How do they print on beer cans?

LastWerd · #1 (**permalink**) Apr 23, 06

Matty and I are sitting here drinkin some beers; wondering how do they print the ink on the beer cans?
Further more... how do they make the beer cans?

Anyone know?

Clayton. · #2 (**permalink**) Apr 23, 06

That's a good question maybe it's some kind of powder coating paint but my first guess would be air brush.

Pennywise · #3 (**permalink**) Apr 23, 06

you should email that show "how its made". Maybe they will do a show on it someday.

LastWerd · #4 (**permalink**) Apr 23, 06

hmmm, that would be alot of airbrushing and very detailed. such small printing and not blurry at all

_bRiTt · #5 (**permalink**) Apr 23, 06

it was actually on how it's made a while ago..
it's some special spray on paint that they heat on so it doesn't come off when it gets cold.. and has a clear coat spray.. i forget the exact science it was a long time ago
as for the cans.. rolled tin..

Pennywise · #6 (**permalink**) Apr 23, 06

haha i knew it!

LastWerd · #7 (**permalink**) Apr 23, 06

Quote:

Originally Posted by _bRiTt

it was actually on how it's made a while ago..
it's some special spray on paint that they heat on so it doesn't come off when it gets cold.. and has a clear coat spray.. i forget the exact science it was a long time ago
as for the cans.. rolled tin..

woah, sounds like a lot of labour hey!

That show sounds cool, I should download some :)

Clayton. · #8 (**permalink**) Apr 23, 06

Quote:

Originally Posted by _bRiTt

it was actually on how it's made a while ago..
it's some special spray on paint that they heat on so it doesn't come off when it gets cold.. and has a clear coat spray.. i forget the exact science it was a long time ago
as for the cans.. rolled tin..

Like i said it may be powder coating paint that is heated to cure it onto the aluminum.

Clayton. · #9 (**permalink**) Apr 23, 06

Quote:

Originally Posted by LastWerd

woah, sounds like a lot of labour hey!

That show sounds cool, I should download some :)

Probably not as much labour as you think considering it's all done with machine made for mass producing a product. The same can be said for air brushing the stuff on they would have a machine made to airbrush large numbers of cans all the same.

_bRiTt · #10 (**permalink**) Apr 23, 06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ever666

Like i said it may be powder coating paint that is heated to cure it onto the aluminum.

well arn't you clever.. i didn't even read the other posts..
you win

Harp · #11 (**permalink**) Apr 23, 06

not 100% possitive but its prolly a water based ink or uv coated. UV coated ink always absorbes with uv light and water based ink dries by heated lamps while run through the press

stephen_c · #12 (**permalink**) Apr 23, 06

google 101

search "print beverage can"

1st result

http://www.ball-europe.com/382_726_E...l?parentid=791

ebbomega · #13 (**permalink**) Apr 25, 06

Quote:

Originally Posted by _bRiTt

as for the cans.. rolled tin..

That reminds me of the joke....

Say the number 10 ten times fast.
(then)
What do they make aluminium cans out of?
(laugh at them when they say tin)

They use the same types of paint presses that they use for CDs, road signs, and any other mass-manufactured product that involves paint on metal.

**MC Hammered** · #14 (**permalink**) Apr 25, 06

They use a computer with flow analysis compute and print an abstract looking pattern onto the an aluminum sheet.

When the sheet is fed into the machine that punches out the cans the pattern gets stretched and distorted and the outcome is the can you see.

I learned that as part of my training at Creo.