Wider range of easy-open can ends for more food uses

The company has expanded its Easylift, easy-open end technology to include four 65mm (model 211), 73mm (300), 83mm (307) and 99mm (401) which are available with a wider range of food cans. The expanded list includes ready meals, fruit and vegetables, fish and dairy together with pet food products.

The company’s marketing manager Steve Thomas told FoodProductionDaily.com: “The new Easylift can ends feature a tab with much better finger access allowing users to get their finger under the tab for easier opening.”​

Research results​

Crown holding’s independent research revealed that while users prefer the convenience of an easy-opening can to using a can opener, with old design many found it difficult to get their finger under the release ring. Responding to those research results, Crown decided to make the make the cans as easy to open as possible.

“Open-ability is a key element in successful packaging,”​ said Thomas. “It is important, along with product differentiation and stacking, across the whole range of packaging including food containers.” ​

Thomas added that the new development is useful for minority groups as well as general consumptions and that the new cans require only small modifications to canning lines.

The convenience of these easy-opening cans will be valued by older people, children and the physically impaired who want to open canned food without using a can impaired, he said.

Also, introducing the new cans is said to require only minor canning line adjustments. “Modifying canning lines to take Easylift cans requires one-off adjustments not major new investment or production downtime,”​ said Thomas.

Brand awareness​

Marketing director Ana Neale commented: “Our research shows that consumers prefer using our new easy-open end in this competitive market. Printing directly onto the ends can also help clearly promote these benefits to consumers and increase brand awareness."​

The new range is now available within Europe and will be on sale to global buyers from next year.

Thomas said the Easylift cans would carry a small premium in order to reflect development costs,

Crown Food Europe is a division of the US-based business Crown Holdings, Inc.