Packaging
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Convenient peelable ends for canned food PDF Print E-mail
Written by Impress, 2007   

Impress provides an overview of the canned food market, and how innovation can bring value through the chain to the consumer. 

The canned food market is estimated to be worth over 90 billion cans worldwide. This market can be divided broadly into retort (heat processed food) and dry (non-heat processed food). In the canned food market, peelable lid technology is well-established for dry foods such as infant formula, coffee, snacks and dry foods.

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Table 1. Worldwide food can market and peelable lids.
Table 1 shows that peelable ends have taken a position, measurable on a global scale, which is growing.

The initial products were launched in the late 1970s for dried foods. The application for heat-sterilised foods started commercially in the late 1990s. What's interesting from Table 1 is that these products are measurable on a global scale for both dried foods and heat-sterilised foods. This innovation is now at a level where it can be adapted for a number of end markets.

A store survey in most developed countries will reveal that these peelable closures on metal cans are quite widespread. What is new and innovative is that the technical boundary for processed food has been crossed, and so today we see new products in this sector in Europe, and also emerging in Asia and North America.

For the retort or heat-sterilised food market, the technical demands are quite challenging. The pressure developed, and the balance between peel strength and peelability are the key factors. However successful product launches have led to the technology being developed further for new applications, and meanwhile these developments have enhanced the offering potential in dry foods and non-food areas. For example, paint is being tested with a new peelable opening.

The peelable lids offer the consumer an easy-to-open metal container, with opening characteristics comparable to opening a yoghurt container. The metal container offers a secure, high-barrier package compared to the alternatives; furthermore the containers are recycled using the conventional metal can stream. The technology started with dried foods and a heat seal foil laminate on a metal ring, using the fillers' existing filling lines, so there are no significant switching costs.

The cans used often have printing, and when combined with the peelable lid, have inspired customers to consider shaped cans, either bowls or non-round cans, providing further differentiation.

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Figure 1. An easy-peel lid.
Easy-peel technology

In Figure 1, the lid or end is produced from a metal ring, which has an aluminium heat seal foil or high-barrier non-foil heat sealed to it. The foil can be printed or embossed, and is peeled from the metal ring by the consumer. The lid is double-seamed onto the can or bowl, using conventional equipment

Today the technology is established and available to companies marketing heat-processed canned food. The materials and packaging technology is substantially different to dried food, nevertheless the number of successful product launches worldwide has meant that the peelable lid is here to stay.

Paté and luncheon meat cans

Redlefsen's Jensen pâté moved from a ring key soldered can to a can with an easy peel pack with a new product range, enabling convenient opening and product release. In 2006 Dae Sang, a leading luncheon meat brand in Korea, took this concept further with their luncheon meat brand, and supported the new product with TV advertising showing butterflies opening the new can.

Innovation in packaging can lead to differentiation on the shelf and added value. The key is to provide a new offering that consumers will prefer in the longer-term. The consumer associates convenience, health and premium with innovation. The new packaging and product can result in a pack that stands out from the crowd.

The TV advertisement in Korea by Daesang uses a butterfly and a leading actress to promote the new luncheon meat can, to underscore the ease of opening and the convenience of the product. There have been a number of publicity campaigns with new products using easy-peel packs that bring home the ease of use and opening of the new product:

  • Seafood salads - Saupiquet Les Saladières, Rio More Les Saladières ;
  • Paté - Redlefsen Jensen paté, La Peña paté;
  • Luncheon meat - Dae Sang Korea;
  • Appel herring fillet.
Innovation and its association with convenience and health brings with it the potential to create value. The issues we see that confront innovation today are:
  • Time to market (moving from years to months);
  • Co-ordination through the chain from packaging supplier, filler, brand, distribution, retailer to the consumer.
  • Consumer insights;
  • Selecting the final idea;
  • How to measure a prototype's success.

Reducing the time to market requires excellent prototyping as well as the potential to produce semi-industrial quantities. The major packaging companies today all have significant research and development facilities with prototyping capabilities. To tackle the other factors, and get closer to consumers, some manufacturers have built their own consumer panel, using the latest techniques selecting a panel across its employees, whilst maintaining objectivity and avoiding bias.

This is proving to be a useful tool in determining which idea is likely to succeed with the customer's product. The final concept is then submitted to the customer for evaluation of the concept.
 
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