Bananas in bunkers prove to be fruitful containment

Is the world going, well, bananas? Thanks to a creative inventor and an accommodating plastics manufacturing firm, the world might actually be a little bit safer for the fragile banana. The BananaBunker(R) is a new, highly practical, but unusual container that protects delicate bananas from bruising when placed in a backpack, a briefcase or other carrying case and simultaneously keeps them from squishing and endangering case contents. The brainchild of designer Paul Stremple of Cultured Containers, the package is prompting plastics molder CY Plastics Works (www.cyplas.com), which produces the BananaBunker for Stremple, to move quickly on the new project. An inventor, artist and designer, Stremple has worked for such firms as Gucci and Polo-Ralph Lauren, recognized by international markets, which have been the first to snap up his creation. But don't be surprised to see it at better grocery chains and gift stores in the U.S. soon. From a molder's perspective, the project has been both challenging and fun, says CY Plastics' president Andy Molodetz. "Like many new products, Paul tinkered with material, design and finishing choices before he was satisfied," he says. Molodetz worked closely with Stremple as the product made its way from concept to finished product. CY Plastics chose to mold the container using Styrolux(R) 684 styrene butadiene copolymer from BASF (www.basf.com) in order to get the right combination of mechanical properties and transparency. CY Plastics molds the clear banana encasement in four colors: blue, clear, green and orange.