A canning process that is said to save 30% of tinplate usage has been initially targeted by the aerosol can industry.

The Laserdom system was developed by Swiss company Caprosol AG. It abandons traditional welding methods and uses lasers to weld the top and bottom caps of aerosol cans to the can body. Harry Brühlmeier, the company's CEO, said at the Aerosol and Drip Forum held in Paris in early February that this new technology allows can manufacturers to use thinner metal can parts.

The system has a modular design and a footprint of just 1100 x 1170 mm. Brühlmeier says it runs at 75-90 cans per minute, and that productivity can be increased by installing additional modules.

Comparison between traditional process and new laser welding technology

"You can easily integrate our production cell into your existing can production line. Once the can bodies have been produced on your existing body welding machine, you can manufacture new top and bottom cap models on the cap punching machine using a new set of tools.

Laserdom has applied the concept of the Qube LD integrated machine, so you can produce innovative modern lightweight cans using modern processes without having to repurchase the entire production line."

Brühlmeier also said that because the high temperature of the laser affects inks and coatings, the product offers customers three options for external tin printing. These are: using a sleeve, digital printing or conventional printing with a 2-3 mm weld margin.

“If necessary, post-repair operations can also be carried out. But now, most three-piece tinplate cans do not print the seams.” He also said that powder coating can be used to protect the inner surface.

Caprosol is a new entrant into the can industry. The company is discussing with potential customers how the new technology can be applied in the future after it was launched at the Aerosol & Drip Forum.

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