For craft brewers, the shift to aluminium cans from other packaging formats has accelerated during the past few years. The can’s impressive sustainability credentials and decorating potential has created a revolution for brewers looking to add much needed variety and shelf appeal.

The owners of Polish brewery, Trzech Kumpli, have strived to have their beers canned for some time, as they have seen the Polish craft beer market mature and sustainability agendas come to the fore. As a result, the company has partnered with CANPACK, to help create and distribute beautiful printed cans to the craft beer enthusiasts in Poland.

As one of the first to introduce printed cans to the market, Trzech Kumpli is enjoying the benefits of CANPACK’s market-leading innovations, with unique lithography for five of its flagship beers. By using CANPACK’s MATT Effect, the uniqueness of the series was underlined, making the packaging smooth to the touch, elegant to the eye, and most of all, emphasising the real quality of the beer.

Commenting on this success story, Stephen McAneny, Chief Commercial Officer, CANPACK, said: “The ability to decorate cans in small batches has become a central focus for the craft beer industry.

“We’re delighted that we were able to provide truly sustainable packaging with printed lithography for a series of Trzech Kumpli craft beers and be part of this success story.”

Piotr Sosin, owner of Trzech Kumpli, was equally enthusiastic about engaging with CANPACK to help create its cans. “The desire to pour beer into decorated cans was born long ago,” he said. “From the very beginning, we wanted our beer to be in printed cans, but to fill the minimum logistic orders, we simply had to scale up our production until now.

“Our customers appreciate the craftsmanship of both the graphic design, the workmanship itself, and of course the content – the beer itself.”

For many craft brewers, the limited volumes produced has presented an obstacle in being able to make the transition to printed aluminium cans, as many can manufacturers require minimum order volumes out of scope for many smaller businesses.

For Trzech Kumpli there has been no such problem. The company has been able to utilise CANPACK’s on-going partnership with Marxam Project company, who is a distributor of raw materials and equipment for wine and beer producers. This partnership has allowed brewers to commercialize its product in printed cans without worrying about fulfilling minimum requirements.

“Thanks to the long-term contract we have signed with CANPACK, we can offer our customers aluminium packaging – which is an excellent packaging solution – both in terms of logistics and economy,” noted Marcin Bauer, CEO of Marxam Project.

“Our storage system allows for full service of customers from the segment of regional, craft and home brewers, which means that the can doesn’t just have to be associated with packaging for the largest brewers.”