P•ink: why is it the ultimate solution for customizing crown caps?

P-ink was created to offer everyone, both large players in the beer, wine and beverage industry and craft breweries and producers, the opportunity to make their own crown caps and labels counting on a solid partner, synonymous with quality and reliability. This is possible thanks to a new technology developed and patented by the company, combined with an online shop, manageable in total autonomy, which gives the possibility to make and order customized caps in very small batches or medium/large batches but with flexibility and optimal production times.

Let's get to know P-ink more closely.

What is P-ink digital printing by Pelliconi

P-ink is the digital printing service developed and patented by Pelliconi for the customization of metal caps. It is a technology used for the first time on metal, with the guarantee of speed and printing results of excellent quality in terms of graphic rendering and customization possibilities.

Among these benefits, the most important are:

• Speed
• Low cost
• Applicable efficiently on small and large batches
• Great flexibility and beauty of graphics

So let's see how Pelliconi decided to employ digital printing technology to bring the P-ink service to life.

What you can customize with P-ink digital printing

On P-ink shop you can order and customize with digital printing both crown caps and labels for your bottles.

The variety of formats and customization options mean that the creative possibilities are endless and responsive to any occasion and need for use.

Customization of crown caps

The two customizable cap formats on P-ink are the most popular ones for glass bottling of beer, wine, cider, or other still or carbonated beverages:

• 26 mm crown cap: Great classic, typically used in 33 cl bottles
• 29 mm crown cap: The largest diameter typically used in 50 or 75 cl bottles
  
  

Both sizes are customizable in the choice of seal, base cap color and type of graphics as we will see later. The base caps, made of 50% recycled-origin chrome-band steel, are the same as those made by Pelliconi for major international beer and beverage producers or available in anonymous cap form on the best brewery shops.

Customization of labels

In terms of labels, too, there are many opportunities for customization to suit any need and bottle. In fact, labels can be chosen according to bottle size from:

• 33 cl
• 50 cl
• 75 cl
  
  

To which labels can be matched:

• Wrapping
• Front back
• Front only
  
  

These are further customizable in shape (square or rectangular) and type of backing paper. Finally, for those using automatic application, it will also be possible to choose the unwind direction and reel diameter at the time of purchase.

Why choose P-ink customization: 5 unique features

The features that make P-ink digital printing unique are the result of carefully listening to market needs and continually pushing for technological innovation.

We summarize here the 5 characteristics that best define and distinguish P-ink.

1. Choice of a wide range of colors, shades and multiplicity of graphics

As for the range of colors available for the customization of crown caps, the choice is really wide and allows any creative idea to be realized. Starting from different base color caps, you can choose from 8 different colors.

And if the color you want is not available, you will simply choose a base color (such as white or black, or the classic silver or gold) and make a "full field" graphic of the desired color on the cap top (functionality available within the P-ink shop configurator).

Digital printing also allows for very well-defined image qualities and overcomes the logic of the number of colors per print, being able to also create images with high-definition color gradients.

Another great opportunity enabled by P-ink is to create not one but several graphics for the caps of the same order while optimizing costs thanks to the Special Requests service. The possibilities with which you can customize crown caps for your brewery, winery or company become, therefore, even broader and can be encapsulated in 2 order types:

Multi Base

With this option, you can order caps with a different base color, chosen from the available colors, on which you can put your logo or your favorite graphic.
To do so, simply fill out the form on the "Special Requests" page to get a custom quote based on the number and of base caps you choose and the quantities you request. In the same request you can upload the graphics so you already have feedback from our graphic experts.

If in the meantime you want to see a preview of what your Multi Base caps might look like, use the configurator, upload your graphics and jump from one base color to another to get a foretaste of the result you can achieve.

This solution is ideal for giving each product a different tone and differentiating it, while creating a strong brand image.

They will come Caps will be shipped divided by color, but you can also request to mix colors, to generate a creative effect that will be admired at every uncorking.

Would you like caps of a different color but of a color not in the range? No problem, you can reproduce the same effect by using Multi Art and applying a custom background color thanks to the full-field decoration of the cap surface.

Multi Art

With this option, you can make different graphics on caps with the same chosen base color.

By choosing a unique base color and providing multiple graphics to be applied to it, the production process will be more scalable allowing you to get multiple graphics in the same order at a price never seen before in the market. The result is truly impactful and the creative opportunities are endless.

Again, to access the service, simply send us a request by filling out the form on the "Special Requests" page and get the custom quote based on number of graphics and quantity for each.

To preview or to estimate how many/how many graphics you would like to print, use the configurator, upload the graphics and save them to come back to them again and again.

With this tool you can also get different color caps using the same basic cap: you upload your graphics and apply a custom "background color" within the configurator choosing from the RAL color range, and it will be applied to full field of the cap surface. By saving the graphics you will be able to analyze and compare the results obtained, and admire the matches.

2. Uniquely designed caps

With P-ink, it is also possible to achieve a range of visual and tactile effects on one's crown caps. This is thanks precisely to the digital printing technology used, which, depending on the graphics applied and the color combination, can give the cap:

• Shades and 3D color effect
• Total freedom on the arrangement of the text
• Glossy/matte finish
• Embossed or debossed tactile and visual effect

How to customize crown caps and labels on the P-ink site

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, P-ink is a customization service for crown caps and labels that can be managed online through the dedicated shop, designed to be easily used by anyone on their own, but with a team on hand to support requests and orders, and with the top expert in metal closures for the beverage industry for over 80 years, Pelliconi, behind it. This is a real innovation in the production and customization of closures, and in one service you have the possibility to order labels as well.

Creating a unique bottle on P-ink is possible in 3 simple steps.

Step 1: Choose the product you want to customize

From P-ink shop choose the product you want to configure from caps and labels.

By choosing a 26 mm or 29 mm cap you can configure:

1. The basic color of the cap
2. The quantity of caps, starting from a minimum of 50 up to 100,000, but also higher by contacting us directly
3. The gasket material, PVC free or Oxygen Scavenger both suitable for food contact
   
   

By choosing a label you will be able to configure:

1. The format of the label
2. The label material of your choice of Barrier Coated or White Polypropylene
3. The quantity of labels
4. The finish of the label whether glossy or matte
5. The method of application that will be used between manual or automatic. If automatic, power is given to choose unwinding direction and coil diameter.
   
   

In both configurations, once the various items are defined, the final price of P-ink's customization service will be visible.

Step 2: Give your imagination free rein with graphic customization

By clicking on the customize button present during setup, you will be directed to the step dedicated to the actual creative customization of your cap or label.

Here you will be able to apply all the graphic effects we mentioned above-playing with shapes, text, colors, and gradients-while also always having a 3D overview of the final result in front of you.

If you choose to use your own graphics, the uploadable formats are:

• Vector (.ai and .pdf)
• Raster (.jpeg/.png/.tiff)
  
  

For optimal rendering, the image resolution should be no less than 600 dpi, with details larger than 0.5 mm for perfect sharp graphic rendering.

Once you have created your custom graphics, go ahead and add the product to your cart and you will have reached the last step.

Step 3: Confirm your order and receive your P-ink crown caps.

At the checkout stage you will be asked for your personal, payment and shipping address information. Once you enter the latter, the price will update accordingly based on the delivery location and the shipping type you choose (Basic or Express).

Your caps and labels will be packaged carefully, in protective bags and then in FSC-certified corrugated cardboard boxes, almost 50 percent of which are recycled. For bulk orders, the use of pallets will also be used.

Conclusions

A new era in beverage packaging customization opens with P-ink. The possibilities, times, costs and above all the way in which this important phase is carried out and managed change, with a more streamlined and immediate client-supplier relationship in which, however, quality, reliability and precision remain at the highest levels ever. Those historical ones guaranteed by Pelliconi.