prEN 16288

Overview

prEN 16288 is a European draft standard developed by CEN Technical Committee CEN/TC 261, focusing on glass packaging for pressurized or vacuum liquids. Specifically, it standardizes the dimensions of the 28 mm MCA 3 screw finish used on glass containers designed to securely hold liquids under pressure or vacuum conditions. This draft aims to ensure compatibility, safety, and quality in glass bottle closures by defining precise thread geometry and finish characteristics.

The MCA 3 finish is designed to accommodate tamper-evident closures, whether metal or plastic, thereby offering reliable sealing and protection during storage and transportation. This standard is essential for manufacturers, bottlers, and packaging suppliers seeking consistent and efficient solutions for pressurized and vacuum glass packaging systems across European markets.

Key Topics

• Scope and Application: Specifies the 28 mm screw finish dimensions for glass bottles with MCA 3 designation used for pressurized or vacuum liquids.
• Thread Dimensions: Defines pitch, threads per inch (TPI), helix angles, and cutter diameters, ensuring precise thread machining for secure screw caps.
• Design Details: Includes detailed figures illustrating the thread profile, sealing surfaces, mould parting lines, and bore dimensions to guide manufacturers in achieving proper fit and function.
• Sealing Surface Requirements: The sealing surface must be smooth and free from defects or flash to maintain airtight and pressure-resistant closures.
• Tolerance and Quality Control: Provides dimensional tolerances such as ±0.2 mm for thread diameters and guidelines for thread root transition to ensure consistent production quality.
• Tamper-Evidence Compatibility: The MCA 3 finish design supports tamper-evident closures, enhancing product security and consumer safety.
• Reference Basis: Based on CE.T.I.E. data sheet GME 32-01, ensuring alignment with internationally recognized bottling and packaging technical data.

Applications

This standard is highly relevant for:

• Glass Bottle Manufacturers: To produce consistent thread finishes on bottles meant for beverages or products under pressure or vacuum, such as carbonated drinks, oils, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetic liquids.
• Packaging Designers and Engineers: To design closures and capping machinery that precisely fit the MCA 3 finish, ensuring leak-proof and tamper-evident seals.
• Quality Assurance Teams: To verify dimensional compliance and surface quality during production to prevent failure risks and ensure standardized packaging quality.
• Regulatory Bodies and Standards Organizations: To adopt harmonized requirements that support safety, interoperability, and competitiveness in the glass packaging sector across participating CEN countries.
• Supply Chain and Logistics: Ensuring the packaged products withstand transportation stresses without leakage or spoilage, thus reducing damage and waste.

Related Standards

• CE.T.I.E. GME 32-01: The technical data sheet that forms the foundation for the dimensional specifications in prEN 16288.
• CEN/TC 261 Packaging Standards: Other European standards addressing general packaging requirements, materials, and sustainability.
• Tamper-Evident Packaging Standards: Complementary standards relating to closure security and consumer protection.
• Glass Container Standards (ICS 55.100): Covering bottles, pots, and jars for various uses which ensure material and dimensional compatibility.

By adopting prEN 16288, manufacturers and stakeholders benefit from a uniform, reliable, and traceable screw finish specification that enhances the safety, functionality, and market acceptance of glass containers designed for pressurized or vacuum liquids. This standard supports efficient production, cross-border trade, and consumer confidence in glass packaging solutions.