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 [email protected] or email me at [email protected] 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!