Efficiency and Ease for Beverage Brands at New Ambler Graphics Studio

When creating a new beverage can, time to market is one of the most important factors for brands to take into consideration. With so many moving parts during the manufacturing process, from size selection to packaging design to filling, sealing and shipping, taking a beverage from concept to shelf can be a complex — and potentially time-consuming — process. Throughout all stages of development, brands must prioritize the appearance of their packaging to ensure that once their product lands in the retail setting it will successfully resonate with consumers. While marrying speed with shelf appeal may seem like a tall order, manufacturers looking to make the largest and fastest splash can utilize expert guidance and comprehensive resources to launch a unique, attention-grabbing product.

The Critical Communicator: Package Design

Packaging is almost always the first interaction a consumer has with a beverage, making the exterior look and feel a crucial design element. The package is the platform upon which a brand can share its story, conveying everything from product ingredients and benefits to brand history, mission, and values. The 360-degree format of the beverage can enables brands to highlight these messages in a way that is eye-catching for consumers amid an array of options.

Even with a clear idea of imagery and colors, beverage brands can miss the mark when they enter production without the proper resources and consultants on hand. From muddied colors to fuzzy graphics, there is a range of design hang-ups that, when executed without the necessary planning and consultation, can cause costly delays in product launches.

Cutting Time, Not Corners

To avoid these types of pitfalls, can graphics professionals at our new 14,000-sq.-ft. Ambler, PA graphics studio partner with beverage brands to ensure their can designs achieve the desired aesthetic within efficient timelines that save manufacturers cost and headaches. Brands who visit the facility can leverage a host of features and resources, including advanced technologies that provide tangible can designs in real-time and color-matching and color separation experts who help translate a graphic design from a computer screen to a can’s surface.

With brand reputation and image at stake, this hands-on development can make the critical difference. From the beginning of the design process, customers can see what is possible by examining a variety of design samples and applications, as well as unique decorative elements such as tactile and matte finishes to thermochromic and photochromic inks and more. Brands can then work with on-site consultants to marry these features with their existing, drawn-up graphics and to choose ink shades—a step that requires expert know-how to effectively execute designs on aluminum.

Through access to a high-quality digital proofing line, brands can closely examine design mockups in a matter of minutes and have a sense of the final product. Additionally, a state-of-the-art pilot line can create sample cans in just a couple of hours, allowing brands to pinpoint any necessary tweaks in colors or layout. This ability to see the can as it will later appear to consumers—and to make changes far earlier in the design process—provides tremendous benefits for brands, giving them confidence in the design that makes it to final production. The convenience of digital proofing and piloting capabilities shortens wait times at the pre-press stage from weeks or months to mere hours. 

By leveraging these types of resources from the initial stages of package design, brands can make it to the shelf faster and with greater ease than ever before.