Can’t Judge a Book by its Cover? However, we all do it!

Can’t Judge a Book by its Cover?

We are not supposed to “judge a book by its cover”, but the truth is that we do. Without thinking about it, we assign a value to a product by the way that it is presented. This has lead to double and triple packaging, expensive foils, three-dimensional features and less recyclability. Some techniques are designed to catch the eye and some to make an item appear to be more substantial for the cost.

What began as food packaging during the 1800s, tins evolved to beautifully decorated commemorations. They became part of royal events in England, filled with biscuits or cakes. Even today, tins are keepsakes that remain in homes and establishments long after the original product is consumed.

Martha Stewart created a home design empire by taking ordinary, everyday items and events and making them special. Tin packaging does the same for your products. There is quite a difference between giving your loved one a paper box of chocolates and presenting a decorative tin in which to collect future love letters!

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A Decorative Tin “Homecoming”

Over the past 20 years it seemed to be a better deal to rely on overseas manufacturers for decorative tin packaging due low labor rates. The resulting cost difference was enough to offset the “unknowns”. Would quality and delivery expectations be met? Would there be invisible health or safety risks? Overseas exporters found ways address obstacles such as language barriers, time zone differences and inventory. The added costs of freight and additional time spend on logistics were addressed by using US brokers. Many brokers were simply logistics managers with no packaging expertise.

In recent years, the labor and transportation costs associated with imported packaging have escalated. Fluctuations in currency and a volatile political climate only add to the cost and delivery uncertainty. Warehousing can have its complications and risks. Product recalls of imported products from unaudited factories made national headlines.

Meanwhile back at home US manufacturers became more lean and efficient, adding significantly to their technological advancements. This not only increased thru-put and contained costs, but also improved quality. Companies that were financially sound, such as Independent Can, were able to invest and move forward. Advances in automation resulted in consistently repeatable, high quality results and better delivery time for customers.

What’s under the wrapper?

Metal Lithography
High Speed, Energy Efficient Coater

Our new coating line as arrived! It is the latest coating and oven system available. This line will be rated at 120 sheets per minute and the oven is reported to operate utilizing 20- 30% less energy than the older drying ovens while providing the cleanest exhaust. Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility by US businesses must run hand in hand. Generating less Co2 while also using less energy is good for everyone.

Competitive prices, quality and delivery certainty are just a few of the reasons that it makes more sense to Buy American. Needless to say, decorative tin business is “coming home”. Independent Can has been dedicated to manufacturing fine decorative metal packaging, as its primary focus, for more than 80 years.

For more information on the article above CONTACT US BY CLICKING HERE or call 909-923-6150

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Infinite Recyclability, Not Just Extended Life

Just about everything claims recyclability these days. From your sandwich bag to the shortened plastic caps on your water bottle, every product claims to be “earth friendly”. Often the claim of recyclability means a life cycle extension, with the ultimate destination being a land fill. The resources and energy used to reclaim the material often offset the benefits and make the product more costly.

Steel packaging is the only product that can be separated from other waste by magnet. The process of recycling steel uses 60% less energy than making new from raw materials. Steel cans can be melted down and be made into a can again or show up as part of a building, bike, automobile and more. Steel is North America’s #1 most recycled product.

The Life Cycle of a Decorative Tin

Quick Facts About Steel Packaging:

Recycling steel uses 60% less energy than making new
Every can that you buy is at least 25% recycled steel (can be as much as 60%)
Steel can be easily separated from other waste with a magnet
There are more than 2,000 scrap steel processors in the US
Every 2,000 lbs. of recycled steel saves 2,500 lbs. of iron ore, 1400 lbs. of coal and 120 lbs of limestone
Each year, more steel is recycled than glass, paper, aluminum and plastic combined

Tins have been collected and displayed in homes and restaurants for decades. The decorative tin makes a package into a high end gift, while other products add layers of packaging to make them look more substantial. The foils and laminates added to paper packaging add to the look but dimish the recyclability.

For more information visit: http://www.westernspecialty.com/sustainability/

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Good Branding Means “No Reading”

Companies like Target have mastered sophistication as well as whimsy and their style is recognizable before you even read the name. Successful branding almost means “no reading”. Your “look” becomes your brand recognition. Nothing about Target’s advertising says “discount store”. It is what they say without saying it that makes them successful.

Packaging that is classified as “disposable” can also give the impression of “ordinary”. Changes to packaging can give an image boost to a long-standing favorite. People want something new but are sometimes skeptical about “new and improved”. They don’t want their favorite product to change.

Nestle Turtles Brand Retro and 60th Anniversary Tins

Taking that familiar look from a paper or plastic container to decorative tin gives the “fans” a collectable to refill with their favorite while also attracting the attention of new buyers. A gift could be an introduction for a product to a new consumer. A product in a package that gives a higher perceived value is more likely to be chosen.

Good branding satisfies more than one of the senses. Other forms of advertising may use music or catchy slogans. It’s not all about look. Tins have a tactile appeal but you only have about 5 seconds to make someone want to come over and pick it up! High-quality graphics on bright tin are the eye-catcher.


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Whats New At Independent Can Company - Summer 2011

Whats New At Independent Can Company - Summer 2011

Steady Improvement:

We are now halfway through 2011 and our business has steadily improved; returning more to pre-recession levels. Our improvements have been driven more by new projects that began in 2010 that are now showing steady results, while our traditional customers are slowly and cautiously returning to historical levels.

Those that have done the best are companies that have diversified their product offerings and invested in new processes and improvements. Doing only what has worked in the past will not work in the future.

I have just returned from a global meeting of the International Packaging Association (IPA) in Italy. Independent Can Company is one of the 15 members of this organization. The IPA membership is made up of independent can makers located around the world. There were a number of reports from all showing steady economic improvement globally. The key points of discussion were as follows:

o Consumer trends

o Alternative packaging

o Sustainability

o Product safety

o Value

o Investment

The season has begun:

2011 to date has been a good year and we are looking for this trend to continue. By of May 1st each year we begin to have strong indications as to what the gift-giving season will look like. At this time the major tin users begin to place printing orders for their fall requirements. From this data we are able to judge the fall activities by the printing backlog, and this year is shaping up to be a good year.

We want to thank those who have placed orders for their initial tin requirements and ask all customers to think and plan ahead for what you might need for the season. If we are aware of a potential needs we will be able to factor in your specific requirement, inform you of scheduling information and meet your critical dates.

On the tooling side:
This has been a very active first half of the year. With our normal overhaul schedule we have made extensive improvements in a number of areas although the tapered popcorn lines have had the most attention improving quality and automation.

We have two new can lines being established that will begin operations in the next 3-6 months. One line will automate a round can assembly that was semi-automatic and the second line is a new product offering which will open an entirely new market for Independent Can.

Lithography: Coating and Printing:

Over the past several years we have focused on becoming the most effective metal decorator in the United States. Currently we are the only company operating the latest continuous grip Metalstar II lines having a 6 color and 4 color line. The 6 color has a UV coater trailing the prints allowing one pass work for up to 6 colors.

This spring we installed the latest pre-press software allowing the fastest and most accurate art and plate development available.

Currently we are preparing for the arrival of a new coating line which will be the latest coating and oven system available. This line will be rated at 120 sheets per minute and the oven is reported to operate utilizing 20- 30% less energy than the older drying ovens while providing the cleanest exhaust. Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility must run hand in hand; generating less Co2 while also using less energy is good for everyone.

The new line should start up on or about November 1, 2011.

A global observation:

As many of our customers are aware we are one of the largest specialty tin manufacturers in the United States, although you may not know we are also one of the largest importers of decorative and specialty packaging from around the world (tins, plastic packaging and glass). We want to supply the packaging that our customers need whether we make it or source it for them, while acknowledging that an increasing percentage of our customer base is consistently asking for packaging “Made in America.”

Users of tins and other packaging from Asia and other low cost countries have recognized that costs are going up rapidly due to inflation along with the cost of logistics (moving the goods from Asia). We are proud to say that products once only competitive from overseas are now being competitively made here in the United States.

Thank you to all of our customers for your loyalty and for challenging us to be as good a supplier as we possibly can be.

Rick Huether

President and CEO

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High Definition Printing on Metal

We are frequently asked, “How do you get the paint to stay on the tin?” The printing process that we use is called metal flat sheet lithography. The inks and coatings are bonded to a flat sheet of metal by chemical reaction with either heat or untraviolet curing. A protective varnish is applied to the entire sheet of metal at the end of the process. From there, the printed metal is cut or blanked in preparation for manufacturing the individual cans.

Although there are many ways to customize a tin besides labeling, lithography produces the best qualilty image. Annually there are contests to recognize the best in a little-known print category called “Metal Decorating”.

This year the International Metal Decorators Association recongnized Independent Can with the 2011 Award of Excellence, and 2011 Best of Category.

2011 Award of Excellence, International Metal Decorators Association

2011 Best of Category, International Metal Decorators Association

To learn more about Independent Can Company and our high def printing call us at 909-923-6150 or contact us by clicking here

 

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NASFT Summer Fancy Food Show - Washington DC

Independent Can Company is getting ready for the up coming Summer NASFT Fancy Food Show in Washington DC.   We are going to be showing many of our new Stock Designs as well as some of the newest shapes and sizes of tins available today.

We will also be showing our full line of PET Jars and Bottles, Plastic Containers, Metal Closures, and much much more.   If you are looking for a new package or just looking for an alternative to your current packaging you should take a few minutes and stop by booth 1107. Just ask for Ryan, Matt, or Joyce.

Ryan D. Huether
909-923-6150
INDEPENDENT CAN WEB SITE
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