Shaped Cans
Can technology has developed beyond down gauging (saving costs) and beading profiles (improving strength) to combine high quality printing with innovative shapes creating a new generations of containers for consumers. Based on our know-how in cans for seafood, we have built up considerable expertise in the forming of two piece cans in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, initially in aluminium and now increasingly in steel.
Three piece steel cans are also able to be shaped and Impress has developed new technology to improve speed to market and make this process widely available to our factories. To accelerate and streamline the development of new body shapes, Impress has an R&D section dedicated to design engineering, with 3-D modelling of the can and its tooling. In this way customer ideas and new concepts can be visualized rapidly on screen in different configurations.
New lacquers can be applied which give different textures to the can, creating a new experience for the consumer and providing a further range of opportunities for marketing professionals.
Printed Cans
A significant part of our business produces printed products - more than any other can manufacturer. The skills and techniques needed to successfully print metal sheets to our rigorous quality standards are shared by all five Impress Divisions. A dedicated R&D team tracks the latest developments in printing process and technology and leads change projects throughout the Impress Group.
We have developed particular expertise in `pre-distortion` printing for shaped cans as well as high fidelity print capabilities across Europe where standard colours and pre-press techniques are used to enhance print quality and reduce process costs. Recent investment in rationalising and upgrading our print facilities is supported by two in-house graphic centres.
