Carton pack stands out on the shelf

Ralf Mosbacher, head of Global Product Management, in its anniversary year, combifit is still a trend-setter: what started out in 2001 as an innovation in the one-litre format with combifitPremium has been a world-wide success story since then. Now, ten years after its debut, combifit is available in a total of five different formats ranging from 150 to 1,500 ml. And this extraordinary format series has enough potential to be further extended in future. “With combifit we marketed a carton pack with a strikingly different appearance that brought modern dynamics and elegance to the world of aseptic carton packs which, while thoroughly practical, had been almost entirely rectangular up to that point,” Mr Mosbacher said.

The system has undergone continuous further development and improvement since it was introduced. “This relates to further technological advances, as well as the broad range of different formats and volumes that we have on offer for combifit today,” he explained. “Consumer-relevant features such as new convenient screw caps have also proved themselves ideal for combifit.”

Differentiation and functionality

Swiss company Bischofszell Nahrungsmittel AG was the very first customer worldwide to launch combifitPremium 1,000 ml for its “actilife” product range, which was the first chapter in the combifit success story. It set an example and in doing so created a point of differentiation for the “actilife” drinks on the shelf. The distinctively shaped carton did more than just appeal to consumers visually; it also scored when it came to handling –providing an ergonomic fit in the hand.

Another consumer-friendly feature is that the large opening provides for easy pouring.The typical slanted top on the packs is fitted with a screw cap. The shape ? which is curved outwards at the front and inwards at the back ? also makes combifit a logistical success, as the packs can be stacked behind each other to save space, during shipping and in the warehouse, on the store shelf and in the cupboard.

For beverage processors, Mr Mosbacher said a quite significant plus is that a standard SIG Combibloc filling machine for beverages can fill both traditional combibloc and also combifit packs as long as they have the same base dimensions. “This can be done in a range of volumes and any desired package design. Thus products can be positioned in just the right way for the market and the respective target group. The aseptic filling process is the same for both Junior