Crown Holdings' executive vice-president, technology and regulatory affairs, Dr Daniel Abramowicz explained that Jetrion's proprietary flexible and formable colour inkjet inks have been used successfully to produce ultra high-resolution images on a coated metal substrate subsequently formed by traditional manufacturing processes. Abramowicz said the technology, which is suitable for both aluminium and steel cans, and uses Jetrion's prototype, single-pass, drop-on-demand inkjet system, was "ideally suited to shorter runs and just-in-time manufacturing".
He added: "Colour inkjet printing will add important new dimensions to our consumer marketing strategies by providing highly targeted, variable, market-specific messaging on cans and other packaging that is simple, fast and economical to implement."
Crown also announced a "strategic partnership" with US-based "olfaction packaging" specialist ScentSational Technologies to produce packaging employing ScentSational's patented, proprietary CompelAroma technologies. The technology adds specially engineered, FDA-approved food grade flavours within the structure of plastic packaging components (it is hoped to develop it for metal in future) at manufacture. CompelAromas can be released at point-of-sale, on opening, product preparation or consumption.
The companies plan focussing on a variety of solutions for food, beverage and other consumer products, including (eventually) metal vacuum closures, plastic closures with liners and gaskets, beverage closures, crowns, metal cans and lids.
Abramowicz adds: "Some food and drink flavours lose their flavour via processing, for instance top notes in processed orange juice. Hopefully this technology may even help replace them."
