Crown down under

Leading beverage can manufacturer Amcor has begun manufacturing SuperEnd beverage ends Down Under under license from packaging giant Crown. The high-performance can ends are being filled and seamed by Coca Cola Amatil and Fosters Brewing Group.

SuperEnd beverage ends utilise a unique countersink wall angle and reinforcing bead to dramatically reduce metal use, improve end performance and increase brand awareness while also enhancing consumer convenience. Crown claims that the lightweight SuperEnd can end significantly reduces materials costs and makes beverage cans even more environmentally friendly.

SuperEnd can ends also deliver exceptional performance versus Large-Opening-End (LOE) beverage can ends, lowering system-wide costs through reduced rates of score corrosion, secondary leakage, tab failure and consumer complaints. Currently used with beer, soft drinks, juice and other beverages, SuperEnd can ends are fully commercial in 202- and 206-diameters. A 204- diameter version is currently under development.

The introduction of the packaging concept to the Australasian market signifies Crown's global ambitions for the SuperEnd concept.

"With Amcor's substantial packaging business in Australasia, this licensing agreement from Crown provides an efficient way to introduce beverage fillers and marketers in the region to SuperEnd can ends,"​ said Crown Holdings president John Conway. "It also represents an important step in our strategy to establish SuperEnd technology as the recognised worldwide standard in beverage ends."​

Darryl Roberts, metal packaging group general manager at Amcor said: "We're excited to partner with Crown Holdings and to introduce the marketing and production advantages of SuperEnd technology to customers in Australia and New Zealand. We believe the partnership will be highly successful and valuable to the Australasia market."​

The product has a proven track record. Crown has so far produced and sold over 16 billion SuperEnd beverage ends in North America, with another 6 billion manufactured in South Africa via a licensing agreement with Nampak. The group believes that the pace of customer conversions remains strong, with more than 90 filling lines already running SuperEnd can ends. European customers were introduced to SuperEnd beverage ends in early 2003.

Crown Holdings​ is a leading supplier of packaging products to consumer marketing companies around the world. The group, which recorded net sales of €5.8 billion in 2002, has operations in 44 countries and employs 28,000 people.

Amcor​ is a leading global packaging companywith annual sales of approximately €6.7 billion.The company is based in Australia and has operationsthroughout Australasia, Asia, Europe and the Americas.Amcor offers a broad range of plastic, fibre, metal and glasspackaging products, PET containers, plastic and metalclosures, along with packaging-related services.