Crown unveils

Crown Holdings and inkjet printing specialist Jetrion unveiled at Interpack what is claimed to be the world's first high resolution, full colour digital inkjet printed can.

Crown Holdings and inkjet printing specialist Jetrion unveiled at Interpack what is claimed to be the world's first high resolution, full colour digital inkjet printed can. Crown Holdings' executive vice-president, technology and regulatory affairs, Dr Daniel Abramowicz explained that Jetrion's proprietary flexible and formable colour inkjet inks have been used successfully to produce ultra high-resolution images on a coated metal substrate subsequently formed by traditional manufacturing processes. Abramowicz said the technology, which is suitable for both aluminium and steel cans, and uses Jetrion's prototype, single-pass, drop-on-demand inkjet system, was "ideally suited to shorter runs and just-in-time manufacturing". He added: "Colour inkjet printing will add important new dimensions to our consumer marketing strategies by providing highly targeted, variable, market-specific messaging on cans and other packaging that is simple, fast and economical to implement." Crown also announced a "strategic partnership" with US-based "olfaction packaging" specialist ScentSational Technologies to produce packaging employing ScentSational's patented, proprietary CompelAroma technologies. The technology adds specially engineered, FDA-approved food grade flavours within the structure of plastic packaging components (it is hoped to develop it for metal in future) at manufacture. CompelAromas can be released at point-of-sale, on opening, product preparation or consumption. The companies plan focussing on a variety of solutions for food, beverage and other consumer products, including (eventually) metal vacuum closures, plastic closures with liners and gaskets, beverage closures, crowns, metal cans and lids. Abramowicz adds: "Some food and drink flavours lose their flavour via processing, for instance top notes in processed orange juice. Hopefully this technology may even help replace them.