UCP partner Pernod Ricard for 'Orchid'

United Closures & Plastics (UCP) Bridge of Allan, a specialist in packaging solutions for the global wines and spirits industry, has developed a combined aluminium and plastic tamper evident snap-on security closure in partnership with Pernod Ricard Chivas Brothers to cap Beefeater London Dry gin.

So-called due to the sheer variety of possible options, Orchid is a modular security closure concept offering general trade customers the opportunity to adapt the design to include new features for different brands and markets. The closure combines the closure manufacturer’s top security non-refillable valve for high-risk markets, which has an irreversible opening mechanism that leaves permanent evidence of initial opening.

Parent company, Global Closure Systems has invested in a dedicated manufacturing cell for the new closure at UCP’s Bridge of Allan plant, which is geared for high volume production and comprises numerous injection-moulding machines and moulds together with assembly and finishing equipment.

Graeme Bridgeford, package development manager at Chivas Brothers says: “We chose UCP as development partner to give us a fresh and unique opportunity to develop a closure from scratch with the aim of providing overall business improvement in terms of component rationalisation and manufacturing efficiencies whilst optimising the tamper evident aspects of the Beefeater brand.”

UCP is also producing an open-pour version, which matches the aesthetics of the security closure allowing Chivas Brothers to run one type of neck finish with either closure version for all packs.

1 April 2010 - Felicity Murray