Ball Packaging Europe has won one gold and one bronze award for two product innovations in this year's Can of the Year Award packaging competition, which took place in Singapore recently.
A gold was awarded to Ball Packaging Europe for the widget can - a container with a built-in capsule (widget) that makes the beverage froth when the can is opened. The Kenco Ice Cappio coffee drink from Kraft Foods was launched for the first time in this innovative container in the UK in the summer of 2002. When the can is opened, the widget gives rise to a creamy head of froth on the beverage. The widget can is already being used for various beer brands.
The technology also lends itself to application in other segments such as mixed milk drinks and milk shakes, yoghurt drinks and coffees. Originally, widgets were put in 0.5-liter cans for the beer segment. For Kenco Ice Cappio, Ball Packaging Europe for the first time ever inserted plastic capsules also in 0.25-litre cans.
The bronze Can of the Year Award went to Ball Packaging Europe for the laser-printed opening tab for beverage cans. Tiny drawings or symbols can be applied to the under-side of the tabs even at high production speeds using the new laser technology of Ball Packaging Europe. The company claims that the technology is useful for lottery and promotional activities: the laser-engraved tabs can be used as raffle tickets or "trading stamps".