Unique designs on metal promote local culture

Two beer brands - Sagres a Portuguese beer, and Warsteiner, an international German beer - are promoting their individual country's cultures through a range of limited edition artist's designs. Their aluminium containers have been printed in high definition to great effect.

The unique cans for Sangres beer use HD printing techniques and matt-over-varnish finish to bring to life the illustrated designs. Designed by renowned Portuguese artist, Joana Vasconcelos, the limited edition range celebrates Portuguese passion for the arts and home grown talent.

Sagres marketing manager, Raul Simão comments: “The cans have great stand-out on shelf and we know our customers will love them.” 

The 33cl cans were produced at Rexam’s La Selva plant in Spain, which recently underwent an extensive engineering project to now operate with aluminium-only production lines. The cans were available to consumers in the Portuguese market from October to December 2014.

For Warsteiner, founded in 1753 and one of Germany’s most international and privately owned breweries, it represents another example of the brand’s success in using modern culture to attract consumers, and particularly a younger and influential target audience, throughout the more than 60 countries where the beer is sold.

Bottle manufacturer Ardagh was able to use the enhanced printing techniques at its Beaurepaire facility in France to reproduce the stunning artwork through sharp screens combined with solid covering colours on brushed transparent metal effects and gold tones. 

The bottles have won two international packaging awards. Ulrich Kunert, international marketing manager at Warsteiner, comments “We are delighted that the collaboration with Ardagh to create our own art collection on this very special limited edition bottle has earned such recognition.”

7 April 2015 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor