Ball Packaging Europe at Brau Beviale in Nuremberg

The trends for individual market segments offer highly promising growth potential for the beverages industry in 2012. According to market research institute Datamonitor, energy drinks will grow by 6.2 percent on the European market alone.

Market researches expect RTD tea to gain 3.74 percent. Beverage producers also still see good opportunities in water (1.28 percent expected growth in 2012) and wine (0.29 percent growth). Ball already has its beverage can range at the ready for the trends of 2012. “With our innovations, we are very well equipped to help our customers as they develop tomorrow’s markets”, says Thomas Haensch, Vice President Sales & Marketing at Ball Packaging Europe. “We offer the right packaging solutions for today’s lifestyle-oriented consumer demand.”

The first production line for 33 cl aluminum sleek cans is set to go into operation at the Ball plant in Oss, the Netherlands, in spring 2012. Previously, sleek cans have been exclusively made from steel at the company’s Weissenthurm plant in Germany. Conversion of an existing line in Oss to what is referred to as a swing line will make it possible to switch flexibly between producing standard and sleek cans according to the orders situation. Their characteristics make aluminum cans the ideal container for energy drinks, RTD teas and water—and the slim format of the aluminum sleek cans supports brand positioning as a lifestyle product.

For the first time, Ball is now able to supply customers with high-quality aluminum bottles produced in Europe. The new aluminum bottles give Ball customers an eyecatching way to present their beverage brands. The bottles are especially well suited for premium brands, promotions in clubs and bars, and large events. The aluminum bottles also have the great advantage that they can be used on a normal bottle filling line, without time and cost-intensive retooling. The bottles are suitable for any drink and are closed with a standard crown cap. The extruded aluminum bottles will be available in 33 cl and 50 cl sizes from the beginning of 2012. They are produced by Ball Aerocan in the Czech Republic.

Ball has further improved its multiple award winning beverage can resealing system. The Ball Resealable End+ can now additionally be used with all drinks that need pasteurizing, including fruit juice flavor energy drinks and (ice) teas. From the outside, BRE+ is indistinguishable from the normal BRE. A new plastic mixture makes BRE+ resistant to higher temperatures. The laser-perforated label has the added function of conducting condensate formed during pasteurization on the inside of the plastic elements (not inside the can) to the outside. A first energy drink in a beverage can featuring BRE+ is expected to hit the German market at the beginning of 2012.