Bringing the can to the 21st century

Opening a can with a peel-off membrane requires only around half the strength it takes to open a standard steel ring-pull can

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WHEN it chose the can as the greatest innovation of the 20th century, Britain's leading food trade journal The Grocer wrote in January 2009: "Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ones." Over a century can remains the packaging of choice when it comes to shelf life and product protection at a reasonable cost. Despite this vote in its favour, however, the can is constantly under fire because of its limited design scope, the difficulty of opening it, and its weight. At the beginning of the 1980s, an innovative closure system for cans was introduced: The peel-off membrane which, thanks to continuous development, also meets the high requirements demanded of the 21st century can. The membrane became internationally famous in the market under the name "Alufix" and is produced by the AmcorFlexibles packaging division. Peel-off membranes open up new markets How packaging is opened plays a crucial role in the acceptance of a product. For it is not only older people who want packaging that is easy to open and allows the user to take out the contents simply and cleanly. Market research and consumer studies have shown that traditional ring-pull lids often present an unpleasant challenge, in particular for children and older people. The danger of injury from contact with very sharp edges should also not be underestimated. According to one study, 25 per cent of senior citizens surveyed said that they had difficulties in opening cans, and as many as 40 per cent were of the opinion that they must apply too much strength to open them (BAGSO/Meyer-Hatchel, various studies, 1999-2003). The Amcor Alufix peel-off aluminium membrane, on the other hand, provides a completely new and uncomplicated opening experience: Opening a can with this membrane requires only around half the strength it takes to open a standard steel ring-pull can. Thanks to Amcor's years of experience, the seal parameters can be set in such a way as to guarantee both perfect sealing and easy opening by peeling off the membrane. There's plenty of scope for brand differentiation too because the modern look of the membrane often catches the eye - even when the can is still on the shelf. Lids can be custom-printed and embossed, ensuring many brilliant ways of designing an attractive shelf presentation. "Amcor Alufix is a truly successful innovation," says Bertrand Gannon, Marketing manager at Amcor Flexible Europe & Americas - not without a touch of pride. "One of our biggest clients says that they could never have imagined such high levels of productivity before starting to use our material." On the one hand, that this opening system is being used more and more all over the world simply serves to reinforce this comment, and on the other, the peel-off membrane has meanwhile become a favourite with consumers. According to a field study, 83 per cent of people surveyed said that they preferred a peel-off membrane to a ring-pull lid, as much less strength was required to open the can and because there was no risk of injury. Furthermore, 76 per cent of the test subjects even said that they would be prepared to switch to a different brand (B鰐tcher study, conducted with 200 people in France in May 2010). This result shows that the peel-off membrane is ideally suited to companies who wish to expand their market share and underline their commitment to convenience and safety. Little effort - big effect The peel-off membrane is now available for almost all fill goods and filling processes. As with standard steel lids, the covers are produced by can manufacturers and can be flanged to fit standard cans with little adjustment to packing lines required. The market potential is therefore almoAdidas Yeezy