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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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

If you would like any more information on topics contained in this post please 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
CONTACT US

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Independent Can Company is heading to Metpack in Germany

Once again in 2011, METPACK will be the most important event for metal packaging professionals from around the world, and Independent Can Company will be there to work with our vendors and partners to continue the process of bringing the highest quality metal packaging to the North American market. METPACK will start from May 10th and go until May 14th 2011. Products and services from the worlds top metal packaging industry suppliers will be presented.

This show will help solidify projects currently on the table and will definitely lead to ideas for future projects that we should be working on in the future.

Are you coming to Metpack?

Ryan D. Huether
CONTACT US
Independent Can Company
http://www.Independentcan.com

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Decorative Snap Covers For Hermetic Cans!!

Ryan D. Huether
Independent Can Company
Http://www.westernspecialty.com
CONTACT US

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Packaging Trends

At the 2010 Pack Expo show late last year, a panel of experts representing several leading consumer products companies (P&G, Kraft, Pepsico, Conagra, Heinz) gathered to answer the question: what are the key factors driving packaging choices today? In summary, the panel mentioned the sustainability of the package, its impact on brand value, and its overall impact on production efficiency as being the key drivers of packaging innovation. The entire article presented in Packaging Digest’s January 2011 edition can be seen at www.packagingdigest.com/2011trends.

Independent Can has been a member of the International Packaging Association (IPA) for 15 years, a group of 15 canmakers from 14 countries. At our recent Marketing Meeting in Dubai (U.A.E.), we posed the same question to our members, but from the standpoint of the metal package. What are the key issues in our industry and with our package that we as canmakers need to direct investment towards, in order to address the challenges of our customers in an increasingly competitive global environment?

Investment in cost reduction was at the top of everyone’s list as we all look to offset inflationary trends in the cost of raw materials. Independent Can has invested heavily in sheet fed presses to blank parts more efficiently while reducing changeover times between jobs. We have investigated the downgauging of steel for several items and have consolidated many of our steel specifications in order to allow us more control over steel quality and cost, while reducing lead times. We have also automated the packaging of many of our products. But our largest investments have been in the area of printing, which we now refer to as Hi-Def Lithography, with significant impacts on quality, lead time reduction, and costs.
Sharing the story of the metal can’s sustainability, chiefly recycling properties, was a close second in our informal survey. Steel is the most heavily recycled material in the world, easily separated in recycling centers with magnets, and on average newly produced steel is composed of 56% recycled materials. Steel is infinitely recyclable, and can always be recycled into new steel products, in comparison to plastics which will eventually must be placed in a landfill. We also have a sustainability story to share as a company as we have reduced our energy consumption significantly as we invest in energy saving solutions plant wide, and raise the level of awareness within our employee base on the consumption of many plant and office materials.

Product innovation is also a primary concern among the members of the can manufacturing community. Independent Can developed 10 new domestic can concepts in 2010 and is focused on many new projects for 2011. “Innovation” can mean many things to many people, but often we need to look beyond shape and appearance in packaging. Innovation in metal packaging can represent shape, functionality, automation, design, varnish/appearance, and the many ways we continually improve our operations and look to reduce costs. In these respects Independent Can is truly innovative.

Please make sure to look to our “What’s New” section of our website www.westernspecialty.com for frequent updates and information regarding Independent Can and our products.

Ryan D Huether
909-923-6150
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http://www.canvironmentweek.com/

Independent Can Company Manufactures New Pocket Tin for Wonka Fruit Marvels

In 2010 Independent Can Company produced the 302 x 013 Slip Cover pocket tin for Wonka Fruit Marvels. You can view this package as well as other information related to Wonka Fruit Marvels at Candy Blog

This tin utilizes the reflective nature of the tin by printing the artwork directly over the tin plate with no white undercoat. This gives the design a reflective / metallic look.

For information on how Independent Can Company can help design a tin for your specific packaging needs please call 909-923-6150 or Contact Us by Clicking Here


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NEW HEART SHAPE TIN

Introducing Independent Can Company's new heart shape tin. This new tin is called the "#3 Heart".

Size (US): 9-5/8" x 9-3/16" x 1-5/8" HT (STOCK PROGRAM HEIGHT)
Size (Metric): 244mm x 233mm x 41mm HT (STOCK PROGRAM HEIGHT)
Description: Heart shaped locked seam tin

This tin has been tooled in our Belcamp Maryland USA plant and is available both in our stock program (Red) packed in cartons of 24 and also through our custom programs where you can add your own artwork and/or embossing.  Additionally this is a SBC Tin which allows us the flexibility to adjust the height of the tin from as short as 1-5/8" HT up to a maximum of about 12" HT without additional tooling cost.

If you would like additional information on the #3 Heart Tin please call us at 909-923-6150 or Contact Us by Clicking Here

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Article From: http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/Packaging/Food-cans-reach-two-hundredth-birthday 

For more information on Tin Cans for packaging CLICK HERE. 

"Food cans reach two hundredth birthday

19-Aug-2010

Related topics: Packaging

The US Can Manufacturers Institute is inviting the world to celebrate the two hundredth birthday of the food can on August 25 2010.

It traces the advent of the food can to the patent granted to British inventor Peter Durand on August 25, 1810 for his idea to store preserved food in tinplate vessels.
Two hundred years later, there are more than 600 sizes and styles of cans being manufactured, according to the institute. Consumers worldwide buy more than 1,500 different food items from all over the globe at any time of year.
Innovative design still continues in the form of molded and shaped cans, cans with multiple graphic capabilities, easy-open cans, and microwavable cans, said the institute.
Meanwhile, US consumers alone diverted more than 1.5m tonnes of steel cans from landfills, contributing to the more than 82 million tons of steel recycled last year
The institute estimated that the can manufacturing business to be worth $14.9bn each year. "

For more information on Tin Cans for packaging CLICK HERE.

Article From: http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/Packaging/Food-cans-reach-two-hundredth-birthday

Independent Can Company - NOVEMBER NEWS

2010 has been a much better year than we had expected it to be; although the markets do remain fragile and everyone is cautious as we approach the busiest gift giving time of the year.

I am writing this update to the What’s New about 1 week before Thanksgiving and I must say that we are very busy fulfilling orders for stock tins. Business has been good although everyone is waiting until the very last minute to place their orders. We have been able to handle most all of the rush orders with very few substitutions. We want to thank everyone for their patience and cooperation as we all know the Holidays can be very stressful.

The new added capacity in the printing department has really been a life saver. This is the first year in my career where our lead time in season has not extended beyond 2 to 3 weeks. Repeat orders have gone very smoothly.

 

As the fall begins to wind down and you are working on a cleanup order you may want to think about adding a few Easter and spring tins to your last order. By doing this you may be able to reduce the freight cost by combining seasonal volumes and achieve better price level on the price list, and beat an anticipated price increase that is expected in the first quarter of 2011.

Custom tin and packaging buyers: As you consider packaging for the next year or two you should look closer at TINS Made in America. Over the past few years there has been silent inflation building in the goods coming from the (believed to be) low cost countries. In addition to the subtle increases the logistic costs and Home Land Security issues have posed some challenges. While the costs of buying from overseas has been increasing, we have been investing in more productive equipment and systems to respond to your needs more quickly, accurately and more cost effectively.

New product development: In addition to improved productivity we have a number of new products under development. The first to arrive will be a new heart tin (See Below) just in time for Valentine’s day. Please check with your sales representative about other new additions to our product lines.

The tin can is one of the GREENEST packages in the market place and one of the only packages you can use that gets reused over and over and over again. When the tin begins to look a little beat up it many end up being sold in antique markets or ultimately recycled. The tin can is 100% recyclable and will be reused as a tin can again or one of the hundreds of applications that steel is used for from buildings to ships to bridges and you know what; steel never loses its exceptional properties of strength and durability.

We all must think globally and act locally to make sure our strategies are relevant long term.

Activities to think about and respond to:

Ø Customers want their products now, not in 8 weeks.

Ø Customers want answers today not tomorrow.

Ø Quality is assumed and built into the product.

Ø As a supplier you must be knowledgeable about the global market.

Ø You must be aware of the strength of your supply chain.

 Our Mission Statement:

To Be the Best - Not the Biggest

We thank you for your continued support and please do not hesitate to call and challenge us to respond to new projects and ways of thinking.

From all of your friends at Independent Can we want to wish everyone a wonderful Holiday season.

Sincerely, 

Rick Huether

Visit us at http://www.westernspecialty.com to preview of our new items for 2011!

Independent Can Company's NEW HEART TIN

Independent Can Company Is now one of the first companies on the Maryland Green Registry!

Independent Can was one of the first companies to be a part of Maryland's registry of green companies. Maryland Green Registry Web Site

For more information and a complete history of the company, contact Ryan D. Huether, Business Manager, Independent Can Company, 2040 South Lynx Place Ontario, CA 91761.
Phone: 909-923-6150 Fax: 909-923-6052.
Email: Ryan@independentcan.com Web: http://www.westernspecialty.com/sustainability/

Promotional Tins Increase Sales

As seen in this article published on G&M's website Promotional Tins can increase sales.

"Promotion Increases Sales by 30%

The results turned to cool cash when the Danish company Vital Petfood Group A/S chose to use a decorated can as sales promotion for their exclusive cat food ”Bilanx”.When buying 2.5 kg of Bilanx the cat’s owners received a nice looking black can to store the food in – an offer that the consumers clearly considered as value adding.  Not only were the sales increased by 30% during the campaign period but as product manager Kent Mikkelsen says:”The campaign has created a continuous increase in sales”."

- G&M Website (Study on Promotional Tin Usage in EU)

 

To see how promotional tins can help increase your sales call 909-923-6150 or visit http://independentcan.com/products/customtins.asp

Independent Can Company Partners with TOOTHSTIX on their new tin packaging

Independent Can Company has now partnered with Toothstix on their new and innovating toothpick packaging. This new pocket pack tin was designed to add to the value of the Eco friendly bamboo Toothpicks that Toothsix is marketing. "Bamboo is one of the strongest and most renewable resources found on the planet" and when you combine that with the 100% Recyclable tin (25 - 55% recycled material in the raw Steel) you have a great Eco Friendly Product.  

Toothsitx.com

Toothsitx is also a company on a mission to help the Pandas. They are working hard to sell enough ToothStix to “Adopt a Panda for a Lifetime” which costs $50,000. Help them save the Panda's with every purchase of ToothStix. Save the Pandas




To learn how Independent Can Company can help you to bring your custom tin idea to reality, call 909-923-6150 or visit http://independentcan.com/products/customtins.asp

Oprah's Ultimate Favorite Things 2010 - GARRETT'S POPCORN TIN

QUOTE FROM OPRAH'S FAVORITES WEBSITE:

"Garrett's Special Limited-Edition Favorite Things Tin  People line up down the block in Chicago, no matter the weather, just to get a taste of one thing: Garrett popcorn. "It's the best popcorn on the planet, I think, and you don't have to fly to Chicago to get it," Oprah says. Garrett, a favorite things all-star, has created a special limited-edition tin exclusively for The Oprah Show. It's filled with their famous cheese and caramel popcorn and can be shipped right to your door."



Independent Can Company manufactures Large Tapered Popcorn Tins right here in the USA. We have the largest selection anywhere and can normally ship within 2 - 3 days from the time our customers place their order.

Small Quantities: http://www.shopindependentcan.com
Wholesale or Custom: http://www.westernspecialty.com

Online Catalog of Designs: http://www.westernspecialty.com/onlinecatalog/

New Designs for 2011 from Independent Can Company

Each year Independent Can Company updates our stock program with new designs, shapes, and sizes. 2011 is no different and in fact is pretty exciting. We have the addition of our new 3 Heart Tin which we have now tooled in our Belcamp Maryland Factory, A full line of Rectangular and Square Window Tins, and we also have our new PET Side Wall Pails in Green, Red, and Platinum. Attached to this blog you will see many of the new tin designs, shapes, and sizes.

Call us at 909-923-6150 for more information on the availability of the items you see here.




http://www.westernspecialty.com
http://www.shopindependentcan.com