Crown Helps Molson Coors Canada Optimize Color Consistency

The X-Rite SP-64 system enables Molson Coors Canada to assign numeric values to colors that are applied as standards across the company’s three production facilities.

1/10/2011 --- CROWN Beverage Packaging North America, a business unit of Crown Holdings, Inc., is helping Molson Coors Canada streamline its printing process and enhance color consistency across different packaging facilities with a range of tools that support the company’s color management program.

Most recently, Crown worked as part of a project team with X-Rite and INX International to integrate a new automated color measurement tool for Molson Coors Canada. The X-Rite SP-64 system enables Molson Coors Canada to assign numeric values to colors that are applied as standards across the company’s three production facilities. Previously, these colors had to be gauged by eye, subjecting them to variations in lighting and the challenges of measuring on a reflective surface. By asserting an automated color standard, color harmony is achieved across locations, enhancing the efficiency of Molson Coors Canada’s package printing operation and ultimately speeding time to market.

“Package graphics play an integral role in establishing and maintaining brand identity,” said Donna Razik, Packaging Graphics Specialist, Molson Coors Canada. “Having a color and print standardization process in place ensures consistency across all of our packaging and that our brand identity is accurately represented everywhere our products are sold. Crown worked closely with X-Rite and INX International to establish standard operating procedures to monitor color and effectively deliver results for can printing.”

Crown provides additional support by training operations personnel to use new printing technologies and maintains all of the color measurement records. In the event that an individual run needs to be replicated - even if it’s at a different facility than the original - Crown can retrieve all the data necessary for assuring a perfect match.

In addition to helping implement the X-Rite SP-64 measurement tool, Crown worked with Molson Coors Canada to apply color blocks when printing on beverage cans. On cans that feature screen work, which can reduce the areas of solid shades, the color blocks enable Molson Coors Canada to verify correct colors using just the spot impression. First implemented in 2008, Molson Coors Canada remains the only beverage company that uses this technology for beverage cans.

“Color is one of the most recognizable attributes of any brand identity, so taking the proper steps to ensure consistency on color and print standardization and overall quality is essential,” said John Corelli, Manager of Graphics Planning, Customer & Technical Service North America. “We’re pleased to be able to partner with Molson Coors Canada, X-Rite and INX International and help ensure that every package that comes off the line is uniform and reflects the high quality of the product inside.”