In the beverage industry, aluminum cans have become ubiquitous, even more so than glass bottles. Store shelves and fridges are brimming with beers, ciders, seltzers, sodas, kombuchas, juices, and a plethora of other alcoholic and non-alcoholic products.
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Except in Quebec, where it is now forbidden to use shrink sleeves for your cans (more info), a choice must be made in order to offer an impactful 360° packaging: which solution to choose between shrink sleeves and direct printing on cans?
What is a shrink sleeve?
A shrink sleeve is a soft plastic tube on which the design is printed. The shrink sleeve is then wrapped around the aluminum can and heated in a piece of equipment called an “applicator”. The plastic then shrinks to perfectly conform to the shape of the container.
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What is direct-to-can printing?
With this process, the design is printed directly on the aluminum can – there’s no need for a paper label or a shrink sleeve. Depending on the budget and quality desired, this can be achieved with digital or screen printing.
Why should you pick shrink sleeves vs printed cans?
As an expert in the shrink sleeve industry in Quebec, Ontario, and the rest of Canada, IMS explains the main advantages of this technique over direct-to-can printing.
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More flexibility in your production line
- You don’t need to anticipate your order: large batches of shrink sleeves can be printed ahead of time and then applied only when your cans are ordered. With direct-to-can printing, you’ll need to anticipate and order the right number of cans.
- Lower minimum order quantity (MOQ): with direct-to-can printing, the minimum order quantity can be very high (more than 200,000 cans per order). This technique may therefore be unsuitable for small brewers or producers. With IMS, the minimum order quantity for shrink sleeves is lower than for screen printing on cans.
- Shorter lead times: when it comes to direct-to-can printing, the lead time to receive your cans is longer than with shrink sleeves – 12 weeks. Our team is available to deliver your order of shrink sleeves in 2 weeks!
- The design can easily be changed: with a shrink sleeve, you can alter your design, modify the nutrition facts table, correct any mistakes… in other words, shrink sleeves allow you to be reactive. With direct-to-can printing, you can’t go back! Your entire batch of cans will be affected.
Higher quality graphics
- Brighter graphics: a shrink sleeve is renowned for being visually impactful. The plastic film can be fully opaque or clear to show the aluminum underneath. By printing directly on the can, the graphics will be more subdued and might not be able to grab the attention of consumers.
- Unlimited colours: there is no limit to the number of colours you can use on shrink sleeves. You can even use neon colours! If you choose the direct-to-can technique, the number of Pantone colours you can use is limited.
- An attention to details: shrink sleeves can show highly precise graphics and fonts. With direct-to-can printing, the results will always be a bit blurrier.
- Finishes can be applied: with shrink sleeves, you can stand out with a glossy finish, matte or even partially matte, and produce a clever visual and tactile effect. IMS will help you create a design that’s specifically adapted to the shape of your container and your brand image. The only limit is your own creativity!