New Pod Designed for Innovative Drink System
The Opportunity
Drinkworks® – a joint venture between Anheuser-Busch and Keurig Dr. Pepper – set out to reimagine cocktails at home with the first-of-its-kind connected appliance designed to prepare bar quality cocktails at the push of a button. Drinkworks needed support to develop an innovative container that would house premium spirits and natural flavors, and deliver a remarkable beverage to be enjoyed at home, in a sustainable way. Given PTI’s previous design experience of capsules and high barrier, thin-walled containers, Drinkworks approached the PTI team to assist in the development of this exciting packaging innovation: the Drinkworks Pod.
The Innovation
Because of the small size of the preform, the traditional blow molding process would have limitations – in particular, the handling of the preform. Specific design aspects were added to make it compatible with the standard blow molding process, while accommodating the required geometry to interface with the Drinkworks Home Bar appliance. In addition, the Pod had to have an appropriate barrier in order to protect the sensitive, high-quality ingredients and ensure proper mechanical compatibility and pressure resistance during the dispensing process.
The Outcome
In 2019, the Drinkworks Home Bar by Keurig launched in select cities across the U.S. and has since expanded nationally, both online and at select brick & mortar retailers. PTI supported Drinkworks by producing the Pods during the first months after the initial product launch.
