New Delhi, March 12 : Promising eco-friendliness and ease of use, DS Foods has set up Asia's first composite-can making unit at Noida at a cost of Rs 25 crore, with an installed capacity of 50 million units per annum. The cans carry an added attraction to the cost-conscious, as it costs as much as 25 per cent less, compared to the traditional tin packaging used for the food products.The DS Canpac unit employs two globally-patented technologies: Paper bottom, which gives additional advantages and replaces conventional tin bottoms. This makes Canpac cut down on recycling costs. The bottom is simply heat-sealed on to the body.
The other unique technology is a tear-off membrane, a safer option as compared to conventional metal closures. The membrane is heat-sealed on to the body, instead of being seamed on to the can. There is no chance of a nick or a cut while opening or using the can.
Swiss major INDOSA's international trading arm Canpac International AG has supplied the patented technology to DS Canpac, part of Rs 500-crore DS Group, having diverse interests in tobacco, engineering, food & beverages and packaging.
Canpac composite packages sport food-grade lacquer-coated paper top, which peels off quickly leaving smooth edges. Products that have a corrosive action against paper are guarded by the lacquer that acts as an effective barrier against food contamination and is said to be safe for baby-foods and other processed food products. DS Foods vice-president Ashok Agarwal beams at the vast potential of Canpac to boost export opportunities for the Indian entrepreneur, as "Selling to the West means adhering to their stringent green regulations. For instance, Germany charges destruction cost on the packaging of a product, which, with paper packaging, deescalates."
DS Foods is in talks with MNCs as well as small Indian export-oriented units to persuade them to switch to this "revolutionary" packaging option. Mr Agarwal said: "Multinationals like Nestle, Britannia, P&G and Unilever are already using the composite cans in the European and American markets; it would be easier for them to start using the same in the Indian market too."Composite can-making The first step involves formation of a tube using 3 to 5 layers of Virgin Kraft paper with the in-liner as the innermost layer.The second step comprises of labelling of the tube - spiral or parallel.The third step is about the precise cutting of the tubes.
The tear-off membrane is heat-sealed to individual cans in the fourth step.Finally, the cans go for capping (Insert/Overcap).
All the way through, the containers remain untouched by human hand.The containers are either palletised or packed in cartons and sent to the client for filling.
Copyright © 2001 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
