In the last couple of years, aluminum cans have been experiencing a renaissance thanks to craft beer and other beverage markets using cans instead of bottles. There are numerous reasons behind the re-emergence of cans, like cost, freshness, portability, and sustainability, but there’s another one you may not be too familiar with– shrink sleeves. Printing directly onto cans has been a deterrent for some manufacturers due to cost, but shrink-sleeving cans have become an attractive alternative. In this article, we’ll explain how custom shrink sleeves for cans benefit beverage manufacturers and what you need to know before making the switch.
What’s Behind The Growing Popularity Of Cans?
Cans are typically associated with large beer and soda brands, but that’s starting to change as more start-ups and small manufacturers choose cans over bottles. Below are some key reasons behind the growing popularity of cans in the craft beer, soda, and energy drink markets:
- Cans are more portable: cans can go places where glass bottles can’t, like parks, beaches, and golf courses. Also, cans weigh less than bottles, making them cheaper to transport.
- Cans preserve freshness: cans have excellent light-blocking capabilities and an adequate oxygen barrier, which is particularly beneficial for keeping products fresh longer.
- Cans are innovative: new types of cans and interesting new features make them more appealing to manufacturers.
- Cans are changing perceptions: Manufacturers have shown that quality products can come in cans and look incredibly cool on the shelf, making them more appealing to consumers.
- Cans are Popular with Millenials: cans have found favor with craft beer-loving hipsters and millennials, which has also helped change mainstream consumers’ perceptions of them.
- Cans are changing the market: business innovations in the can market have made it easier for smaller brands to use cans, thanks to smaller-scale canning lines, mobile canning services, and shrink sleeves, to name a few.
There are many advantages to using cans, but there are also challenges. For example, printing directly onto blank cans often involves minimum order requirements, which can be too expensive or require far larger quantities than a small manufacturer needs. Custom shrink sleeves for cans are an alternative, helping small manufacturers overcome that challenge to enjoy the benefits of cans.
Why You Should Shrink Sleeve Your Cans
Shrink sleeve labels, commonly known as “shrink sleeves,” are a specialized print product that form-fits a container with 360-degree graphics coverage. Shrink sleeves are printed on the inside of a durable film, protecting the printed image from moisture and abrasion. Unlike pressure-sensitive labels that have an adhesive and are applied by pressure, shrink sleeves have no adhesive and are shrunk onto the container using mechanical shrinking equipment like a steam tunnel (preferred method), radiant heat tunnel, hot air tunnel, or hybrid tunnel (combines heat and steam).
Using shrink sleeves for cans is relatively new in the packaging world, but it’s quickly gaining popularity for the following reasons:
- More packaging and design flexibility: manufacturers can buy blank cans in bulk and apply shrink sleeves to only the amount they need at that moment. This flexibility means that the manufacturer isn’t stuck with a more significant number of pre-printed cans than it needs. You can change your design using the same cans with new shrink sleeves!
- Visually appealing: With limitless design options and high-definition print quality, your shrink sleeves will turn some heads. We also have HD flexo printing technology, making achieving smoother, sharper images easier, more intense and consistent ink laydown, and a more comprehensive range of color tones.
- Unique design features: Customize your shrink sleeves as little or as much as you want with our unique printing options, such as foil accents, texture, holographic patterned film, or matte finishes.
How to Apply Shrink Sleeves on Cans: Machines and Techniques
Applying shrink sleeves on cans is a meticulous process that plays a crucial role in the overall appearance of canned products. The quality of the application directly impacts the visual appeal of the cans, making it essential to use the correct equipment and techniques to achieve a professional look.
Below is a comprehensive step-by-step guide to effectively applying shrink sleeves on cans.
1. Prepare Cans
An easy but reliable way to prevent your cans from damaging their designs is to ensure they are clean and free of dust, moisture, and contaminants. According to reporter Tom Philpott, it can contain epoxy with bisphenol A (BPA) retained in the aluminum. If handled and cleaned correctly, this chemical doesn’t react; if not, it can have severe health consequences.
Cleaning cans before applying shrink sleeves is essential to ensure that sleeves adhere correctly.
- Rinse thoroughly with water: begin by rinsing the cans with clean, warm water to remove loose dirt, dust, or debris.
- Use mild detergent and rinse: prepare a solution of mild detergent and warm water. Submerge the cans in this solution and gently scrub the exterior using sponges.
- Dry completely: dry the cans using clean, link-free cloths or air drying.
2. Use a Shrink Sleeve Applicator
There are several options for automatic applicators, ideal for larger production volumes, that can help speed up application processes. Some of these include:
Shrink Sleeve Applicators:
Ideal for larger production volumes. These machines automatically place the shrink sleeve over the can at high speeds, ensuring consistent alignment and reducing manual labor.
- Direct-apply and rotary-fed shrink sleeve applicators are designed to place shrink sleeves directly onto the container. They are automatically cut and applied directly into the container, helping the shrink sleeve be applied directly onto the container.
- Tamper-evident direct applicator apply shrink sleeves with tamper-evident features directly onto the can containers. They ensure the packaging has a security feature that shows if the product has been opened.
Heat Shrinking Sleeve Applicators:
Once the sleeve is placed on the can, it must be shrunk to fit securely. Tamper-evident tunnels are the most common method used in the industry. Some applicators include:
- Tamper-evident heat shrink tunnel applicators: specialized machines that apply tamper-evident shrink sleeves to containers using a funnel-like mechanism. After the sleeve is applied, the container is passed through a heat tunnel or exposed to a heat source that helps the shrink sleeve be tight around the container.
- Shrink sleeve steam tunnel machines: use steam instead of direct heat to shrink the sleeves. The bottles go through a tunnel, releasing steam at controlled temperatures and pressures. This is particularly beneficial for containers with complex shapes or detailed graphics on the shrink sleeves.
For more insight into label applicators for cans, check out this Shrink Sleeve Label Applicator Guide.
3. Quality Control
After shrinking, it is essential to inspect the cans to ensure that the sleeves are correctly aligned and free of tears, wrinkles, or bubbles. This can be achieved by inspecting them with high-speed cameras and sensors that can be integrated into the production line.
Shrink sleeves can create an attractive packaging solution, but before you place an order, please note that you will need mechanical shrinking equipment or outsource to a co-packer to get the sleeves on the cans. While these options aren’t cheap, making that initial investment can save you money in the long run compared to the costs and design limitations of pre-printed cans.
