Feature article
The material of choice
CanTech International correspondent Evert van de Weg looks at how Novelis a leading producer of rolled aluminium has changed the structure of the industry.
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Raise a can to beer
I’ve just finished the May issue of Cantech International this month has a focus on canned beer and it’s been a real pleasure to explore the topic this month. At first glance the market may not seem to be in the best of health but once you’ve spoken to a few people and dug down a bit there’s some truly amazing innovation and incredibly hard work going on out there.
The innovation has been all over the media recently as I’m sure you’ve seen, Budweiser will, by the time you’re reading this, be selling its new bow-tie can in the United States. Unfortunately, there are no plans to introduce the innovation outside of the North American market, but the new can is certainly one of the most interesting pieces of can shaping to be seen in a long time. In this issue for the first time the business behind the can shaping equipment, Belvac Production Machinery, explains how the technology works, I’d imagine that now one major brewer has introduced a new can shape it won’t be long before we see other soft drink makers and breweries following suit, meaning 2013 could be the start of huge wave of innovation in can shaping.
Canned Food Week took place in the UK in April, showing sales of food in cans is on the up. So it was sad to see the week marked with the announcement of the closure of Crown’s Worcester factory. The site made food cans, but with the company said it was no longer profitble. Let’s hope all the employees find new work quickly once the factory closes later in the summer.
The debate over Bisphenol A (BPA) has been fired up again by the French. I was in France at the start of last month and the amount of information about products being free of BPA in supermarkets and even in independent stores in the middle of nowhere struck me as to how seriously the French are viewing the issue. So even, as I suspect, there is nothing to worry about over cans using BPA, the developments in France need to be watched closely as the French could, for instance, start to push for a European Union ban once they introduce one in the country in 2015.
Finally, the can is 200 years old this month. Two centuries on and it’s still leading the packaging industry. Here’s to another 200 years!
Luke Walsh
Editor
CanTech International
luke@bellpublishing.com
Hello and welcome
I’ve just finished my first issue as the new editor of CanTech International and I think it’s a great time to get into the can business.
I’m hoping to meet as many of our readers and advertisers as possible in the coming weeks and months and with so many shows coming up it’s another reason why I think this a great time to start working here.
The current issue (April) of CanTech International has previews of EuroCanTech 2013 and Cannex and the next issue (May) will feature an IMDA preview, so if you’re any of these events hopefully we’ll get to talk even if it’s only to say hello.
I’ve also been very impressed to have found out about all the environmental initiatives taking place such as the Hindustan Tin Works led Canvironment Week, which seems to have become a truly global event now, hopefully 2014 will be even bigger.
Will Geller, general manager North America at Quality by Vision, has also written about can seaming inspection and his article is available in April’s issue of the magazine with some high profile failures in the media at the moment this seems a good time to look at the subject.
Other than that I really mean it when I say I welcome comments from our readers and advertisers, both good and bad, so let me know what you think of the website and magazine either in person or by email on luke@bellpublishing.com
Luke Walsh
Editor
CanTech International
luke@bellpublishing.com
Competition for cans?
“One of my first challenges was to discourage the internecine fights between various packaging materials and interests. As I was fond of pointing out, I could write a handful of “plusses and minuses” for every packaging material. As an industry, we still have too many detractors and it does us little credit if public fights provide ammunition for our critics. In short, it is absolutely essential that we are seen to be united in promoting what we do and the fantastic contribution that our products make to the way in which society now functions. I’m all for healthy competition but surely no one believes that our customers’ purchasing decisions are going to be influenced by claims and counter-claims that they read in the media.”
These are the words of Dick Searle, chief executive of The Packaging Federation, in this month’s industry interview (see the February 2013 issue of CanTech International). The Federation is the “over-arching” trade association for the UK packaging manufacturing industry. It is a unique representative body for companies and organisations in the UK packaging manufacturing sector and its associated activities.
So what do you make of Searle’s comments? As he points out, every packaging material has its plusses and minuses. Cans have many plus points which are often talked about in CanTech International. If you were to list the pros and cons of most packaging types you’d end up with quite a balanced list.
At Asia CanTech last year, editorial board member Simon Jennings alluded to the fact that cans are sold on the basis of convenience. There are different ways in which consumers drink. Cans are perfect if someone wants a single drink as they offer a small size with a single opening.
Some consumers prefer to sip a drink and PET bottles are ideal for this as they offer resealability. Resealable cans and aluminium bottles have provided competition in this area but one of the problems is cost.
There is also the storing pack, one that is used for multiple use and a large size that can be resealed. PET again has this market sewn up as other packaging types just aren’t practical.
So there you have it, a consumer’s drinking habits will impact on the type of product they buy. They don’t necessarily favour one packaging type over another.
Alec Peachey
Editor
CanTech International
Never look back
2012 was an exciting year for the metal packaging industry and I for one am looking forward to 2013.
The chairman of the football club that I support works by the motto ‘Never look back’ – and over the last couple of seasons it has been best not to!
However, in many ways this motto rings true and is particularly apt as we enter a New Year. It seems that the key to success in any industry is to keep driving forward and coming up with new and innovative ideas.
We recently reported on Ball Packaging Europe reducing the weight of its 330ml aluminium cans to just under 9.5 grams. The walls of the new ultra-light can are only 0.09mm thick, thinner than a human hair.
These kind of developments will help cans retain their position as a leading packaging choice.
Alec Peachey
Editor
CanTech International
Passionate about cans
Earlier in the year I used a previous blog entry to talk about how important it is for younger talent to come through in the metal packaging industry.
There is an ageing workforce and as more specialists reach retirement age, knowledge is going to be lost.
For some, can making might not seem like the most glamorous job in the world, but having now spent some time in the industry, one thing that can’t be denied is the passion for cans held by those who work with them.
CMB Engineering is doing its best to ensure that this passion is passed on to future generations by offering an apprenticeship programme.
This scheme centres around a four-year programme of either electrical or mechanical engineering and includes time spent in formal study at college and practical experience working alongside the company’s professional engineering team. Andrew Truelove started as an apprentice at CMB and has worked his way up to plant manager. He talks about why investing in the future is important in the November issue of CanTech International.
Nowhere was passion for the industry more evident than at Asia CanTech 2012. This year’s event took place in Bangkok, Thailand. You can read a review of the event in the latest issue.
Alec Peachey
Editor
CanTech International
Getting interactive
As CanTech International enters its 20th year I wanted to bring to your attention some of the exciting things that we have been working on.
Regular visitors to the website www.cantechonline.com will have noticed that we now have a video section. Videos that show how a beverage can is produced are now available to watch online. I know that some people in the industry might be wondering why we have introduced this type of content – after all it is what you do every day. However, I think it is important to remember that the idea of these videos is to help people who are new to the industry to learn about can making. We’ve already registered more than 2,800 video views – a healthy figure that indicates sharing the content with a wider audience has been worthwhile. Please visit www.cantechonline.com/video to watch the videos or subscribe to our YouTube channel CanTechTV.
In the magazine we have started to include a new regular update on the filling market. Filling Focus will include features, news and information from the filling industry.
Asia CanTech – our annual technical conference and exhibition for can makers and fillers in the Asia-Pacific Region and their suppliers – is now fast approaching. I look forward to seeing many of you in Bangkok at the end of this month. It promises to be an exciting event.
Alec Peachey
Editor
CanTech International
A costly can
Brazillian football star Ronaldinho made a costly error when he was recently pictured drinking a can of Pepsi at a press conference for his new club Atletico Mineiro.
According to reports, he has lost a sponsorship deal with Coca-Cola which was reported to be worth up to £1 million. Reports state that the star’s contract with the drinks giant was scheduled to run until 2014 and was worth £500,000 a year.
When you consider that Pepsi sponsors Atletico Mineiro, the decision could be described as harsh. One thing’s certain – Drinking from the wrong can has never been so costly!
Alec Peachey
Editor
CanTech International
Marketing matters
I’ve been thinking about marketing and how well, or sometimes badly, the metal packaging industry promotes itself.
The sustainability message is starting to get across as can recycling rates continue to rise. However, a quick search on Google shows that more can be done. Searching ‘sustainability cans’ returns 1,930,000 results while ‘sustainability glass’ returns a staggering 12,700,000 results. That’s a massive difference. Cans have been around the longest and are the most recycled beverage container in the world. They should be at the top of any search result.
I appreciate the fact that some companies have bigger marketing budgets than others, but with a bit of imagination, great results can be achieved. A good example of a company that has achieved global coverage is Indian can maker Hindustan Tin Works. The company’s Canvironment Week campaign has grown steadily over the years. Senior vice president Atit Bhatia has helped spread the campaign’s key messages through word of mouth and by getting others on board. Two key elements that are central to the success of any marketing campaign.
I also think there is a need for more consumer-focused campaigns. The can is a great package that can be taken anywhere. Cans should be seen as cool amongst consumers, particularly the younger generation. South African based Nampak Bevcan should be applauded for its efforts in this area. Visit www.cando.sa.com to see what the company has been up to.
Improving consumer perception is key because it helps to drive sales, which leads to improved profits for everyone involved in the process.
When it comes to marketing my message to can makers, suppliers and brand owners is ‘Think big and the possibilities are endless’.
Alec Peachey
Editor
CanTech International
Sharing knowledge
I hope that everyone enjoyed the recent shows in China and America. Cannex certainly reflected the massive growth that the Chinese can market is experiencing at the moment while the IMDA’s annual conference attracted record numbers.
You can read reports on both events in the June issue of CanTech International.
I managed to catch up with CanTech International’s regular ink specialist Jack Knight while I was on the road. He told me that his regular article ‘Knight’s Knowledge’ continues to be received well. According to Jack some plants are using the articles as a training tool for employees who work in the area of metal decorating. He tells me that on some occasions he has even been asked for his autograph!
This was my intention when I first started running more technical articles. No not for Jack to be asked for his autograph, but to help people in the industry learn about different processes.
I think it is fair to say that there is an ageing workforce in the industry and that more young talent needs to come through. I don’t mean any offence by this, and all I’m trying to say is that as more specialists reach retirement age, a lot of vital knowledge is going to be lost. That’s why I think it’s important that we do our bit as a publication for the industry. If just one person learns something that helps them in their job then it has been worthwhile. Hopefully these articles can be used as a reference tool for years.
That’s why you should all take this opportunity to send questions on can filling, seaming or can and end manufacturing to another of our resident experts, Stephen Clarke from Ball. If you wish to ask Stephen a question email him at stephen.clarke@ball.com or email me at alec@bellpublishing.com and I will pass it onto him. Stephen would like to collate the best questions and answer them in his last article later in the year. So please send your questions in by no later than 31 July.
As always please don’t hesitate to contact me with any material you think would be of interest to our readership. If you don’t tell me what is happening, I won’t know!
Alec Peachey
Editor
CanTech International
The Hotcan experience
I recently tucked into spicy beef pasta from a Hotcan and I have to say I was left impressed.
For those of you unfamiliar with the concept, Hotcans are self-heating cans that feature a self-contained heating mechanism, which is activated by simply piercing the rim of the can with a provided key.
After carrying out the required piercing I think it is safe to say that I won’t be getting a job in a piercing shop. However, this action is vital as it starts off an exothermic reaction that heats the food inside the can to a perfect eating temperature in 10-12 minutes.
I have to admit that I was sceptical as to whether the food would be piping hot or just lukewarm. My scepticism was soon answered, and after seeing steam rising from the can and leaving it for the desired time, I can report that the food was nice and hot.
The food itself tasted good and provided me with the energy I needed to tackle the task of removing a pond lining from my garden. As an added bonus, I was able to use the key provided with the Hotcan to pierce the bottom of the lining and remove some of the excess water. So the Hotcan proved useful in more ways than one.
Look out for an interview with the managing director of Heat Food and Drink, the company behind Hotcan, in the May issue of CanTech International.
Alec Peachey
Editor
CanTech International