Innovation awards: Sanserv’s cap is there to stay

The misuse and overuse of liquids is a problem across almost every sector, including agriculture. Fuels, fertilisers, pesticides and other chemicals can cause serious problems if spilt or overused deliberately. The difficulty has been that the preventative measures employed have been easily overridden or circumvented.

Mark Bradley of Sanserv has invented a solution to the problem.

“The problem is the misuse of liquids,” he says. “They come in jerry cans, and the majority of these containers come with a dispenser device to control the amount of liquid used. But they all come with a screw cap which can be removed, allowing the use of the liquid without any control mechanisms.

“I have developed the Aperture cap which cannot be removed but still allows access to the contents of the container. Once the cap is attached it can’t be removed.”

This is achieved through a ratchet-like mechanism. “Instead of being screwed on threads there is a ratchet effect where teeth on the cap bite into the container, preventing it from being turned in the opposite direction.”

The fact that the Aperture cap is applied in much the same way as a traditional closure has distinct advantages. “Manufacturers don’t have to change the process for filling containers,” says Bradley. “They just change the cap.”

The other huge advantage offered by the invention is the way you get the liquid out of the container. If you cannot take off the cap, another method must be used to dispense it. The cap contains a one-way valve through which a tube can be inserted allowing for the liquid to be poured. These tubes can be part of a device which only allow for a precise amount of the liquid to be dispensed.

To market

The invention came about as a result of Bradley’s experiences with his Sanserv cleaning services company.

“Over the past 22 years I have successfully developed and grown Sanserv. I have already brought to market a range of other inventions with regard to the cleaning industry, such as P Pod and P Pad, and our Suresave Optix System.”

Bradley began development on the invention in 2012. He filed for a patent in February 2013, with the patent granted in August 2015. It proved instantly successful on its launch that year, with sales growing strongly since.

“We are growing at 20 per cent per annum and starting to export. We are experiencing a lot of international interest, with a major US company talking to us at the moment.

"Our biggest challenge at the moment is creating awareness that this solution is now available. If you look at it, there are so many applications for it. When you look at a 10-litre jerry can, these are mainly sold in Europe, and 60-70 per cent of them come with a dispensing device attached to them. But why do they come with a cap that can be easily opened?"

Childproof

He says anywhere where dangerous chemicals are stored, from the farm to the home, can benefit from the Sanserv solution.

“Several detergent companies are now putting warnings on their packaging advising parents to put the products out of reach of children in their homes. Many of the problems they are addressing could be solved by an irremovable cap.

“The Aperture irremovable cap provides the consumer with what they require, which is the confidence to know that the liquids they have purchased are being utilised in a proper and controlled way, and that misuse, pilferage, contamination and waste are being prevented. Being able to unscrew or remove a cap closure from a container does not provide for this.”

He plans to access the market through a combination of direct sales and licensing the patent to manufacturers around the world.

Thousands of uses

“There could be thousands of applications for it using this model. We are also manufacturing the Aperture cap ourselves. We have identified 1,000 global industries in the international market to make them aware of the irremovable innovation and how essential it is for the safe use and control of liquids.

"Our strategy is to create demand between global customers for the supply of the irremovable cap from their cap closure manufacturers, and the closure companies will have to come to Ireland to license the production of the cap."

With multiple container and cap size configuration requirements, he aims to collaborate with existing cap closure and container manufacturers and suppliers under licence to deliver the range of these.

“This will give us access to a supply chain with a global reach while bringing the benefits of the innovation to users around the world.”