Den Helder, (the Netherlands) — Today, Lightweight Containers has launched a new family of kegs with the brand name UniKeg. The UniKeg was developed for the American beverage market integrating a standard Sankey D fitting. For the time being, the one-way kegs will only be produced and sold in the United States.
The Lightweight Containers research and development team worked for over two years on this product. They chose a design integrating Lightweight Containers’ know-how and proven technologies. The new keg uses the Double Wall ™ technology, invented by Lightweight Containers, and already in use in its other family of one-way kegs, the KeyKeg.
American brewers were the first to view the new UniKeg during the Craft Brewers Conference in Philadelphia from May 4-6, 2016, where the UniKeg was on display in the 20- and 30-liter versions. The UniKegwill be available in Q4 of 2016, produced in Joliet, Illinois, and delivered to the five Lightweight Containers warehouses for nationwide distribution.
A Worthy Alternative
Jan Veenendaal, CEO of Lightweight Containers: “UniKeghas benefitted from the expertise, R&D and know-how within Lightweight Containers, which enabled us to develop a high-quality concept and product. UniKeggives our customers a new worthy alternative for developing successful product-price-market combinations.”
Made in the US for the US
UniKeg will be manufactured in the US and will be fitted with the US Sankey D coupling system. Anita Veenendaal, Chief Commercial Officer of Lightweight Containers says about this decision: “With UniKeg, we can now serve a segment in the American market that has demanded a one-way keg with a Sankey D fitting. Beverage producers can now opt for a competitively priced keg without compromising on matters like reliability or safety. The fact that we are only producing and marketing UniKeg in the US shows how high our ambition is for the country.”
Production
Production of UniKeg will begin in August 2016 in Joliet, Illinois. One of the reasons UniKeg can be offered at such competitive pricing is they can be produced on the flexible, fully robotic KeyKeg production lines. These production lines will cover the demand for UniKegs in 2016.
Sustainability
Lightweight Containers strives for a closed system and thus for a circular economy. A UniKeg is fully recyclable and is made from more than 30% recycled plastic. Thanks to its economical shape, light weight and the fact that return transport is unnecessary, a UniKeg saves more than 60% on transport, and consequently on CO2 emissions as well.
Spear Versus Laminated Inner Bag
UniKegs use an inner tube, called a spear, for dispensing the beverage. The barrier qualities for the beverage are provided by “scavengers” in the PET material integrated into the innermost container. The spear and the Sankey D fitting constitute the main difference between a UniKeg and a KeyKeg, which is fitted with the KeyKeg coupler and the laminated inner bag.
About Lightweight Containers
Lightweight Containers BV is the company behind the KeyKeg and UniKeg brands. These unique lightweight kegs combine groundbreaking R&D and advanced production methods with a clear understanding of what our customers want. The result is two complete families of one-way kegs that stand out in the market due to their innovation, quality, convenience, safety and sustainability.
Sustainability
Lightweight Containers is striving for a circular economy and has enshrined this in its corporate objectives. KeyKeg and UniKegs are sustainable alternatives to other types of packaging and Lightweight Containers is working hard to make this distinction even greater.
Producers and distributors of beer, wine, cider and soft drinks are making the switch to our kegs, which are now in use in over 180 countries. Our ambition for the coming years is to continue growing on every continent. Lightweight Containers is currently producing keg systems in the US, the Netherlands and Germany. A fourth production line is being built in Germany.