Glossary
4c printing / CMYK
The abbreviation CMYK stands for cyan, magenta, yellow and key (=black). In 4c printing, all colours of a motif are built from these four standardised colours.
Aluminium
A silvery-white light metal that is very corrosion-resistant. Aluminium is either produced from bauxite (primary aluminium) or from aluminium scrap (secondary aluminium). It is particularly suitable for water-based contents (e.g. skin creme) since there is no rust formation. Aluminum cannot be welded and therefore is only possible for deep-drawn tins. It is always processed into tins in a lacquered state.
Bead
Trough-shaped indentation on the body of the tin for the purpose of stability or visual enhancement.
Bottom imprinting
Stands for a slight inward imprinting of the base of the tin, which gives greater stability. Most of our deep drawn lower parts have bottom imprinting.
Cromalin
Cromalin® is a dry colour proofing method. This method allows the colour result of a print to be tested in advance. To create the Cromalin proof, the exposures take place successively in layers on sensitized photopolymer film that is laminated on special paper. The results are colour consistent, lightfast and very close to the printed result. In the output template, any errors contained can already be detected before printing. Instead of a Cromalin-Proof, other methods are mostly applied nowadays, such as digital-proof or metal-proof.
Dangerous goods authorisation
Tins with dangerous goods authorisation may be used as packaging for specific dangerous goods. The dangerous goods authorisation is issued by the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) [Federal Institute for Material Research and Testing]. During manufacture, the dangerous goods packaging is embossed with the particular authorisation number. The filler must comply with the usage regulations specified by the BAM.
Data processing
For an optimal print result on tin, it is necessary that the print data made available is reworked by our tin printing experts.
DIN perforation
Concerns the round opening of flat-top bottles. With a DIN perforation, the shape and dimensions correspond to the German industrial standard. The edge of the perforation is curved inwards.
Drawn tin
Tin made from a flat stamped plate and then drawn into the appropriate shape.
Embossing
A motif or inscription is raised (embossing) or lowered (deep embossing) in relation to the surrounding area.
Execution drawing
Reflects the flat cut of a tin body. Using this implementation drawing, print data can be created by the customer or the agency.
Folded edge tin
Our rectangular tins with an edge curved inwards.
Hinged lid
The lid is connected to the lower part with a hinged lid.
Lithography / Print data
A print template in the form of an electronic file containing the motif or text to be printed and which is made available to us by the customer.
Offset printing
Offset printing is an indirect flat printing method. Indirect printing method means that the printing does not take place directly from the printing plate onto the material, but the colour is first transferred via another medium, the blanket cylinder. In metal tin production, we first print the flat metal sheets and produce tins from these.
Print plate
A stored print image made from aluminium with a light-sensitive coat. The print motif is applied to the print plate by exposure. In the printing process, the print plate absorbs ink and transfers it to the blanket cylinder.
Proof plate
A motif is printed on a flat plate. A proof plate is used for approval of colours by the customer and is required for four colour printing.
Protective coat
Generally a transparent coat that is applied to the inside of the tin and protects the fill product from any reaction with the bare plate. Bare tins can also be used with many fill products, as a protective coat is not always required.
Punch sketch
A drawing that reflects the flat shape of a tin lid or a deep-drawn lower part. Using this drawing, print data can be created by the customer or the agency.
Recycling
Re-use of waste products. In the case of tinplate, the material is transformed into secondary raw materials, from which, in turn, it will be possible to manufacture new steel products without any loss of quality.
REL perforation
Concerns the round opening of flat-top bottles. With a REL perforation, the shape and dimensions correspond to the German industrial standard. The edge of the perforation serves as a collar pointing up and thus makes it easier to empty the bottle.
Rolled edge tin
Our rectangular tins with an edge rolled outwards.
Round set
Surrounding lateral print image on deep drawn parts (lid or lower part). This motif must be printed "deformed" on the flat tin, so that the original motif is visible after the draw-down process. The deformation can only be done by experienced specialists with a special computer program.
Seam covering
If so desired, the seam gap in a welded tin can be covered with a separate coat.
Seam gap
As sheet metal can only be welded on the bare parts, in welded tins the area along the weld seam remains uncoated/unprinted. This blank strip (=gap) remains visible even after manufacture of the tin. This applies to the inside and outside of a tin.
Seamed tin
Three-part tin in which both of the tin edges are seamed in with one another on the body.
Sheet thickness
Thickness of the sheet metal. Ultra-thin sheet is sheet with a nominal thickness between 0.17 and 0.49mm.
Silver varnish
A transparent coat that can be applied to the outside of the tin. With an unprinted tin, this protects the tin from corrosion, with a printed tin the print is always fixed with silver varnish and thus protected from abrasion. Normally the silver varnish generates a gloss "finish", but a matt version is also possible.
Slip lid
A lid that is simply placed on the tin for closing, e.g. with a cream tin.
Special colour
A colour used in addition to the CMYK base colours. The use of special colours makes it possible to also print colours outside of the colour range that is possible in four-colour printing, e.g. gold, silver or colour-saturated highly coloured shades.
Stackability
With stackable tins, the lid and base are shaped in such a way that several tins intermesh with one another when stacked on top of one another, thus providing stability.
Sustainability
In relation to the environment, the term includes being economical with resources. No more may be used than can regenerate.
Tear-off lid
A lid that is pulled off the tin using a tab at a predetermined breaking point, for example on a food tin. There are three different models here: tinplate lid, aluminium lid and foil tear-off lid (here the tear-off part consists of thin aluminium foil). With the tinplate and aluminium lids, a sharp edge remains on the edge of the lid after opening. Aluminium tear-off lids are also available as "saferim" variants, in which the edge is rolled over and thus no sharp edges are left.
Three-part tin
A tin manufactured in three parts, specifically body, base and lid. The lower part is welded or seamed on to the side and seamed on to the base.
Tinplate
Tinplate is thin, cold-rolled sheet steel with a tin-coated surface. The tinning essentially serves as corrosion-protection and is performed by electrolysis.
Two-part tin (=deep-drawn tin)
A tin consisting of two parts, specifically lower part and lid. The lower part has been deep-drawn and thus manufactured from one part.
Welded tin
Three-part tin with welded side seam.
White coating
White coat that is fully applied to the outside of the tin. It normally acts as a subsurface for a colour printing, as the colours only appear brilliant on a white base coat.
White printing
If a tin is not to be printed over its full surface, but only partially and the silver material is to remain visible at many points, the print motif is underlain with white ink, as the colours only appear brilliant on a white base coat.