Film Lamination: a mature method in can making overcoming new challenges

Our experience using film-laminated material for manufacturing twist caps and deep drawn cans goes back to the late 1990´s.

While the results when using laminated film on a DRD line composed of a cupper, redrawing press, and a trimmer gave from the very beginning a can of superior quality compared to those made with traditional coated/printed tinplate, problems showed during sterilization as the film detached from the tinplate.  Similarly, twist caps made with laminated film where better in terms of resistance to porosity, but on those early days the lamination film could not under take the heat of the compound curing oven.

All of this is past.  Deep Drawn Cans made with laminated TFS has been in the market for many years already while more recently you can purchase laminated cans and twist caps made from either TFS, ETP or aluminum suitable for the sterilization process.  In the case of the twist caps, the adhesion of compound turned to be better than on traditionally coated/printed twist caps.

As of today, film lamination is a mature solution for ends, twist caps, drawn cans and welded cans that require pasteurization or sterilization.  It is applied on different materials: ETP, TFS, AL.  The latest challenge lamination has faced is the EU requirement against the use of BPA for food cans.  Under this recent regulation, new types of film had been tested to follow with all the requirements, and we are glad to announce that they are already commercially available.

To learn more about how lamination is helping can makers to be more ecological while more economical, you may contact us.