Stable Micro Systems develops rig to ‘force test’ tins and cans

From:Foodbev

Stable Micro Systems has developed a new rig to allow manufacturers of food tins and beverage cans to measure the force needed to lift the ring pull and open the container.

The development will help brands to measure the ease of opening for their products, and should provide a pathway for resolving consumer frustration with packaging that is too stiff or where the ring pull detaches from the lid. Elderly consumers, in particular, have long been alienated by packages that require the exertion of physical force to open.

Understanding and quantifying the force needed to use a ring pull is vital for both packaging manufacturers and their customers to ensure safety, functionality and consumer experience, Stable Micro Systems said. The force required to open tins and cans is dictated by the shape of the ring pull and lid, their materials, and the depth of the groove in the lid – but until now, only subjective methods were available for assessing ‘force to pull’, which made it difficult to identify the design that provided both ease of use and packaging integrity.

The new rig works by locking the product in place on the TA.XT Plus texture analyser and attaching a hook adapter to its ring pull. The hook is pulled upwards, mimicking the action of a person opening the can, while measuring the force needed to lift the ring pull and finally break the seal.

The design of the ring pull rig means that non-circular shapes, such as meat or fish cans, can also be accurately analysed. The flexibility of the software used, Exponent, has also allowed the development of a special test for tins that require a two-step pulling action, Stable Micro Systems added. The rig first measures the force needed to break the seal before pausing and allowing the user to adjust the hook direction or rotate the tin. The second part of the test then measures the force required to peel and remove the metal lid completely.

Jo Smewing, applications manager for Stable Micro Systems, said: “By understanding the force needed to open cans and tins, packaging designers and engineers can find the correct balance between safety and convenience for the consumer. We have developed the Ring Pull Rig to give customers a detailed analysis of opening behaviours so they can optimise future product development.”

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