Innovative and creative applications of different types of ink are transforming the appearance of cans. Nisa Ali speaks to the ink experts
Colorado-based Chromatic Technologies Inc is in the process of commercialising its “groundbreaking” hybrid inks.
Maria Del Rio, chief marketing officer, tells The Canmaker that the hybrid inks display both photochromic and thermochromic properties in the one ink technology. That is, the inks are activated by light and temperature changes, darkening upon exposure to sunlight – photochromism – and changing colour when heated or cooled – thermochromism.
Both effects are reversible and CTI has developed the technology in one ink application. “That’s pretty amazing,” she says, “What it means is that in just one ink, the ink can produce not only its original colour, but also three more colours, with just one printing application.”
She explains that if a can is indoors and warm, the can would display one colour, if it gets cold indoors, the can will transition to another colour. Taking the can outside into the sunshine when it’s cold, would show yet another colour, and finally with warmth and sunshine, it would display a fourth colour.
Chromatic effects
CTI is known for its range of ink technologies, such as separate photochromic inks and thermochromic inks, as well as glow in the dark inks, and collaborates with brands in 55 countries to enhance their brand narratives. She says: “That means that our technology allows users to witness colour changes or messages on a package, responding to temperature shifts, touch-activated colour displays and hidden messages, or experiencing colour transformations in sunlight. We maximise the potential of our ink functionality.”
The most famous example of CTI’s thermochromic ink is the image of the Rocky Mountains on Coors Light beer cans, which turn blue when cold. These have featured on the cans since 2007, which Coors believes helped propel the brand in the US to be the number two best-selling beer in the light segment and the overall number five best-selling beer.
Other more recent brand collaborations have included Fanta soft drinks in Latin America, Corona Extra beer, and Prime energy drinks. Now with hybrid inks, CTI plans to offer more opportunities “to add innovation and elevate brands, whether a beverage is at optimum temperature or with transforming effects indoors or outdoors”.
Market imperative
Del Rio says it will be a “matter of months” for the commercialisation of the hybrid ink technology: “We’re actively working with partners right now to take this to market.”
Del Rio emphasised the care taken in the production of the hybrid ink. “We take our time developing our inks and our technology ensures that it has a small particle size and that enhances how the ink runs. The application is like any other ink and that’s really important.”
Tested on flexographic and gravure presses, she says: “Our encapsulation technology can facilitate high speed production on lines and there is no colour transfer or mixing.”
CTI guarantees the quality of its inks “for at least 12 months lasting well beyond the products’ usage cycle” similar to standard inks and that it can be applied to “any substrate”. Del Rio adds: “No other technology has this applicability and efficiency, you know, when it comes to metal deco.”
She says CTI has developed a few inks that transform into three more colours, but that CTI has focused on ensuring each colour is vibrant and has good colour intensity, which requires multiple testing, stating: “It’s more about what the chemistry can do.”
Del Rio notes the growing popularity of cans as a sustainable option and the recent explosion of beverage varieties on the market, as a “great opportunity” for the ink technology supplier.
CTI also offers to support “more overt recycling” messaging on cans to encourage consumer behaviour to recycle more.
Rainbow concept
Polychromatic effects can also be employed without heat or light. A new print ink, called Rainbow, won a Concept of the Year certificate for can and tube manufacturer Tubex at the ADF Innovation Awards for aluminium packaging at the Paris Packaging Week event in January.
The technology was developed by Sun Chemical, which produced an ink that reflects light shimmering in a multi-coloured effect. The ink was then used by Tubex on aerosol cans.
The ADF panel said of the Rainbow entry: “Rainbow is an innovative aerosol can decoration concept using a new type of ink that reflects light to display multiple colours, enhancing shelf appeal with a unique, shimmering rainbow effect.”
Tubex says only one application was needed to create the effect. The ink is applied in silkscreen and conventionally dried.
Managing director at Tubex, Leopold Werdich, comments: “Tubex is always on the lookout for new applications and decoration for aerosol cans. The Tubex team is absorbed in printing and new creative printing techniques. And a polychromatic ink – was so far not applied onto an aerosol can.
“From the idea to the realisation, it is a long way and therefore we are grateful for our partners who developed this amazing decoration together with us,” he adds.
He tells The Canmaker that the company was excited to receive the award: “It is confirmation of the creativity of the Tubex team, but it also confirms the superb craftsmanship of the printing team.
“We take pride in offering our customers industrially manufactured high-definition prints with unrivalled dots per inch count. Winning an award confirms the outstanding work the team does.”
The ADF awards jury noted: “This product captivated the jury with its ability to revolutionise aerosol can decoration. The use of a polychromatic base coat printed in silkscreen creates an eye-catching rainbow appearance, setting a new standard in aluminium can decoration and offeringan innovative solution to enhance a visual appeal in the market.”
Werdich also praises his team’s attention to detail when applying inks and their award-winning printing technique, as seen in Nivea Pearl & Beauty, which has also garnered many awards, including an award from the 2023 World Aluminium Aerosol Can Awards. “The driver is the copy dot technique which allows designers to realise demanding print designs on cans – by having more dpi, higher precision and best accuracy in print,” he enthuses.
“To transfer from the cliché [printing plate] onto the can the responsible worker has to apply the exact amount of ink – dark and light – to make sure not to tint the light-coloured pearl so the design shows up well and is clear. The printing process has to be constantly surveyed to ensure the high-definition quality of the print.
“Also the highest amount of dots per inch printed industrially and the very fine gradients is what makes this print design an eyecatcher,” Werdich adds.
Colour choice
INX International Ink, a global manufacturer of high-performance printing inks and coatings, released its updated colour catalogue in February, with even more new colours.
Sarah Jacks, manager of the INX Color Perfection programme, says: “We recently expanded the INX Color Catalogue, which originally contained over 600 metal colours. This update gives brand owners, designers, and metal decorators 28 new colours to select from during their canmaking process.”
With the swatches in the catalogue printed on metal, not paper, and the Digital Color Library also available as a plug-in for the Adobe Creative Cloud, designers can browse and select colours from the catalogue that represent the finished metal print, says INX. Around the same time, the ‘Colored by INX’ beverage can design contest was also launched to celebrate the best in can design and production using the INX Metal Color Catalog; last year’s winner was Shiner Texhex Bruja’s Brew IPA. The contest is open to any can reaching the market by 1 January 2024, with a closing date of 29 April.
Early move
INX is also working on removing perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) from their inks. Ryan Ostrowski, laboratory manager for the Metal R&D division, tells The Canmaker: “All INX PFAS/ PFOA-free inks are now available in the commercial marketplace.” Alex Folloso, director of Metal Decorating Technology, adds: “Over the years there has been increased concern with perfluorinated chemicals and their reference as ‘forever chemicals’, meaning they are difficult to degrade in the environment.”
In the metal packaging industry, the most common PFC is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), also known by the brand name ‘Teflon’. Folloso comments that although the US Environmental Protection Agency has said it is safe, “the metal packaging industry was proactive with consumer safety concerns and decided to phase out the use of PTFE from all material in the supply chain”.
However, according to Ostrowski there were technical issues. “We had to find a replacement wax that performed at the same level as a fluorinated wax,” he says. “This also required us to test many alternative non-fluorinated wax additives to find the one that performed the same as our standard fluorinated wax.”
Ostrowski adds: “Our customers evaluated these new inks and are pleased with its performance.”
