Ed Slomski, a Sun City resident, had an idea more than 55 years ago that, odds are, you have used in your life time and is still prominent in kitchens and the throughout the food and beverage market today.
In 1963, Sun City resident and former Development Engineer Ed Slomski was tasked by the Barrington-based American Can Company to devise a better can for frozen juice concentrates. Through rigorous trial and error, he developed the MiraStrip, which is still used on cans today. (Photo provided)
In 1963, the now defunct American Can Company (Barrington, IL) hired Slomski, as a Development Engineer in their Research and Development Department, and quickly put him to work on a problem they were having a hard time solving.
“At the time, frozen juice concentrate packaging left a metal lip around the can when open, which didn’t allow the frozen juice to slide out easily and often times, would cut your hand,” said Slomski. “I was given a project to come up with a better way.”
Slomski went to work researching existing patents on everything that resembled packaging for this type of can.
“There was actually no one single eureka moment, it was a rigorous process of research, trial and error,” said Slomski. In 1965, Slomski and American Can submitted a patent for the MiraStrip – a plastic strip adhered to the can opening used with a crimp seam, that allows for easy opening and removability of the frozen concentrate, and most importantly, no exposed metal edge.
“I remember the first sales call we made, we visited a contract packager that packaged for large supermarket chains, the buyer took one look at the new can and said, ‘you are either going to have 100% of the market or none at all’,“ said Slomski.
History has shown the gentleman was very close in his initial assessment.
Sales took off for the new packaging, with American Can putting out 200 million in its first year of production. Slomski enjoyed a number of years working with the manufacturing team to develop the machines that would seal the packaging, assisting on sales calls and watching his design become a leading product for American Can and the preferred option for the frozen juice concentrate market world-wide.
The MiraStrip was featured in a 1966 issue of Fortune magazine in an article entitled “The High Technology of 1965,” and a 1966 Petersburg Times (FL) article labeled Slomski as a genius that would changes the kitchen habits of millions of housewives.
Slomski later went on to work for Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc. (Round Lake, IL) establishing clean room procedures then heading up their packaging development department. He finished out his career with Illinois Tool Works, (Itasca, IL) spending his last 20 years in the workforce in beverage packaging development, where he earned an additional seven patents in packaging design.
Since the invention of the MiraStrip, the frozen juice concentrate market continues to flourish worldwide with annual sales in the billions, with other canned products making the MiraStrip their preferred package as well, still to this day.
Current products on grocery store shelves today utilizing the MiraStrip.
While Ed Slomski’s name is on the original MiraStrip patent, American Can owned the patent. Slomski received a $50 bonus when the patent was awarded.
“I feel like I have had a pretty rewarding career, it’s great to know something I created more than 50 years ago, is still relevant today, in households all over the world and is part of my professional legacy, “ said Slomski.
Slomski grew up on the south side of Chicago and earned a B.S. in chemical engineering from Tri-State College, now known as Trine University in Angola, IN. Trine University recently recognized Slomski and all their graduates who have earned patents with a Wall of Innovation on their campus.
Now 78, Slomski enjoys spending time with his six grandchildren, traveling frequently throughout the year, volunteering for Heifer International and St. Mary Church in Huntley, as well as playing bridge in his spare time.
