Written on: October 30, 2019 by SprayTM
The International Organization of Aluminum Aerosol Container Manufacturers (AEROBAL) has announced the winners of the 2019 World Aluminum Aerosol Can Awards.
The winner in the “Aluminum Cans Already on the Market” category was Coombs Family Farms Maple Stream Syrup in a can produced by Montebello Packaging, Hawkesbury, Ontario, Canada. The 7oz. (207mL) can has a special shoulder shape for convenient handling and was produced with a white base coating in dry offset printed graphics with gloss over varnish. The Montebello graphics team was involved in product development right from the start—from the concept phase through to the final implementation by the customer—who provided the graphics team with a true four-color process CMYK file with 
a great deal of overprint. Selected spot colors were used to keep the overprint to a minimum to obtain the desired printed image. The artwork was very complex and the graphics team had to interpolate the final artwork for the printed cans to match the artwork supplied by the customer. Proprietary color separation techniques and dry dot screening technology were used to prevent overprinting of the inks. Dot gain curves were used to make sure the screened area and screened images were reproduced as closely as possible to the customer’s artwork.
The winner in the “Prototype” category was U.S. manufacturer Ball Corp., Broomfield, CO, with its 360° technology. This technology enabled a wide range of shapes to be created over the entire circumference of an aluminum can. The technology was not restricted to stock shapes, but could also produce proprietary shapes chosen by the customer. A special graphic design, which was aligned to the respective relief area, further enhanced the shape’s visual impact. This resulted in a can with a strong appearance when viewed from every angle and perspective. At the same time, the shape provided added grip and user-friendly ergonomics.
The lithography and embossing combined precisely to further emphasize the depth of the design. The futuristic design with its clear lines and the playful honeycomb motif of the sample cans demonstrated the possibilities of asymmetrical embossing. The new 360° technology opened up a wide spectrum of additional design possibilities for the creative design of aluminum aerosol cans.
The ten World Aluminum Aerosol Can Award judges were comprised of a panel of editors from renowned specialist publications in the fields of aerosol technology, packaging and personal care from four different continents. The emphasis of the World Aluminum Aerosol Can Award is designs that inspire creativity and drive innovation.
“Year after year, the AEROBAL competition is the benchmark for the innovative strength of the industry and a reliable indicator of new trends and ideas,” enthused AEROBAL President Leopold Werdich.
“In recent years, solutions for reducing the weight of cans, breathtaking new shapes and printing techniques with photorealistic print images or fascinating tactile effects have been awarded prizes. Our competition has thus paved the way for many new ideas and improvements in the market.”
AEROBAL Secretary General Gregor Spengler added, “[The World Aluminum Aerosol Can Awards] once again demonstrate our industry’s high level of performance and the creative potential of our member companies. At the same time, the competition also reflects the wealth of benefits that aluminum aerosol cans have to offer: excellent hygiene standards, first-rate product protection, recyclability, a high degree of safety and consumer-friendly ease-of-use.”
