Annual competitions, both judged by experts in the can and packaging business, honour innovation in design, decoration and function.
World Aluminium Aerosol Can Awards
In September, Aerobal announced the results of it World Aluminium Aerosol Can Awards. Each year the organization recognizes one can already on the market and one package prototype.
A Dove deodorant can from the German manufacturer Tubex received the award for a product already on the market. And Ball won for its prototype of a U Homme deodorant can featuring the company’s Matt & Glossy printing style.
“Year after year this competition demonstrates…the benefits the aluminium aerosol can offers as an attractive, user-friendly and sustainable packaging solution. New print and design options, elegant shaping and not least the responsible use of resources have documented this yet again this year,” noted Gregor Spengler, secretary general of the International Organisation of Aluminium Aerosol Container Manufacturers (AEROBAL).
Visual and tactile
Ball introduced the Matte & Gloss style finish to the market just over one year ago. “We are able to leverage our cross-enterprise expertise to continually innovate and introduce industry-leading solutions, like our new Matte & Gloss printing technology, which help our customers build and differentiate their brands,” said Dan Rabbitt at the time. Rabbitt is the company’s VP and general manager.
The two-texture print finish gives Ball aerosol cans shelf appeal, useful for catching consumers’ attention. There’s a shiny/flat visual contrast to the finish as well as a slick/textured tactile distinction. Brands can use these dissimilar elements to showcase logos, highlight particular messaging, and more.
Cans of the Year
The Cans of the Year Awards, given by The Canmaker magazine, recognized a can Ball manufactures in Mexico for Unilever’s AXE body spray. The impact-extruded aluminium can received a silver award in the aerosols category.
The annual awards, which celebrate innovations in metal packaging internationally, rank containers in several categories: closures, sustainability, decoration and print, beverage, aerosol, and more. In the aerosol division a water proofer can won the top prize.
The bronze award was given to another personal care product package: Coty’s Adidas deodorant can is a three-piece welded tinplated design produced by the Portuguese company Colep.
Company know-how
Ball supplies packaging to industries including beverage, food and household products and aerospace, as well as the US government. The company manufactures aerosol cans from both steel and aluminium and is the largest North American producer of three-piece steel cans. Headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, Ball reported $8.5bn in sales last year.