PACKAGING Fastening the
PACKAGING Fastening the Future of Pet Food Photos: Aplix The French family company APLIX is now in the third generation and has perfected the production and commercialization of hook and loop fastening systems. As a global partner, APLIX has six production plants and sales offices all over the world. “Our position as a major player on the international market allows us to support our customers across the world and provide them with innovative solutions tailored to their specific needs.” said Sandrine PELLETIER, APLIX Group CEO. Among all its innovations, APLIX has developed a reclosable technology especially favored by dry pet food packages. Easylock: an intuitive & sensory closure for flexible packaging Easylock by Aplix® is a range of intuitive and sensory closures for flexible packaging. This patented hook-to-hook closure is made from food-grade, heat-sealable polyethylene material, designed to be sealed on film. Self-mating micro hooks engage on multiple levels, making it easy for anyone to open and reclose their flexible packaging. “The origins of Easylock came from a need on the market,“ said Aude Cellerier, Product Manager for Easylock at APLIX. “A tobacco producer was looking for an alternative to an adhesive or zip fastener. They wanted a solution which would maintain their pouch sealed despite product contaminating the closure. After discussing hook and loop options, the new hook-to-hook closure was designed. It has evolved into today’s Easylock and become a leading option in pet food applications.“ Easylock is a patented solution that brings functionality to packaging, added value to brands and satisfaction to consumers. It runs on all automated packaging machines and is manufactured in BRCGS grade AA certified facilities. Key benefits for pet food and pet treats Easylock by Aplix® is the ideal closure for pet food and pet treats bags. Intuitive Unlike other zip closures and press-toclose systems, precise alignment is not required for closing. It's so easy to use that anyone can open and close it every time. Sensory Easylock's distinctive audible and tactile features provide consumers confidence that their package is closed properly every time. Its sensory appeal makes it both fun and functional for the entire family! Freshness preserved Other benefits of the Easylock closure include freshness preservation and the retention of flavor, aroma and smell. Easylock 46 Technology & Marketing
PACKAGING keeps the flavor and smell locked in. It preserves the freshness of kibble by protecting them against humidity intake. Even freezing of bags is an option; this is a trend in meat for pet food products. Powder and crumb proof Thanks to its unique hook-to-hook technology, it closes securely despite fatty particulates in the hook area. It is also much easier to get rid of particulates stuck in the hook track than with a regular zip. This makes it also suitable for ‘pouring‘ product into pet bowls. Reliable for all bag sizes Matching solutions for small and big bags ensure a seamless consumer experience from pet treat pouches to large pet food bags. Its narrow format is particularly suitable to pet treat packaging, while the larger one can be found on kibble bags over 15kg. Recyclable Made of LDPE and sealable with PE films, Easylock is already used for recyclable packaging. Easylock by Aplix® is accredited by Trex® in North America. A recyclable closure One of the main challenges for consumer packaging at the moment is the need to be recyclable. Easylock by Aplix® addresses the consumer, retailer, and consumer product companies’ demands for more environmentally friendly packaging. It is a 100% polyethylene recyclable closure which makes it compatible with mono-PE films developed to be recycled in the PE stream. Brands such as Tribal pet food have chosen to balance sustainability and a great consumer experience by using Easylock on their pet treats and pet food packaging. Recyclability is achieved while ensuring great shelf appeal. The combination of PE/ PE film and APLIX’s LDPE Easylock closure ensures the bag can easily be recycled through PE channels. With Easylock’s range of closures, Tribal Pet Foods offers the most convenient reclose solutions for each packaging format. Tribal Rewards pet treats are packaged in 125g stand- up pouches with Easylock 973-16mm closures, while Tribal Fresh Pressed dog food comes in a 2.5kg up to 12kg flatbottom bag with Easylock 971-26mm. For more information www.easylock-aplix.com packaging@aplix.com Issue 2 2022 47
