Aerobal’s 2013 winners

A truly global competition, the 18 Aerobal members – with production facilities in Europe, North and South America, Asia, Australia and Africa – account for some 75% of worldwide production. Equally globally active, the jury that chose this year’s best aerosol cans comprised editors from 12 well-known and respected packaging publications from five continents.

The coveted award for products already on the market went to Tubex (Germany) for its aluminium aerosol can for wellaflex. The can attracts great attention at point of sale – embossing around a large W and F creates space to print the brand name, ‘wellaflex’. This design is as demanding to implement as it is persuasive. Besides its fascinating appearance it also offers consumers an impressive haptic experience. Thanks to optimised process steps, production can is no lower than for a conventional can without embossing.

First prize in the prototypes category also went to Tubex for its ‘autumn’ aerosol can. This can is an outstanding example of how it’s possible to achieve barely conceivable results using innovative printing techniques and appropriate inks. Digital printing reproduces a photo-realistic image of a young woman with perfect and extremely fine nuances in skin tones right down to highlights in her cheekbones. The autumn-coloured leaves are in wonderful contrast to the intensive colour of her black hair.

‘The jury’s decision is a clear indication of where aerosol can development is heading,’ comments Gregor Spengler, Aerobal’s secretary general. In addition to its distinctive barrier properties, its high standards of reliability and quality as a result of its being a one-piece can, and its good recyclability, the aluminium can excels thanks to the interesting possibilities it offers when it comes to printing and shaping. ‘It’s clear that aluminium cans are making greater use of their advantages over other comparable forms of packaging. For brand owners it offers a host of additional opportunities to convey visual effects and images that emotionally and effectively appeal to consumers at point of sale.’