Silicone Lids
Request For Quote
We are looking for a source of leak-proof silicone lids for wide mouth glass canning jars, suitable for use in a dairy that produces unpasteurized milk intended for human consumption.
Use Cases
These jar lids will be used in the commercial production and storage of unpasteurized milk, where they will be used to seal glass canning jars after they have been filled with milk.
During normal use, these lids must be able to function properly when the jar is:
- either one or two quarts in volume,
- accidentally knocked over or inverted,
- shaken vigorously-but-upright (in order to blend separated cream back into the milk),
- washed alongside hundreds of others in a commercial dishwasher
The lids must be usable by individuals with limited dexterity and mobility in their hands:
- young children that have not developed their fine motor skills, and
- adults with arthritis, trauma, or other physical impairments.
Requirements
These silicone lids must:
- fit standard wide-mouth glass canning jars,
- smell and taste neutral (to prevent the milk from absorbing its odor or flavor) ,
- remain flexible and pliable without tearing or ripping,
- include a contoured or textured grip for opening,
- use new FDA-approved food-grade materials,
- endure at least:
- a two-step (basic/acid) dairy sanitation cycle in a commercial dishwasher (85°C),
- 100 product delivery and wash cycles (~2 year service life), and
- thousands of capping and uncapping cycles; and
- remain completely air-tight and leak-free:
- during transportation,
- after being stored for days, and
- when the temperature ranges from approximately 40°C (fresh milk) to 0°C (but not quite frozen).
Designs
The following products/designs have been considered:
Retail
We evaluated the following product, as it seemed to be similar to what we want (except the price):
Testing of these products revealed one minor design flaw. The milk can climb up and over the jar rim and settle in the space between the threads. Upon shaking the milk to blend it, uncapping the lid results in dribbles down the sides that cannot be avoided.
Wholesale
A number of wholesale products were considered, but none were found with all of the features that we desire.
Custom
We created an improved design with an outer shoulder and inner plug added to the top of the lid. This design provides two new ring seals that should prevent the milk from reaching the outside of the jar.
The model was created using OpenSCAD and prototyped in PLA with a 3D printer, but we have not produced a prototype using the silicone material (nor finalized the design for manufacturing). The STL file for its current version can be provided upon request.
Minimum Order
If you can provide some samples that meet our requirements, survive our testing procedures, and outperform other products being considered, then we will want to place a minimum order for 5000 pieces before the end of 2018.
If we find a manufacturer that produces an excellent product and communicates well with us, we expect to place additional orders for this product on a regular basis. Finally, we intend to offer them for resale in smaller quantities to smaller dairies in our region, promoting them as the next evolution in safety and quality for storing raw milk.