News

Crown Food Europe plans to increase production of its award-winning Easylift can opening this year to capitalise on the product's initial success with Nestlé Pet Food.

Easylift, which features a gap between the can lid and ring pull tab, won the supreme gold award at last year's Metal Packaging Manufacturers' Association (MPMA) Best in Metal Awards, as well as the gold awards for Functionality and Technical Innovation.

The firm said the device allowed cans to be opened more easily and provided greater convenience for older people, children and the physically impaired.

The Easylift builds on the company's Eole technology and was trialled with Nestlé Pet Food in the Netherlands.

Michael Dunleavy, Crown's vice-president of corporate affairs, said the firm needed to raise capacity because Nestlé was taking "100% of everything we make".

Crown plans to install equipment to make the Easylift at other European manufacturing sites, including in the UK.

"As capacity becomes available, Easylift will be available in more and more products," said Dunleavy. "We are also going to introduce it in the US later this year."