Crown offers Laser-Etched Tabs for cans to U.S. customers for the first time

Crown Beverage Packaging North America, a business unit of Crown Holdings Inc., is introducing its Laser-Etched Tabs (LET) technology to provide beverage brands in North America with a new way to engage consumers and build brand loyalty. The laser etch technology is now being offered to customers in the United States and Canada for the first time.

Given their placement and function, beverage tabs are pivotal to the drinking experience and are prime real estate for images or messages that reinforce a brand’s identity or positioning. Using a different technology than what’s available to Crown’s customers in Europe, Crown’s proprietary process uses a focused laser to remove the top coating of the tab in the required design, either to expose the clear coating beneath or reveal a second color of coating below.

“At Crown, we are always exploring opportunities to help brands innovate with beverage packaging and more effectively engage consumers,” said Neill Mitchell, vice president of marketing and strategic development at Crown Beverage Packaging North America. “Adding laser-etched tabs to our portfolio of services expands our customers’ messaging options and serves as a new vehicle to drive brand sales.”

LET’s are compatible with all can sizes and types of beverage ends. Ideal for use with soft drinks, beer and sports or energy drinks, LETs can be combined with Crown’s promotional ends, shaping, finishing and printing capabilities for added impact and engagement. The technology rounds out Crown’s existing family of tab options for beverage cans, which also include colored and incised versions.