Greiner Packaging International (GPI, Kremsmünster / Austria; www.greiner-gpi.com) has redesigned plastic cups for the ayran drink from milk suppliers cooperative BMI Bayerische Milchindustrie (Landshut / Germany; www.bmi-eg.com). The PP cups have a metal-hammertone look, which GPI says is reminiscent of the copper cups from which the salty yogurt drink is traditionally consumed in Turkey.

"Our goal was to bring the plastic cup as close to the design of the original cup as possible. However, transferring the characteristic hammertone look of the copper cups to a plastic cup initially presented us with a few challenges," says Christian Platzer, key account manager at Greiner Packaging. Creating indentations of different sizes on the surface of the injection-moulded cup, which mimic the original cups, was technically challenging. The company says the crux was to transfer this individuality to mass production, since depressions in an injection-moulded product made it difficult to remove the mould.

The plastic cup comes in two colours, either white or copper. For the copper-coloured version, a special colour granulate with metallic pigmentation was developed, and GPI says the result is unique on the market.