November 12: Technology that enables batches of drinks cans to be printed each with a unique label design was launched at the Brau Beviale show today by Ball Packaging Europe.
The drop-on-demand digital printing process enables decoration with a resolution of 600 dpi, enough says Ball for “brilliant photo quality”.
It will also enable cans printed with full-colour images taken a day earlier to be sold, such as after topical events.
First installation of the pilot printing machine will be at Ball’s canmaking plant at Haßloch in Germany next year. Print production speeds will depend on the configuration of the system, but the linear print speed enables each head to run at 120 cans per minute.