Hot coffee alert lid bound for US

A heat-sensitive coffee cup lid, designed and produced by Aussie company Smart Lid Systems, is pitching to the US market through a crowdfunding venture.

The Smart Lids change colour from brown to bright red as a warning that your drink is extremely hot, and gradually return to brown as it cools. The company says the product has the potential to save tea and coffee drinkers from scalds, particularly for groups like young children, older adults and people with special needs.

The specialty plastic was developed by a Colorado based firm, with the design and production of the disposable lid occurring in Sydney, Australia. The disposable lid activates and turns red at 48°C or 120°F.

The family-owned company says the product took 12 years to develop. It began its first production run for commercial distribution to Australian cafés just six months ago, and now hopes to tackle the North American market.

To do this, it has pitched to raise $8,000 through crowdfunding website Indiegogo to establish a production line for exports. Participants can purchase small quantities of the lid for home use, or large numbers for commercial cafés. For this first run orders will be finalised in early March and arrive in July.

Anthony Bayss, director at Smart Lid Systems, says, “The Smart Lid is being sold to cafes in Australia. However, the number one question we receive every day comes from North America and from Europe – asking when the Smart Lid will be available in your home, in your office or for use around your elderly parents.

“In the US alone there are 180 million daily coffee drinkers and 170 million daily tea drinkers. These drinkers now have a visual warning indicator to aid in the prevention of many scald accidents. The end-game for us is to have the product available to all consumers through the major retailers.”

The Indiegogo campaign will run from January 13 to March 5, at the same time North America observes Burn Awareness Week.

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