High performance metal packaging

Food Insights
February 2008

Impress is a leading global manufacturer of distinctive metal packaging for the Processed Food, Seafood and Specialities' markets and seeks to create value throughout the supply chain, from raw materials through to the performance of the packaging in the hands of the final consumer. "Impress is a responsible innovative company, growing through attention to quality control, openability and breakthrough technology, we are passionate about metal's green credentials and believe there is a resurgence of metal for packaging, grounded on innovation and sustainability. Metal can be recycled indefinitely without loss in quality, thereby minimising impact on the environment," says Francis Labbé, Chief Executive of Impress.

Since 2000 Impress has maintained a strong, trusting and successful partnership with H. J.Heinz throughout Europe and North America. Impress produces cans for H. J. Heinz Wigan U.K., the biggest food processing plant in the world, filling more than one billion food cans: baked beans, pasta, soup, children's meals, baby-food and 5 kilo cans for the catering industry. Quality is key and Impress prides itself on an impeccable delivery record of around 2.5 billion components a year. This includes the supply of a world leading Easy Open End (EOE) developed by Impress in 2005/6 with a minimum thickness of 0.18mm that has resulted in a saving of 500 tons of steel! Today it still remains the thinnest EOE.

In 2001 when Heinz purchased Koninklijke De Ruijter (KDR) who manufactures using the Karvan Cévitam® Brand name. Impress took over the supply of cans for high concentration syrup. The standard can was straight-sided, uninspiring and sales were under pressure. Heinz KDR wanted something different so Impress came up with a beautifully shaped, stone finished steel can with distortion printing and the offset design radiating the image of extra fruit. Through the combination of Impress's understanding of markets and customer involvement, Impress developed a format, then designed and built a special machine to pneumatically expand the can and create this unique, attractive, convenient shape. The machine also has an innovative system to orientate the print and emboss in the sidewall to enhance or accentuate the print. The machine was installed at the Deventer plant, a premium Impress site in The Netherlands, well suited to a product with a premium feel. In January 2007 the new syrup can was launched on the market in a full range of flavours. As soon as it appeared on the shelves in The Netherlands, it became an instant, runaway success. This illustrates how a secure partnership gives rise to value creation through innovation, differentiation and convenience.

Impress
t: +33 2 4348 5100
E Gerald.STURDY@nl.imp-group.com