Tips and tricks when canning rtd products
When canning rtd beverages there are a number of things to carefully consider and ensure are effectively being done to ensure the viability of the product. Missing a vital step can decrease the shelf life of a product, impact product quality or lead to a product recall. Idyll operates two canning lines, and we share our tips and tricks on effectively canning rtds.
Can seaming
Canning rtds requires completing regular seam checks to ensure the lid is being applied correctly to the can, and there is no risk of the product leaking. If these checks are not regularly completed when canning rtds, cans may leak in the days post packaging which can negatively impact shelf life and brand reputation. At Idyll, we complete seam checks when canning rtds utilising Visionary QC seam check technology on each canning packaging run.
Nitrogen or C02 dosing
When canning rtds, carbonated products are dosed with C02 to give the product bubbles. The C02 also ensures the final canned product is hard, not a soft, easily squashed can. When canning rtds that are not carbonated, such as canned cocktails, nitrogen is used to pressurise the can and improve its structural rigidity. Nitrogen doesn’t make the product carbonated, which is why it’s used when canning rtds such as canned cocktails. C02 or nitrogen dosing your product protects the product against oxygenation (which can change the smell, taste and colour of the product), extends shelf life and strengths the aluminium can.
Labelled or printed cans
Deciding whether to utilise printed cans or plain cans and then apply a label is an important step in developing a new product and canning rtds. When utilising printed cans, the cans are simply loaded into the depalletiser, before being sent down the canning line. When labelled cans are selected to can rtds, plain silver bullet cans are loaded into the depalletiser, sent down the line and filled with products. Just before the cans reach the pack off section of the canning line, they pass through the labeller and have a label applied to the can. The downside to labelling cans when canning rtds is that the canning line is required to operate at a slower speed in order to correctly apply the label.
Idyll are experts in canning rtds as well as cider and wine products. Learn more about our canning capabilities here or contact us to get in touch.
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