ITW HI-Cone and ITW Packaging - Multipackaging Solutions for Cans, Glass and PET Containers

ITW is a diversified manufacturer of highly engineered components and industrial systems. The company consists of approximately 700 decentralized operations in 52 countries and employs 60,000 people.

In 2008 the company, in order to focus its activities, was divided into two business units: ITW Hi-Cone, focusing on multipacks for beer and soft drink cans in established markets, and ITW Packaging, a new business development in PET, glass and can multipacks for beverage, food, dairy, pet food, water and juice.

Multipacks for beverage cans

ITW Hi-Cone is the primary multi-packaging supplier in Europe for beer and soft drink cans. We have been supplying the European industry for over 30 years and the USA for 40 years.

ITW Hi-Cone's long term and ongoing customer relationship is built on five pillars.

Consumer convenient multipack:

• Hi-Cone multipacks, with a range including two, four, six, eight, ten and twelve packs, are easy to pick up and carry, with some packs having convenient carry handles
• Hi-Cone offers minimal packaging, and is photodegradable and therefore friendly to the environment

Our customers respect and like the Hi-Cone systems because:

• We provide long-term support for our customers to build a multipack strategy
• Simple and efficient production system
• Affordable multipack options
• Cost savings with trayless packaging for the distribution case with mid-cone products
• Marketing services to develop a promotional strategy

Our machines are efficient, low cost, low maintenance, and simple to operate and maintain. We have extensive technical services and engineering support, including for both machinery and Hi-Cone carriers.

Retailers like Hi-Cone because:

• Hi-Cone promotional packs offer instantly recognisable point-of-sale material that arrives on the shelf at the same time as the multipack
• Our range of multipacks offers good shelf space utilisation
• Hi-Cone allows for direct palletisation, offering merchandising cost savings for the retailer
• Hi-Cone multipacks allow both a multipack purchase option and a multi-buy option, especially prevalent in smaller stores, kiosks or off-licences

Hi-Cone is ideal for distribution, offering good can protection over long distances and export.

Automatic can orientation

Hi-Cone's new can orienter machine is designed to provide improved on-shelf impact and instant brand recognition on the shelf, with minimal packaging.

The orienting system allows the brand owner to control how the brand is displayed and ensures it is consistently facing forward o the shelf.

The orienting system rotates cans as they enter the Hi-Cone machine and then the Hi-Cone carrier is applied to the cans. The result is a uniform and highly presentable package, ensuring the primary container is always visible.

PET, glass and can multipacks

ITW Packaging's priority is to work with customers to offer original multipacks that appeal to brand owners, retailers and consumers.

The containers we work with are PET, glass, plastics, steel and aluminium cans as well as aluminium cups and new containers. We address high-volume FMCG sectors such as beer, soft drink, water, juice, human food, dairy and pet food.

Multipacks of different container sizes and pack sizes

We want to develop applications to increase not only sales per transaction but especially structural per capita consumption and brand loyalty through convenience in mature and new markets. These packages include multipacks of different container sizes and pack sizes, which enables channel and brand-portfolio marketing.

PET multipack packaging

ITW Packaging's PET multipacks are highly successful in the USA, used mostly for small bottles up to 1l, with pack sizes of four, six, eight and twelve packs for major brands of carbonated soft drinks, water and sport beverages. Key consumer benefits of Hi-Cone PET multipacks are:

• Easy carry handle for enhanced consumer convenience
• Allow the consumer to see the primary container, especially important with proprietary / shaped bottles and with today's trend towards sustainability
• Easy to store in the fridge, with a 'zipper' function to easily remove one bottle with the pack remaining intact
• Marketing flexibility for both bottle size and multipack size
• Control of in-store and at-home branding
• Allow reduction in tertiary distribution packaging such as trayless and placement on dolly / pallet
• Best line efficiency and LCA results

Another important company value is environmental responsibility; we focus on the reduction of packaging materials and always strive for the most minimal packaging solution.

The company proactively researches ways to bring value to our customers, retailers and consumers by developing and improving flexible packaging technology to meet changing market needs.