Amcor Rigid Plastics has created a new business platform that will promote small-volume bottles production for start-ups in the beverage industry.
As part of its UpStart program, Amcor will collaborate with start-ups like Alkaline Water who seek to reach the market more cost effectively and established high-volume suppliers who want to explore niche markets.
The initiative will allow beverage start-ups to launch products at lower volumes with regional production and a nationwide manufacturing network to support simultaneous regional launches.
The beverage companies will be able to reduce tooling cost by to 75%, using a wide range of technologies, finishes, and shapes in bottle production.
Amcor Rigid Plastics beverage unit marketing director Frank Lin said: "Our goal is to assist regional and emerging brands with launching their new, custom products and then scale them up to larger equipment platforms.
"In addition, customers are able to experience our full suite of capabilities, including design services, engineering and development, laboratory, and other technical services."
Amcor's small-volume platforms with injection molding and blow molding capabilities are located at four US sites including Chino, California; Allentown, Pennsylvania; Wytheville, Virginia; and Ames, Iowa. These locations provide cavitation up to 24 cavities along with small-scale blow equipment.
Additionally, these platforms are located near co-packers who fill products for market trials to offer potential freight savings with bottle delivery.
Amcor supplies its new range of Sophi cylindrical polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles in 500ml, 700ml, and 1L sizes for Alkaline Water's Alkaline88 alkaline drinking water with an 8.8-pH balance.
Alkaline Water is exploring the potential of Amcor supplying PET containers for its 3L product.
With more than 180 sites, Amcor currently generates close to $10bn in annual sales. It employs more than 29,000 employees across its operations in 40 countries.
Image: Amcor supplies Sophi cylindrical PET bottles for Alkaline Water's Alkaline88 alkaline drinking water. Photo: courtesy of Amcor Limited.
