Currently a change has been started to reduce the different types of closure for the smaller diameters (tins to 1 litre). For example, for the diameter 108 mm (1 litre) you could obtain five different closures in the Benelux countries, but the lids were not interchangeable.
It is not only the providers who have got this process of rationalisation going – the consumers definitely want it too. In particular, the fillers with subsidiaries in several countries (think of Sigma, Akzo, ICI, etc.) have requested the reduction in diversity. The aim is to promote the interchangeability of products between more than one location (of course, with the same tins and the same closures). The English market leads the way in this endeavour; the closures used there will also be used in Europe.
In England the RL closure (Reverse Lever lid) has been used for years.
In Europe, the RL closures and TT closures are being used now a days.
- The TT closure has a flat lid.
- The TT lid falls in the rim of the tin.
- With the RL closure the lid comes in the tin.
Broadly speaking, you could say the areas of application were:
- TT closure: lacquers, professional painters.
- RL closure: DIY market and lacquers
Features of the RL closures
The RL closure can be closed with a Raised Panel (similar to a TT closure in appearance) and a Low Panel (sunken lid). Low panel lids can be flat or spherical. A spherical lid are being used when the lid will be sprayed with a colour. A low panel lid has the advantage that on shelves another tin can, can be stored above it, without falling.
The advantage is that two types of lids can be used with the one ring. The filling aperture is also larger than with the TT closure.
The RL closure is even tighter than the TT closure, in the absolute sense.
The coated version of RL closures has a laminated ring (a plastic layer over the part of the ring that the lid comes into) or a Protact® ring (extra protection layer developed by Corus, also placed on the inside of the ring). The RL ring can also have a gold finish.
The gold finish and Protact® models prevent corrosion on the inside and outside of the ring with water-based products.
| Diameter in mm |
Filling volume in ml |
Closure | Identical lid? 1) | Lid type | Lacquered ring 2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 1) | 125 | RL | - | RP | Laminate, Protact®, Gold finish |
| 73 | 250 | RL | • (=ES) | RP and LP convex or flat |
Laminate, Protact®, Gold finish |
| 99 | 500 750 |
RL/TT | - | RP, LP convex or flat |
Laminate, Protact®, Gold finish |
| 108 | 500 1000 |
RL/TT | • (=ES) | RP, LP | Laminate, Gold finish, Protact® 4) |
| 153 | 2500 | RL | - | RP | Gold finisch or uncoated |
| 176 | 5000 | RL | - | RP | Gold finisch or uncoated |
Explanation:
- 1) Identical lid: for diameters 73 mm and 108 mm the ES and RL lids are identical. That means diameter 99 mm cannot be interchanged with the ES closure! The way it fits is very different.
- 2) Lacquered ring: the lamination has a distinctive white layer on the inside of the ring.
- 3) Diameter 60 mm: with an RL closure, the fillability will increase considerably in this capacity measure.
- 4) Protact®: often used in combination with a Protact® bottom that is coated internally and has a gold finish on the outside.