In 2017, the metal packaging industry received awards for outstanding achievements at the German Packaging Competition. It also won prizes in the global iF Design competition, the British AMA's Innovation Award for aerosol packaging, the Logistics Award for transport containers, the Alufoil Trophy and the FINAT Prize for metal-based labels.
Metal packaging has a long history: as early as 1240, tins made of metal were used in Bohemia. Tinplate produced. Even today, the majority of metal packaging is made of tinplate. This includes cans, cans, barrels, hobbocks and other packaging materials, as well as packaging aids such as closures. The same material group includes some large container types, of which stainless steel containers, which are used in the food industry, the pharmaceutical sector or for hazardous goods, are of particularly high quality and often receive awards.
Envirotainer RKN-e1, honoured with the Logistics Award 2012
Submitter: Envirotainer Väsby (Sweden)
Users: Logistics providers, airlines, pharmaceutical manufacturers
Aluminium, the second packaging material in this group, is processed into beverage and food cans as well as films, which contribute to extending the shelf life of the contents both individually as wrappers and in the form of a barrier layer in composite materials.
[infotext icon]Metal packaging and packaging aids are largely made of tinplate, a thin, cold-rolled sheet steel coated with tin, or they are made of aluminium, which is also coated or painted. According to the Joint Committee of German Packaging Manufacturers (GADV), metal accounts for more than 16 per cent involved, of which Tinplate over nine per cent and on Aluminium almost seven percent cancelled[/infotext].Metal packaging is versatile
These packaging materials are versatile, easy to mould, dense, lightweight, stable and recyclable. The global SAVE FOOD initiative in particular has highlighted how metal packaging can help to reduce food waste. The advantages of metal as a packaging material, which primarily lie in its long-lasting Preservation option The high level of protection of the contents due to the absolute barrier effect against oxygen, light and other environmental influences, but also the precise filling technology and the particularly low-loss logistics due to the robustness of the packaging, play a decisive role here.
Another decisive factor in favour of using metal packaging is its good Processing properties. Aluminium in particular is easy to process by forming and is suitable for producing films up to a few micrometres thick, which achieve a particularly good barrier effect in composites. The vapour deposition of plastic films with a thin aluminium layer also serves the same purpose.
Another major advantage of metal packaging is its good Recycling properties. Tinplate packaging achieves recycling rates of over 93 per cent in Germany due to the fact that it is magnetic and can therefore be sorted out fully automatically. This saves a lot of energy and CO2-savings have been achieved. Recycling rates of almost 88% have also been achieved through the recycling of aluminium packaging.
„Prestige Bottle“ for Pepsi Cola
Submitter, user: PepsiCo (New York, USA)
Design studio: PepsiCo Design & Innovation (New York, USA), Karim Rashid
Strong advertising and design Metal packaging
The new slim aluminium bottles in three different colours called „Prestige Bottle“ for the Pepsi Cola brand impressed the experts and received the iF DESIGN AWARD 2017. Based on the shape of the previous glass bottles, the new packaging conveys the impression of high quality and modernity.
The German Packaging Award 2017 was presented for an aluminium can that also has a high-quality appearance, in which part of the outside of the can is folded inwards using new technological process steps and existing systems. This creates both a Double can wall as well as an excellent printable and customisable inside.
Double wall box
Submitter, designer, developer, manufacturer: LINHARDT GmbH & Co.KG
Packaging aids can also win awards, as the „Orbit“ easy-open twist cap proved at the DVP in 2012. An innovative opening technology revolutionised the old closure concept for canned glass packaging. Conventional twist-off closures require high opening forces, which make access to the product difficult, especially for older people. By separating the screw connection from the sealing element, the high opening torque is halved and consumer convenience is improved.
Easy Open Twist Closure Orbit
Submitter: Timo Klingbeil
Designer, Manufacturer: CROWN Closures Europe
Advances in modern printing and varnishing technology were presented at this year's METPACK, the leading trade fair for metal packaging, which takes place in Essen, with the Innovation Award in silver. The Stuttgart-based manufacturer KBA-MetalPrint, a supplier of printing and coating lines, received this award for its development CS MetalCan - a new generation of printing units for beverage cans with short inking unit technology.
Silver Award for KBA-MetalPrint
Submitter, user: KBA-MetalPrint GmbH Stuttgart
The CS MetalCan, equipped with ten short inking units for indirect letterpress printing, is a further addition to the range of printing solutions for metal packaging. It enables shorter decor changeovers thanks to the system's increased level of automation.
