclable, and is fully microwavable. It is designed to withstand standard retort pressures and temperatures (up to 130° C). Klear Can uses a single standard metal can end, and uses the industry standard can end double-seam process; perfect for those who process foods in metal cans today. Rigorous internal and third party testing has verified the Klear Can seal integrity is approved and proven safe and reliable. In addition, while Klear Can is lightweight, it is also stackable and dent-resistant through all aspects of the manufacturing and transportation process. Steve Morris, President Milacron Systems, elaborated, “We’ve gained a tremendous amount of in-house technical knowledge during the development of Klear Can, which allows us to support our customers and the industry in the adoption of this ground-breaking technology. Klear Can is a natural extension of Milacron’s industry-leading co-injection molding expertise.”

The Milacron Klear Can is immediately available to leading-edge food companies dedicated to being at the forefront of groundbreaking innovation and to delivering new value-added product experiences to consumers.