Silgan’s new KS2 Closure for HOD Water Bottles

New Water-Bottle Closure Features a Flow-in Liner, Pierceable Shell and Crack-Resistant Material

Silgan Closures, a leader in manufacturing metal, composite and plastic closures, has launched its new one-piece 55 mm KS2 plastic closure for five-gallon and three-gallon HOD (Home and Office Delivery) water bottles. The KS2 incorporates multiple new features that set it apart from competitive water bottle closures. Molded of a HDPE/LDPE blend of resins that resists cracking, the closure features a pierceable shell design that virtually eliminates spillage. The KS2 also incorporates a flow-in closure liner for a superior bottle seal and a tamper-evident band to ensure product safety.

A unique feature of the KS2 is its pierceable shell. The current industry standard caps on HOD bottles incorporate a two-piece plug that separates from the closure when the bottle is installed on the base, allowing water to flow. Detached plugs can float freely in the water bottle, alarming consumers that the water may be contaminated, and can create equipment problems during cleaning of bottles prior to refilling. Alternatively, some caps use a foam disk with a perforated center area to seal the cap to the bottle. The center area, perforated around most of its perimeter, has a solid area to keep it attached to the disk, but does not prevent spillage once it has been punctured. 

In contrast, the KS2 closure incorporates a series of radiating perforated leaves that open when the bottle is installed, but remain attached to the cap, and are removed with the cap when bottles are returned for refilling. This eliminates the potential for cap pieces remaining in the bottle where they can become lodged in refillers’ bottle cleaning equipment and cause work stoppages or delays. They also tend to reclose when the bottle is removed from the base, reducing the potential for spillage of any water remaining in the bottle.

Whereas most existing HOD bottle closures today incorporate a rigid foam liner to seal the closure to the bottle, the KS2 employs a flow-in liner that is injected following molding. This flexible liner conforms to any irregularities in the neck of the bottle that may have been created through repeated use, ensuring a complete seal even to an uneven surface. 

The closure itself, molded of a blend of HDPE and LDPE, is more flexible and resistant to cracking than existing HOD closures. This makes cracking of closures and subsequent leaking much less likely during shipping, handling and installation of bottles. The KS2 also incorporates a tamper-evident band that assures users that the water has not been opened prior to delivery. The KS2 requires less resin to mold, in keeping with Silgan Closures’ ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility, and the design of the cap enables it to be run on existing application equipment without major changes.

A pull-tab molded into the closure skirt makes removal easier and ensures complete removal. This benefits bottle fillers by making removal prior to cleaning and refilling more efficient.

The benefit of these multiple new features that the KS2 offers to both bottle fillers and users is a more reliable, efficient and cost-effective closure system.

Silgan Closures is a global supplier of metal, plastic and composite closure systems for food and beverage products. It is a member of the Silgan Holdings group of companies, leaders in providing innovative packaging solutions for a wide range of applications. The Silgan Closures headquarters and innovation center are located in Downers Grove, Illinois and it operates multiple manufacturing plants in North and South America, Europe and the Far East. For more information, visit the company web site at www.silgancls.com or contact aj.miller@silganclosures.com.