Ashared appreciation of premiumScotch whisky and that mostsocial of games, golf, have been
combined in the winner of the Can of theYear for 2015, a secondary containermade by Virojanglor to contain a limited-edition bottle of Ballantine’s premiumtipple.
For the Paris-based fancy canmanufacturer, it’s the second Can of theYear win in four years after success witha Chivas Regal container in 2012.
Again, spectacularly high designdemands were achieved by Virojanglor,with an irregularly-shaped containerfeaturing a drawn lid in the shape of agolf club signed by no less a golfing starthan Ian Poulter, founding captain of theBallantine’s Golf Club.
Appropriately, The Canmakermagazine’s Cans of the Year Awardswere presented at that most celebratedof golfing venues, the Gleneagles Hotelin Scotland, at the end of October afterthis issue went to press.
The overall Can of the Year winnerfrom Virojanglor was just one of anumber of brilliant Gold Awardrecipients that represented the very bestof canmaking technology producedcommercially over the past year.
While the Ballantine’s metalcontainer showed the level of qualitythat could be achieved with acombination of fabrication techniques,the other Gold Awards were given for a
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Aerosol Cans: Ball Corporation,
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Bottles: Daiwa Can
Company, Japan
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Food Two-Piece: Ardagh Group,
France
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Beverage Two-Piece &
Sustainability: Kaveh Aluminum
Can Company, Iran
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General Line: Foshan HumeiGroup, China
In this year’s international Cans of the Year Awards,backed by The Canmaker, the winner was a secondarypack that reflected the craft of its contents. John Nutting reviews the Gold award winners
number of breakthrough techniques,such as label design, recycled content,new market development, processapplication, coatings technology, andsheer audacity.
The Ballantine’s distillery, based atDumbarton on the River Clyde west ofGlasgow, is owned by French-basedspirits group Pernod Ricard, and itswhisky products have been associatedwith golf for many years.
The first version of Ballantine’s GolfLimited Edition packaging was createdin 2010 to build a link between theproduct and sales in golf sponsorship,and particularly the Ballantine’sChampionship, the largest golf event inKorea and the fourth-largesttournament in Asia.
At first, the focus was to reinforce thebrand values and the premium status of
the Ballantine’s prestige range byadding golfing items such as brandedgolf balls and tees into the pack.
But when London agency NudeBrand Creation (NBC) became involvedin 2011, the emphasis was placed on thepack itself. NBC’s Sophie Wagstaffetakes up the story.
“We felt that the accompanying itemswere quite functional and not fittingwith an iconic whisky for discerningconsumers – they undermined thequality, luxury cues which Ballantine’srepresented,” says Wagstaffe.
“Ballantine’s wanted to create the2015 Limited Edition pack thatcontinued to honour, showcase andreinforce the shared values,provenance and heritage betweenBallantine’s Scotch whisky and golf.They were keen to put more emphasison the packaging as being a desirableitem, as well as the whisky itself.”
Wagstaffe continues: “We wanted
consumers to see the pack as acollectable item rather than somethingdisposable.
“Luxury packaging shoulddemonstrate expertise in craft, and ininvestment in skill and time. The
classic, iconic shape of a golf club headbecame our inspiration – with abespoke, luxury tin being formedaround the shape to directly appeal toconsumers that have a shared
appreciation of good whisky and golf.”The biggest challenge in the design
and production process at Virojanglorwas ensuring the purity and distinctivegolf club shape of the lid, says Wagstaffe.
“Complex curves and surfaces neededto combine to create somethingcompletely bespoke for the pack, whichwas secure and suitable for frequenthandling.
“In terms of finish, a premiumcombination of metal, leatherette paperand authentic stitching were used tocover the tin, with further crafting ofembossed and debossed metal effectsand applied hot-foil branding details.This combination of modern, tactilefinishes resulted in a highly crafted andengaging tin design.”
And it was this that drew theattention of The Canmaker magazine’sexpert judging team who agreed that theVirojanglor container best representedthe highest standards in canmaking.“This was beautiful use of materials.This is definitely my winner,” said one ofthe judges.
A close runner to Virojanglor for theCan of the Year 2015 was Foshan HumeiGroup in China for its spectacular 18-litre rectangular tinplate tin for DeligaoIndustrial adhesive, which won the Goldaward in the General Line category.
With striking holographic effects,Humei’s tin is manufactured usingpolyester-laminated tinplate. ThePET film is pre-printed, enablingcost savings to be made in stocks,and laminated on demand beforefabrication.
Humei is a relatively youngcanmaker based insouthern Chinathat has neverused conventional
CANS OF THE YEAR AWARDS
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Beverage Three-Piece: Daiwa Can
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Food Three-Piece: Pirlo, Austria
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DECORATION &PRINT QUALITY:Shetron, India
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Prototype: ORG Packaging,
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Ends, Caps &Closures:
Can Pack MetalClosures, Poland
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CAN OF THE YEAR
Can of the Year2015 & Fancy Cans: Virojanglor, France
CAN OF THE YEAR 2015Virojanglor, FranceDecorated tinplate secondary container with embossed lid for Pernod Ricard, Ballantine’s Golf Limited Edition whisky
AEROSOL CANSGold: Ball Corporation, USAImpact-extruded aluminium can for Schwarzkopf & Henkel, FadeodorantSilver: Ball Aerocan, EuropeImpact-extruded aluminium can for Laboratoires Venus Sapeco, ExpertdeodorantBronze: Aryum, TurkeyImpact-extruded aluminium can for Aerofa Aerosol Dolum, D’Arcydeodorant
BEVERAGE THREE-PIECEGold: Daiwa Can Company, Japan200ml welded tinplate can for DyDo Drinco, Demitasse coffeeSilver: ORG Packaging, ChinaWelded tinplate can for Fujian Zishan Group, Zi Shan juiceBronze: Huber Packaging, Germany5-litre welded tinplate keg for Rogue Ales & Spirits, Yellow Snow IPA beer
BEVERAGE TWO-PIECEGold: Kaveh Aluminum Can Company, Iran330ml D&I aluminium can for Pakban Food Industries, Doogh yoghurtdrinkSilver: Can-Pack, UK500ml D&I aluminium can for Font Salem, Yellow Cab beerBronze: Can-Pack, UK500ml D&I aluminium can for Molson Coors, Grolsch beerBronze: Rexam, Austria500ml D&I aluminium can for SABMiller, Pilsner Urquell beer
BOTTLESGold: Daiwa Can Company, JapanPolyester-coated drawn aluminium can for The Coca-Cola Company(Japan), Coca-Cola/Coca-Cola ZeroSilver: ALeco Container, USAD&I aluminium can for Can Core Concepts, Cherry Bomb Cola CO2extracted cannabis beverage
Bronze: CCL Container, USAImpact-extruded aluminium can for Vitani Spirits, Vitani Martini vodkacocktail
DECORATION & PRINT QUALITYGold: Shetron, IndiaThree-piece welded tinplate can for GRB Dairy Foods, GRB Gulab JamunconfectionerySilver: Can-Pack, UK500ml D&I aluminium can for Molson Coors, Grolsch beerBronze: Meister, BrazilLock-seam tinplate can with slip lid for Cocamar coffee
ENDS, CAPS & CLOSURESGold: Can Pack Metal Closures, PolandHalf-matt crown caps for Anheuser-Busch InBev Deutschland, Beck’s beerSilver: Rexam, Germany202 aluminium beverage end with cut-out tab for Carlsberg beerBronze: PT Sinar Djaja Can, Indonesia Quarter-club aluminium easy-open end for CV Pasific Harvest, Mara Moja /Dinda sardines
FANCY CANSGold: Virojanglor, FranceDecorated tinplate secondary container with embossed lid for PernodRicard, Ballantine’s Golf Limited Edition whiskySilver: Crown Aerosols & Speciality Packaging, UKLock-seam tinplate secondary container for Pernod Ricard, Ballantine’swhisky bottleBronze: Meister, BrazilLock-seam tinplate can with slip lid for Cocamar coffeeBronze: Envases Metálicos Eurobox, SpainLock-seam tinplate can with slip lid for Antonio Puig, Carolina Herreraperfume
FOOD THREE-PIECEGold: Pirlo, AustriaThree-piece welded tinplate can with screw cap for various customers &brands’ syrups and other hot-filled productsSilver: PT Sinar Djaja Can, Indonesia
Three-piece welded tinplate can with easy-open end and plastic lid for PTSantos Jaya Abadi, Kapal Api - Luwak coffeeBronze: Shetron, IndiaThree-piece welded tinplate can for GRB Dairy Foods, Gulab JamunconfectioneryBronze: Brasilata, BrazilThree-piece welded tinplate can with plastic lid for Pipó Comércio deAlimentos Gourmet, Pipó popcorn
FOOD TWO-PIECEGold: Ardagh Group, FranceD&I steel can for ConAgra Food, Hunts tomato based productsSilver: ORG Packaging, ChinaDrawn polymer-laminated steel can for Shandong Yuankang Foods, FruitTime canned fruitBronze: Metalgráfica Renner, BrazilDrawn tinplate can with vacuum lid for Hercosul Alimentos, Biofresh -Super Premium dog food
GENERAL LINEGold: Foshan Humei Group, ChinaThree-piece welded tinplate can for Deligao Industrial adhesiveSilver: Foshan Humei Group, ChinaThree-piece welded tinplate can for Foshan Soba paintBronze: Metalgráfica Renner, BrazilThree-piece welded tinplate can for Tintas Renner - PPG, Rekolor Pró paint
PROTOTYPEGold: ORG Packaging, ChinaThree-piece welded tinplate can for coffeeSilver: F. Ceredi, ItalyThree-piece welded tinplate can with twist off closureBronze: Packaging Products del PeruMetal saving blanking system for crown caps
SUSTAINABILITYGold: Kaveh Aluminum Can Company, Iran330ml D&I aluminium can for Pakban Food Industries, Doogh yoghurt canSilver: Ardagh Group, FranceD&I steel can for ConAgra Food, Hunts tomato based productsBronze: Metalgráfica Renner, BrazilDrawn tinplate can with vacuum lid for Hercosul Alimentos, Biofresh -Super Premium dog food.
CANS OF THE YEAR AWARDS
CATEGORY WINNERS
lithography in its manufacturingoperations. One of the judges said: “Thisspectacular 18-litre rectangular can,normally a dowdy product, now sparklesthanks to the film-lamination andholographic effects. It’s a highlyimpressive manufacturingachievement.”
In the Aerosols category, Gold waswon by Ball Corporation for its impact-extruded aluminium can forSchwarzkopf & Henkel’s deodorantbrand Fa. Ball was able to reduce thecontainer’s weight by 11 percent with theuse of an aluminium alloy that included25 percent recycled content derived frombeverage can process waste. “The can isthinner but stronger,” said a judge, “soyou can use less material.”
There was an interesting story behindthe winner of Gold in the Two-pieceBeverage can category, which was wonby Kaveh Aluminum Can, the canmakerin Iran that is owned by Middle Eastbottling giant Aujan Industries.
Although an otherwise conventional330ml D&I aluminium can for the Dooghyoghurt drink produced by Pakban FoodIndustries, it played a part in expandinga growing market for the product.
Pakban’s Doogh yoghurt was alreadypopular in Iran but a better packagewith longer ambient shelf life wasneeded. Kaveh rose to the occasion bydeveloping processable coatings toincrease the shelf life to 60 days, 15 morethan with PET bottles. Sales farexceeded original estimates. “This can isa success story and that’s why I like it,”said one of the judges.
Another candidate for the Can of theYear award came from the Bottlecategory, which frequently providesinnovative new styles of metalpackaging. This time Gold was won byJapan’s Daiwa Can Co, last year’soverall winner, for its new approach to aCoca-Cola bottle.
Daiwa’s take on the Coke signatureshape uses its long-standing New BottleCan technology which uses redrawnpolyester-coated aluminium coil, andincorporates smooth necking andwaisting processes. “It’s about gettingbetter economics and use of material,”said one judge. “The original is an iconicglass bottle and this is the first time it’sbeen replicated with this technology.”
Daiwa also won Gold in the BeverageThree-piece category for its 200ml
welded tinplate can for ready-to-drinkDemitasse coffee produced in Japan byDyDo Drinco.
The market for canned coffee soldfrom vending machines in Japan is ahuge 10 billion units a year, and thequality of the packaging is spectacular,with Daiwa’s shaped can being animpressive example. A judge said: “It’s abeautiful can, I like it because of thequality of it, and the density of its
decoration and lacquering.”In the Ends Caps & Closures
category, Can-Pack Metal Closures inPoland repeated its Gold award winfrom last year with a clever crown capprinted with gloss and matt finishesfor Beck’s beer, which is produced inGermany by Anheuser-Busch InBev.It’s the first time, says the company,that such a finish has been used tocreate a distinctive and premiumeffect.
The traditional-looking tinplate canwith a screw-top entered by Pirlo in theThree-piece Food category concealed asecret. And once revealed, it wasenough to win the Gold award.
The hot filling of viscous productssuch as syrups could collapse a can’sbody as they cool. But the can from theAustrian canmaker uses analuminium membrane seamed into thebottom that draws into the can toprevent collapse. There’s a small holein the base to let the air in. “This is avery cleverly made concept,” said ajudge.
Even more subtle to the uneducatedeye was the Gold winner in the Two-piece Food category. The performanceof D&I tinplate cans for tomatoproducts relies very much on theinternal lacquer. In the can producedby Ardagh for ConAgra’s Hunt’s brandin the US, the internal lacquer ispartial at the top and bottom, and issaid to better protect the tomatoesfrom oxidation, even after two years.
Recognition for Decoration & PrintQuality is also covered in the Cans ofthe Year. Gold winner was India’sShetron for its superb reproduction ofconfectionary on a three-piece weldedcan produced for GRB Dairy Foods.
Canmaking designs that are underdevelopment are covered in thePrototype category. China’s ORGPackaging, which is developing film-lamination techniques, won the Goldaward for the way it had incorporatedthe feature into the ends of a 200mlheat-process three-piece welded canwith an embossed body.
Finally, Sustainability is a subjectclose to the hearts of all canmakers,and is found in many aspects of thebusiness. Kaveh Aluminum Can wonthe Gold award this year because itsDoogh yoghurt cans extend the shelflife of the product. “That ticks thesustainability box for me,” said ajudge, and the others on the panelagreed.
* The Silver and Bronze awardwinners will be reviewed in followingissues.
Virojanglor’s Can of the Year: A demonstration of craft and skillThe packaging for Ballantine’s Golf Limited Edition whisky (pictured opposite) had to be a desirable itemthat reflected its production expertise in craft and investment in skill in time. This was met with a “bespoke,luxury tin formed around the golf club shape that would appeal to consumers with a shared appreciationof good whisky and golf,” said Sophie Wagstaffee of Nude Creative Design.
