WaveGrip is a revolutionary canned beer packaging solution that we got a sneak peek of at the Craft Brewers Conference in April and have been excited to share with you at some point. Today is that day as the WaveGrip is entering the U.S. market through a strategic alliance with leading can filling and seaming systems provider Palmer Canning Systems.
What’s cool about WaveGrip?
WaveGrip is a lighter, stronger, recyclable and photodegradable alternative for packaging cans. For as much as we all like PakTech for its wildlife-friendly, stackable can packing technology, we all also get annoyed trying to pry those canned beers out of there. WaveGrip is basically a return to the old school lightweight plastic rings, but with crucial updates that remove those old environmental concerns — while also being a cheaper solution. The applicators can also be integrated at a lower cost, making them suitable for producers of all sizes. The most innovative version comes with a very thin film that also covers the top of the can and ring itself, just for a little extra precaution to avoid fish getting caught.
The G2 WaveGrip applicator is capable of collating 500 cans per minute into four, six or eight packs. The G1 is a hand applicator, ideal for smaller craft producers, which can manually pack more than 50 cans per minute. Importantly, it also provides an entry-level introduction to the many benefits of WaveGrip, allowing companies to trade up to the automatic applicators as their business grows.
“We’re delighted to be working with Palmer Canning,” commented WaveGrip Managing Director Aaron McIvor. “We feel the company’s reputation for supporting its customers through canning line technology upgrades is a perfect match for our innovative solutions. Palmer Canning is also renowned for delivering cutting-edge excellence in its own right, such as the counter-pressure can filling systems that deliver accurate fill-volumes, low oxygen and very low spoilage, meaning that products reach customers in the very best condition.”
Mike Palmer, owner and founder of Palmer Canning, sees huge potential benefits for customers in a rapidly growing industry.”We feel that can collation has long needed an alternative to established collation technologies. WaveGrip not only offers truly scalable technologies that can grow with the producer, but its offering makes multi-packing cans cheaper, faster and more efficient than ever before. It’s the ideal collaboration for us.
Under the agreement, Palmer Canning will produce G1 and G2 variants of the WaveGrip applicator at its facility in Lafayette, Ind. People interested in seeing the WaveGrip solutions in person can visit Palmer Canning at the Southern Brewers Conference (booth 213), August 23-25 in Nashville, or the California Craft Beer Summit (booth 813), September 7-9 in Sacramento.
