World Aluminium Aerosol selects can award winners

The winners of the World Aluminium Aerosol Can Awards 2013 were presented at this year’s Aerobal congress, the global association for manufacturers of aluminium aerosol cans.

A truly global competition, the 18 Aerobal members with their production facilities in Europe, North and South America, Asia, Australia and Africa account for about 75% of production worldwide. The jury that chose the best aerosol cans was no less capable or globally active: editors from 12 well-known and respected packaging publications – including CanTech International – selected the winners once again this year.

The coveted award for products already on the market went to Tubex from Germany for its aluminium aerosol can for the ‘wellaflex’ brand. The can attracts great attention at the point of sale: in the middle there is a break in the embossing around a large ‘W’ and ‘F’ in order to create space to print the brand name ‘wellaflex’. This is a solution that is as demanding to implement as it is persuasive; besides an unusually fascinating appearance, it also offers the consumer an impressive haptic experience. Thanks to optimisation of the process steps, the rate of production for this can is not lower than it is for a conventional can without embossing.

The first prize in the Prototypes category also went to Tubex for its ‘Autumn’ aerosol can (pictured). This can is an excellent example of how it is possible to achieve barely conceivable results using modern, innovative printing techniques and appropriate special inks. Digital printing reproduces a photo-realistic image of a young woman with perfect and extremely fine nuances in the skin tones, right down to the highlights in her cheekbones. The autumnally coloured leaves serve as contrast to the intensive colour of the black hair.

“The jury’s decision is a clear indication of where the development of the aerosol can is heading,” explains Gregor Spengler, secretary general of Aerobal. “In addition to its unique barrier properties, its high standards of reliability and quality as a result of it being a one-piece can, and its good recyclability, the aluminium can scores above all because of the interesting possibilities it offers when it comes to printing and shaping. Here, it is increasingly making greater use of its advantages over other comparable forms of packaging. For the client’s market activities, it thus offers a whole host of additional opportunities to convey visual effects and brand images and to appeal to customers emotionally and effectively at the point of sale.”