The breakthrough in high-quality printing for metal packaging comes after the two companies announced a joint development programme at Drupa last year.

According to a Jetrion spokesman, the development is likely to be suitable for custom work and could involve the printing of variable data directly onto cans.

"Previously there were limitations with the inks involved as they were just too brittle and would crack easily," said the spokesman.
Jetrion's prototype, single-pass, drop-on-demand ink-jet system was used to produce the images on a coated metal substrate.

"This is an exciting advance that will give our customers unprecedented production and marketing flexibility," said Crown Holdings executive vice president of technology and regulatory affairs, Daniel Abramowicz.

He added that the breakthrough would be used for "highly targeted, variable, market-specific messaging on cans".

Story by Philip Chadwick