Labeling Your Canned Products: The Pros & Cons of Direct Printing vs. Shrink Sleeves
Cans have long been a staple in the food and beer markets.
From their convenient portability, their lightweight, and increased durability, it’s no wonder cans have been around for as long as they have.
It’s also no surprise as to why they are beginning to be used today for more markets than just beer and food.
Products like wine, kombucha, and coffee have begun to be filled in cans.
For brands using cans, it does probe an interesting question: should your label be printed directly onto the can, or should it be wrapped around on a shrink sleeve?
Let’s look at the pros and cons to both.
Direct Printing:
Pros:
Less Materials - By directly printing to the can, less materials will be required during production and filling.
No Risk of Artwork Distortion - Poor or incorrect shrink sleeve manufacturing or application processes can cause artwork distortion and give it a warped final look. This is not a concern when printing directly onto the can.
Traditional Aluminum Can Texture - In the case of sentimental consumers, a traditional feeling aluminum can might be preferred over the different feel that plastic sleeves might give.
Cons:
Large Minimum Order Quantities - The MOQ for direct printed cans is very large. Typically between 100,000 t0 150,000 cans. This makes it a poor choice for teams ordering smaller to medium quantities.
Longer Lead Times - Direct printed cans have lead times of 10-12 weeks or more… triple the lead time of shrink sleeves, which is typically 4 weeks.
Expensive To Change Artwork - Updating or modifying a label is costly, which makes direct printing a poor option for brands that look to refresh and update designs.
Muted Colors - Labels are going to naturally look muted because of the color of cans. Direct printing is thus a poor option for teams trying to draw attention with bold colors.
Limited Colors - Printing on cans only allows up to 6 colors maximum.
Inability to Adapt to Consumer Demand - When direct printing, your team will be forecasting consumer demand long in advance, which comes with obvious challenges. If a SKU suddenly becomes less popular than another, inventory will be high in one SKU and out in another, causing supply problems and wasting resources.
Shrink Sleeves:
Pros:
Smaller Minimum Order Quantities - The MOQ for shrink sleeves is typically 1,000 sleeves, significantly less than direct printed cans.
Quicker Turnaround - There is typically a 4-5 week lead time for shrink sleeves.
More Color and Ink Options - Shrink sleeves can be printed in matte or gloss finish, metallic and neon inks, unlimited color options, creating a product that draws attention on shelves.
Ability to Adapt to Consumer Demand - When using shrink sleeves, the ability to adapt to consumer demand changes. After ordering generic silver cans, apply the appropriate shrink sleeve label for the SKU being filled in real time. Cans do not need to be committed to a specific SKU until they are filled.
Cons:
Additional Materials & Application Step - Applying a sleeve adds additional materials and another step in the manufacturing process.
Plastic Feel - Some consumers might not prefer the feel of plastic when drinking or consuming a product that is typically served in traditional aluminum.
Risk of Artwork Distortion - As mentioned earlier, poor or incorrect shrink sleeve manufacturing or application processes can cause artwork distortion and give it a warped final look.
Which For Your Product?
Still not sure whether shrink sleeves or direct printing will be best for your project?
We can help with that.
Step 1. Schedule a packaging consultation with one of our packaging experts. Although we’re shrink sleeve suppliers, we’re well experienced with direct printing as well and will walk you through the practical implications of both labelling options.
Step 2. If you’re interested in exploring shrink sleeves further, we’ll send you complimentary samples to test.
Step 3. We’ll provide you with a quote for shrink sleeves, including the co-packing of those sleeves if your team is in need of that.
Schedule your complimentary consultation by filling out our contact form, emailing us at info@tangopackaging.com, or calling (844) 33-TANGO [82646].