Written on: November 3, 2017 by SprayTM
A lightweight shaped aerosol can with enhanced environmental credentials has won the prestigious Can of the Year title for 2017 from Canmaker Magazine . The aluminum can, produced for Unilever’s Dove antiperspirant by Moravia Cans in the Czech Republic, uses production techniques originally developed for the beverage can industry.
Weighing in at just 18 grams, the 150ml can is lighter than conventional aerosol cans and, because it uses alloys similar to those found in beverage cans, it can be produced using aluminum with a higher recycled content, according to Canmaker.
“The end result is 20:20:20,” says John Broks, Sales Chief at Moravia Cans, explaining that the drawn and wall-ironed (D&I) cans are 20% lighter, allow 20% more cans to be packed on each pallet and result in a 20% reduction in truck and pallet movements.
This was the first time that an aerosol can had won the overall title since the Cans of the Year Awards were launched in 1996, and it was an occasion for triple celebration. Moravia’s can also received the Sustainability Award along with the Gold Award in the Aerosol category.
The Canmaker magazine Cans of the Year Awards for 2017 were presented during a gala dinner at The Canmaker Summit held recently in Gleneagles, Scotland. With entries drawn from around the world, the awards recognise and reward the significant developments and innovations that take place within the metal packaging industry each year.
Among the other awards presented before an international audience was one for an eye-catching welded tinplate can inspired by a Chinese lantern. Made by ORG Packaging in China for a cereal drink produced by SUSA Food International Group, the can won the Gold Award in the Beverage Three-piece category. The design is said to convey the meaning of reunion, celebration and good luck, with the lantern-shape featuring convex stiffeners that improve the rigidity and provide a comfortable grip.
The winner of the Food Two-piece Award was Auxiliar Conservera from Spain for its Openvac system; an innovative nestable tinplate can with a vacuum lid for packing artichokes. Produced by Mensajero Alimentación the system uses a high vacuum to achieve a closure that is hermetically sealed, with a simple opening mechanism that has no sharp edges or extra elements. The vacuum in the can is released by pulling a tab on the top of the lid allowing it to be removed.
By eliminating air from the container, there is no risk of oxidation to the food, which lengthens its shelf life. In addition, it is not necessary to immerse the product in oil, brine or any other liquid medium. An additional advantage of the Openvac system is that it requires a shorter exposure time to high temperatures during sterilisation and pasteurisation, and reduces the use of salt for preservation purposes.
In the Beverage Two-Piece category, Crown took the Gold Award for an aluminium can for a new craft beer brewed in the UK by Two Tribes, for a promotion by Island Records,. The can is the world’s first ‘Shazamable’ can. The decoration on the can allows consumers to use the Shazam app to link with bespoke ‘mood’ drinking playlists that Island Records created on Spotify. Although this is a simple idea, it involved further development of the technology to allow it to work on a cylindrical shape.
The Gold Award in the Decoration & Print Quality category was won by a limited edition tinplate secondary container for Chivas Regal whisky. Produced by Crown Aerosols & Speciality Packaging in the UK, the can’s unique round-to-square design creates shelf differentiation and impact.
“We developed new tooling to deliver a tin shape that was not only visually appealing, but also added value in terms of supply chain efficiency and shelf stackability,” says Veronique Curulla, marketing director at Crown Aerosols & Specialty Packaging Europe.
Another secondary container won the Gold Award in the Fancy Can category, this time for a Bollinger champagne bottle. Developed for Bollinger’s special Cuvée Rosé 2006, the container is made by Virojanglor in France with the word ‘Bollinger’ cut into the sides.
The 1mm-gauge steel, which like all cans is fully recyclable, gives the packaging strength and a premium feel. It features a mirror effect, a special pink colour to match the brand’s pink champagne label and an extended top lid lip for ease of opening.
In the Ends, Caps & Closures category the Gold Award went to Can-Pack in Poland, for an aluminium easy-open end for the Shepherd Neame Brewery’s Spitfire Amber Kentish Ale. Printed using offset technology, the end is instantly recognisable by the UK Union Jack flag emblem centralised on the shell that allows the red, white and blue to match the colours within the branded beverage can.
In the Food Three-piece category, the winning can was made by GM Metal Packaging Lanka in Sri Lanka. The reusable tinplate tea container with an air-tight lid for Master Tasters, impressed the judges for its elegant shape and look that was finished with a special matt gold colour printing and gloss varnish.
Emballator Metal Group from Sweden won the Gold General Line Award for its tinplate pail with a newly developed Xpress tinplate lid which is easy to open, close and re-open using a screwdriver or similar tool. Produced for Teknos OY paint the Decoline pail can also be used with the Easyflex lid which has a unique plastic foldable ring enabling it to be opened and closed by hand without the use of any tools.
Prime Metal Bottle in Switzerland was the winner of this year’s Prototype Award; a category that features designs that are currently under development and have not yet reached the market.
Prime’s offering was for a long neck aluminium bottle with the option of a twist-off, pry-off or pull-off closure. The bottle can is targeted at premium and craft beers, flavoured alcoholic beverages, mix drinks, alcopops, and energy drinks. It has been designed for sale in shops, bars, vending machines and through the digital platform. The container will initially be available with high definition printing, with future plans for digital printing, shaping and embossing.
For general or technical information on the cans and for print-ready images, contact Nicola Stocker at Sayers Publishing Group, Duran House, Manor Royal, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 9PY, UK. Tel: 44 1293 45100. Website: www.canmaker.com
Nicola Stocker email: n.stocker@sayers-publishing.com
Category winners follow:
CATEGORY WINNERS
CAN OF THE YEAR 2017 WINNER: Moravia Cans, Czech Republic, D&I aluminium aerosol can for Unilever; Dove antiperspirant
AEROSOL CANS
Gold: Moravia Cans, Czech Republic
D&I aluminium can for Unilever; Dove antiperspirant
Silver: Ball Corporation, USA
Impact-extruded aluminium can for L’Oréal; L’Oréal Men Expert anti-perspirant
Bronze: DS Containers, USA
Two-piece drawn laminated steel can for RSC Chemical Solutions; Liquid Wrench industrial penetrant & lubricant
BEVERAGE THREE-PIECE
Gold: ORG Packaging, China
Three-piece welded tinplate can for SUSA Food International Group; SUSA cereal beverage
Silver: HUBER Packaging Group, Germany
5-litre welded tinplate mini-keg for Bell’s Brewery; Bell’s Oberon Ale
Bronze: Shetron, India
Three-piece welded tinplate can with easy-open end for Arrowline Organic Products; The Right Moo – Organic cold coffee/chocolate coffee
BEVERAGE TWO-PIECE
Gold: Crown Packaging, UK
330ml D&I aluminium can for Two Tribes; Island Records craft beer
Silver: Ardagh Group, Germany
330ml D&I aluminium can for Brewers & Union; And Union – Unfiltered Lager / Sunday Pale Ale
Bronze: Can-Pack, UK
500ml D&I aluminium can for Shepherd Neame Brewery; Whitstable Bay beer
BOTTLES
Gold: Exal Corporation, USA
Impact-extruded 750ml aluminium resealable bottle for Proud Source Water; Proud Source Water artisan water
Silver: Exal Corporation, USA
Impact-extruded 355ml aluminium resealable bottle for UPTIME Energy; UPTIME energy drink
Bronze: Montebello Packaging, Canada
Impact-extruded 473ml aluminium bottle for Kings Town Beer Company and Mackinnon Brothers Brewing; The Breakout Project Beer
DECORATION & PRINT QUALITY
Gold: Crown Aerosols & Speciality Packaging, UK
Lock-seam tinplate secondary container for Chivas Brothers; Chivas Regal – Aged 12 Years whisky bottle
Silver: Can-Pack, Poland
D&I aluminium 500ml beverage can for Plzensky Prazdroj; Pilsner Urquell beer
Bronze: Meister, Brazil
Drawn tinplate tin for Meister; Meister confectionery
ENDS, CAPS & CLOSURES
Gold: Can-Pack, Poland
Aluminium easy-open end for Shepherd Neame Brewery; Spitfire Amber Kentish Ale
Silver: Massilly India Packaging, India
Tinplate twist-off cap for Lidl Europe; Freshona gherkins
Bronze: XRE, South Korea
Re-closable easy-open end on D&I aluminium can for LOTTE Chilsung Beverage; Tropicana Sparkling carbonated soft drink
FANCY CANS
Gold: Virojanglor, France
Lock-seam steel secondary container for Bollinger; Bollinger champagne bottle
Silver: Hoffmann Neopac, Switzerland
Drawn tinplate tin with hinged lid for Japan Tobacco; Mevius tobacco
Bronze: Jiabao Packaging Depot, Hong Kong
Lock-seam tinplate container with slip lid for Moose Enterprise; The Grossery Gang toys
FOOD THREE-PIECE
Gold: GM Metal Packaging Lanka, Sri Lanka
Lock-seam tinplate tin with air-tight lid for Master Tasters; Double Miracle tea
Silver: Crown Packaging Europe, France
Three-piece welded tinplate can with Peelfit lid for dry products
Bronze: CPMC, China
Three-piece welded tinplate can with peel-able end for Feihe International; Feihe Feifan milk powder
FOOD TWO-PIECE
Gold: Auxiliar Conservera, Spain
Drawn tinplate can with vacuum lid for Mensajero Alimentación; Mensajero artichokes
Silver: Crown Beverage Packaging North America, USA
D&I aluminium 37.2g can for La Colombe; La Colombe – Coffee Vault coffee
Bronze: Ardagh Group, Germany
Drawn tinplate can for Larsen Danish Seafood; Larsen seafood
GENERAL LINE
Gold: Emballator Metal Group, Sweden
Three-piece welded tinplate pail with XPRESS lid for Teknos OY; TEKNOS paint
Silver: Ardagh, Germany & Ardagh, Netherlands
Three-piece welded tinplate pail with UN SpRing Latch for Dresdner Lackfabrik Novatic; Novatic protective coatings
Bronze: SAPIN, Saudi Arabia
Three-piece welded tinplate pail for Jotun Saudia Co; JOTUN paint
PROTOTYPE
Gold: Prime Metal Bottle, Switzerland
D&I aluminium lightweight Prime Metal Bottle with ROPP, crown cap or Maxi-P ring pull closure
Silver: Montebello Packaging, Canada
Blow-moulded shaped and embossed aluminium bottle
Bronze: Ball Corporation, USA
Impact-extruded aluminium aerosol can with tactile printing
SUSTAINABILITY
Moravia Cans, Czech Republic
D&I aluminium aerosol can for Unilever; Dove antiperspirant
