*The founder of a US educational toy store chain has developed a product for children that makes use of plastic bottles. * Created by KleinCepts President Steven Klein, the Connect Bottle enables users to link bottles by threading them together, or inserting the cap into a connector piece at the base of each bottle. Adding lightweight plastic connectors and wheels in an assortment of shapes transforms the empty containers into various creations, such as letters of the alphabet, goal posts, animals, tunnels and vehicles. The system that will work with any size or shape of bottle or container offers similar learning and development qualities to that of other building toys, including hardwood blocks and Lego. Klein is currently in the process of developing additional features, such as wheels, lights and remote controls, as well as devising annual design competitions for primary, secondary and college students with scholarships and cash prizes as incentive rewards. He also believes that the system that traps air within containers could have a further use as insulation in homes and is looking into applications in developing countries.

The media, various lobby groups and even a Government Minister have filled the airwaves and dozens of column inches with the biggest attack ever seen on the UK bottled water industry. Sensational headlines have appeared ahead of the broadcast of a BBC Panorama programme ‘Bottled water: who needs it?’. The programme tonight is expected to focus on a comparison with tap water in terms of quality, cost and environmental impact. Extracts released in advance show Environment Minister Phil Woolas saying: “It was daft that six million litres of bottled water were drunk every day in Britain when tap water was universally and cheaply available.” He goes on to say: “It borders on being morally unacceptable to spend hundreds of millions of pounds on bottled water when we have pure drinking water, when at the same time one of the crises that is facing the world is the supply of water.” Bottled Water Information Office Director General Jill Ardagh led the industry’s response, saying: “Mr Woolas is clearly ill-informed about bottled water and the role it has to play in this country or other parts of the world.” Zenith International Chairman Richard Hall (<<1>)">www.bevblog.net]<1>) commented: “Stop bottled water in its tracks and people will become less well hydrated and less healthy, because 50% of bottled water is drunk on the move and they will drink less liquid. They will also become fatter when obesity is already a major social concern, because most of bottled water's recent growth has been as a replacement of calorie containing drinks. Should we be made to feel guilty for these entirely reasonable and informed healthy choices? “Ah, but switching from bottle to tap will save the environment. Well, no actually. Bottled water uses less water and packaging than any other ready to drink beverage. Only a tiny proportion comes from outside Europe. “Two action points would be good though. Government should encourage local authorities to recycle more plastic. Levels could be doubled if all areas followed best practice. And public water supply companies could do more to reduce leakage. At present leakage is over 1,000 times the level of bottled water consumption. “So how should one respond to a Minister who says bottled water is morally unacceptable? First, he should retract it because he is wrong. Second, he should concentrate more on real answers to public health, climate change and world poverty. Bottled water's carbon footprint is just 0.1% of the UK total. What about the other 99.9%? If that's not tackled, then bottled water will be needed for more flood relief emergencies, not less.” Zenith International Publishing Group Managing Editor Bill Bruce observed: “This is what most journalists would call a ‘silly season’ story based on misconceptions, misinformation and prejudice. Bottled water is not positioned as an alternative to tap water, rather as an alternative to other packaged drinks. Consumers love the portability and guaranteed purity of bottled water. Those are the main reasons for its success. In terms of the so called environmental impact, bottled water is simply the wrong target. Finally, it is consumers who have made bottled water such a success and they will not appreciate a government Minister calling them ‘daft’. We will continue following the debate until the hysteria dies down.” <1>: http://www.bevblog.net

Marco Beverage Systems has developed a water boiler range that it claims uses 15% less energy than standard water boilers. Available from spring 2008, the Ecoboiler line incorporates an economy mode reduced water tank option for use in quieter periods. It heats a lower volume of water with the aim of saving on energy, as well as running costs. Further features include energy efficient insulation, a compact footprint compared to other boilers of the same capacity, an attractive design and the possibility of personalising the machine’s look to meet clients’ individual design requirements. All units also include Aqualsolate, a safety feature that positively separates water from the electrics, and EzDscale to simplify the descaling process. Available in 5 and 10 litre push button models and 5, 10, 20 and 30 litre tap models, the range is backward compatible with all Marco parts with easy access being provided via the front panel. The line complies with new WEEE regulations and has disassembly instructions for end of life and recyclable parts. It will be on display on stand S1610 at Hotelympia 2008 in London from 17 to 21 February.

A hands free product that provides users with constant hydration, even if they have reduced mobility, has been developed by UK company Hydrate for Health. The Hydrant that features a bottle, one piece cap, handle and drinking tube with non return bite valve can be hung from a patient’s bed, giving them access to water at all times. Users can control their level of water intake by sucking liquid through the tube when required. Clear 10cl markations on the bottles also enable fluid intake to be monitored accurately, which could lend a helping hand in aiding patient recovery. The issue of dehydration within the healthcare sector has been heavily documented in recent years, with stakeholders such as the Royal College of Nursing, Water UK and National Patient Safety Agency working to raise awareness of the need for staying hydrated when recovering. Despite this, some patients and care home residents still struggle to meet their daily intake requirements. Even if they recognise the benefits of water, incapacity or illness can make it difficult to access the cups and jugs often left on bedside cabinets. Creator Mark Moran experienced this frustration for himself when he was unable to reach for a drink of water unaided, following a back operation in December 2005. Fed up of having to call for help every time he felt thirsty, he had the idea of developing a product that could assist people in a similar situation. The United Bristol Healthcare Trust and NHS Innovations South West have been heavily involved in the development of The Hydrant, as the trust’s Chief Dietician for Food Policy explains: “As an innovative, forward thinking trust, United Bristol Healthcare Trust is committed to providing the best possible care for patients and has therefore supported the evaluation of a product that could enhance patient wellbeing and recovery,” said Toni Williams. “The Hydrant is a simple idea that may help to increase hydration in patients with reduced mobility on the ward, in nursing homes and in the community, and puts the user in control.” The product is available for NHS Hospitals through the <1> or on <2>. <1>: http://www.supplychain.nhs.uk <2>: http://www.hydrateforhealth.co.uk

Stonyfield Farm has renamed 2-a-Day, its high-calcium yogurt, YoCalcium. The company claims the yogurt contains more than twice the calcium of other leading yogurts, plus vitamin D and inulin to boost calcium absorption. Each serving of YoCalcium contains 50% of the recommended DV (Daily Values) of calcium. "Getting enough calcium is a concern for everyone, and we wanted to make the benefits of this yogurt as clear as possible," said Stonyfield Farm President and CEO, Gary Hirshberg. "It has never been easier to get the nutrition you and your family need and in such a convenient, tasty treat." And since calcium absorption is a key follow-up to adequate calcium intake, YoCalcium also contains 20% of the recommended DV of vitamin D, as well as inulin, a natural dietary fibre, which are both proven to help boost calcium absorption. YoCalcium has a new look, and following Stonyfield Farm's organic conversion last autumn, it bears a USDA-certified organic label as well. That means YoCalcium is made without antibiotics, synthetic growth hormones or toxic, persistent pesticides. Packed in six ounce cups, YoCalcium is available in new Wild Berry and Strawberry, Raspberry and the ever popular Apricot Mango.

Finnish retail specialist Kesko – with around 2,000 stores in the Nordic and Baltic countries, and Russia – has added dairy products to its Pirkka range of goods. The Pirkka product range is complemented by light and skimmed milk, low-lactose cream and dairy butter. The half-litre skimmed milk is a new product in the Finnish market and has been introduced in response to demand from small households. "Pirkka products are used regularly in our daily lives. The absence of ordinary milk from the range has been a clear deficiency,” said Kesko Food Vice President for Commerce, Ari Akseli. The products are supplied by established Finnish dairy company Osuuskunta Maitokolmio. "It took us long to find a suitable supplier. We're pleased to begin cooperation with a smaller domestic operator and offer them an opportunity to cooperate with such a large volume product,” added Akseli. "Kesko Food has been very positive and open-minded about the development and introduction of the product family. Such an attitude encourages small and medium enterprises to show their competencies and develop their operations," says Osuuskunta Maitokolmio Managing Director, Juha Murto-Koivisto.

UK water cooler manufacturer Ebac has outed production plans for its new Direct Dispense POU unit, which it believes is set to revolutionise the POU market. Available from May 2008, the newcomer has been developed to challenge existing POU coolers by claiming to offer a 98% reduced chance of microbiological contamination, compared to models that house a standard reservoir. According to the County Durham based firm, some POU coolers are open to microbiological vulnerability as the larger their surface area, the greater the chance that water contamination will occur. “An ordinary reservoir has a typical water volume of 2,500ml and a typical surface area of 1,000cm2, which offers a huge amount of microbiological vulnerability,” it explained. “Even with direct chill, the typical water volume is 500ml, which is significantly lower in volume to an ordinary reservoir, but the surface area increases to 1600cm2 , giving it a greater vulnerability to microbiological growth. UV protected reservoirs show some improvement with 60ml water volume and 200cm2 surface area, but there are still parts of the cooler the ultraviolet light can’t reach, such as pipes and taps.” Ebac’s new model offers a 30ml water volume and 100cm2 surface area, which it believes could lessen the microbiological risk. Ebac Chairman John Elliott MBE commented: “Microbiological vulnerability in the POU market is very important to water cooler businesses and distributors. Our customers want a product that differentiates them from their competitors and gives them a competitive advantage. Not only are we providing a product that our customers want, but we are also providing a product that their customers want too.” Direct Dispense technology also differs to traditional POU coolers in the way it filters water. As with all POU coolers, water is supplied directly from the mains, which has been disinfected (typically with chlorine in the UK) to remove bacteria and ensure that it remains safe to drink by the time it reaches the public. With Direct Dispense, the water supply is not filtered before entering the cooler reservoir, but immediately prior to the water being dispensed. Therefore, the disinfectant properties of the mains supplied water stop any bacteria growth occurring in the reservoir or connected parts. It is not until water is dispensed that it passes through a filter, ensuring high quality water with the least possible chance of contamination. Filter replacement should also be easier than everwith an Ebac POU cooler as its “slot and go” cartridge can be changed in a matter of seconds with minimal effort. The unit is then 100% sanitised as all parts susceptible to microbiological vulnerability have been replaced. A further innovation is a patented flood prevention device. The StopMax has been designed to provide peace of mind against accidental flooding, which has always been a concern with POU units. The first Direct Dispense machine on the market, Ebac’s new model is based on its best selling FMax platform, with all of the same features,such as an energy saving hot tank and high burst rate. “It is great to break the boundaries of innovation in water cooler design with the Direct Dispense cooler,” said Technical Director, Philip Walton. “The pre-production model has already received an enthusiastic response from significant customers in the industry, which further demonstrates the demand for such a product in the marketplace.”

Connect Water Systems UK has acquired a substantial shareholding in Purepoint, a Scottish mains connected water cooler company based in Ayrshire. Connect UK Chairman Brian Knight commented: “This strategic investment enables us to extend the reach of the Connect service into a key area of the UK market. Martin Ross and his team are ideally placed to grow their existing cooler base more rapidly in the future and their experience in this market will strengthen Connect’s ability to deliver the high level of customer service our national and local clients demand”. Connect pure filtered water coolers and heaters are already available from centres in County Durham, Oxfordshire, Essex and Devon.

A team from Alcoa’s Hungary based Auto and Truck Structures business has delivered bespoke lightweight aluminum truck bodies to Sip-Well within a three month turnaround time. Constructed from aluminium extrusions, castings and plate from Alcoa Kofem, the truck bodies aim to save weight, while increasing payload for Sip-Well, a Belgian home and office delivery company. Aside from a short delivery deadline, Sip-Well also requested special features for its two water delivery trucks. Specifications included double wide rack roll-up doors covering two bays each, a compartment for coolers and specially designed thin walls between the bays to make maximum use of the body length. “Alcoa Auto and Truck Structures worked closely with Sip-Well from concept to design and product,” said Alcoa Auto and Truck Structures Director Business and Applications Development Commercial Vehicle Dr Holger Haddenhorst. “For these new truck bodies, we also incorporated a new safety feature. Foldable steps also function as a warning system with sounds and lights, in case the driver forgets to close any of the six side steps before departing. This required creating and then adding a well thought out safety system for early warning in case the side steps accidentally open during driving." The additional safety system is now also available to other customers with similar requirements. “We are very pleased with the new aluminium truck bodies. With the weight savings the aluminium provides, we were able to increase payload productivity, plus add a special safety feature,” said Sip-Well Logistics Director Jorgen De Pelsmaeker. Sip-Well has since ordered four more truck bodies from Alcoa Kofem. Alcoa Auto and Truck Structures supplies truck bodies to customers worldwide. Serving the aerospace, automotive, packaging, construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, Alcoa produces and manages aluminium, fabricated aluminium and alumina facilities, bringing design, engineering and production capabilities to its customers.

*A UK-based plastic cup and 19 litre (5 gallon) water bottle cap supplier has launched a service that will enable its customers to recycle returned plastic components. * Packseal devised the free scheme to assist its clients with their recycling needs and give them the opportunity to earn money from the sale of scrap plastic. If sufficient quantities of bottles, caps or other clean waste, which are inevitable by-products of the bottled water cooler business, are collected by the company’s recycling partners, then payment could be made for the returned material. Every customer who purchases Packseal caps will be eligible for the initiative, free of charge. Initial responses from clients have been positive, with a number already taking the scheme on board. Packseal will be exhibiting at the forthcoming BWCA show at stand 36a where interested parties can find out more about the service.

Austrian plastics firm Greiner Packaging is now the sole proprietor of 5 gallon (19 litres) packaging manufacturer Capsnap Europe, following an overhaul of the company’s ownership structure. Capsnap was set up in 1999 as a 50:50 joint venture between Greiner and 5 gallon and dairy closure producer Portola Packaging. This latest agreement, which was signed on 20 December 2007, saw Greiner take over the shareholding of the US Portola Group from 1 January 2008. All employment roles will be retained and Capsnap will continue to be Portola’s distributor for caps in Europe, although some specific markets and customers will be served directly by Portola. “5 gallon packaging will be a significant segment for the plastics industry in the future. As the sole owner of Capsnap Europe, we will push ahead with the development of this important pillar for Greiner,” said Greiner Packaging International CEO Willi Eibner. Capsnap General Manager Günter Ausserwöger commented that the company would be better able to respond to the 5 gallon bottle market in Europe with a single owner. “We will thus be able not only to react faster to European market requirements, but also to align our packaging solutions more flexibly to them,”he said. According to Portola Europe Managing Director Glenn Heighington, the agreement is in line with Portola’s strategy to focus on its core competency - the production of plastic closures for the water, juice and dairy industries. Greiner Packaging achieved a turnover of €290.9 million in 2006 and employs over 2,500 people in 21 production sites across Europe.

Angel Springs has seen its flexible approach pay dividends as it recently won over 2,500 coolers through key national accounts. The UK based water cooler distribution believes that customers require a provider that can supply and maintain both bottled and mains fed cooler solutions on a national basis, without sub-contracting to third party distributors. Managing Director John Dundon commented: “We are delighted with the success our dual solution, one company approach has brought to us. “When talking to potential new customers it is quickly evident that they prefer impartial, factual advice on the merits of both bottled and mains fed coolers. Buyers have been able to make informed decisions when we have explained the factual, environmental impact of both products.” The company’s 'workplace watercoolers' initiative aims to supply the customer with a solution that is driven by their needs and requirements, rather than simply providing products that best suit the supplier. Consulting with the customer to help them make a balanced choice could lead to better client retention. “When you add our flexible package to this, where customers can move between bottled and mains fed coolers during their contract term, it has meant that we have been able to win multiple national accounts and maintain sensible margins in addition to cost effective mains fed installations.” Since its formation in 2003, Angel has become one of the leading cooler distributors in the UK, doubling its customer base and turnover. It puts its rapid growth down to a commitment to service, strong organic growth and strategic acquisitions.