High-speed direct-to-can lithography with premium varnishes, spot highlights and anti-counterfeit features.
OEM Aluminum Can Printing Services
Alucan offers full-service OEM dry-offset lithographic printing on aluminum cans. From design support to production-ready print cylinders, we help brands translate artwork into high-impact shelf presence.
Printing Capabilities
Capability
Specification
Process
Dry-offset lithography (direct-to-can)
Colors
Up to 8 colors + varnish
Finishes
Glossy, matte, frosted, tactile
Decorations
Spot highlights, metallic, fluorescent
Anti-counterfeit
Laser-etched tabs, under-tab QR codes
Our OEM Process
Artwork review: We check separations, trapping and color consistency.
Proofing: Digital or struck-digital proofs for approval before cylinder engraving.
Production: High-speed printing with inline coating and quality inspection.
Final inspection: Color density, registration and cosmetic checks before packing.
Why Print With Alucan?
Direct-to-can printing delivers sharper graphics and lower per-unit cost than shrink sleeves at volume. Combined with our can manufacturing, you get a single-source supply chain and consistent color matching across lots.
Every OEM print program follows a structured workflow that protects color accuracy and registration from artwork approval through final inspection.
Artwork review and pre-press: We analyze separations, trapping, and color consistency, then prepare print-ready files matched to our dry-offset process.
Proofing: Digital or struck-digital proofs are submitted for approval before cylinder engraving, so you confirm color direction before committing to tooling.
Cylinder engraving and line setup: Plates are produced for each color station and mounted on the printing line. Our lines support up to 8-color artwork plus protective over-varnish.
Production printing: Cans are decorated inline with a water-based over-varnish base coat that protects the print during handling, transit, and filling-line decasing.
Final inspection: Color density, registration, cosmetic defects, and coating integrity are checked before cans are palletized for shipment.
This process is suitable for 3104-H19 aluminum can bodies in Standard, Sleek, Slim, Super Sleek, and 1L formats, with common runs starting around one 40HQ container per SKU.
Why Brands Choose Alucan for OEM Printing
Direct-to-can dry-offset printing delivers sharper graphics and lower per-unit decoration cost than shrink sleeves at volume. Because cans are printed before filling, brands achieve full 360-degree graphics with no seam or label application step.
Single-source supply chain: Can manufacturing, printing, and end matching are coordinated under one program, reducing lot-to-lot color variation.
Finish flexibility: Choose glossy, matte, frosted, white base, tactile, or fluorescent finishes to differentiate on shelf.
Anti-counterfeit options: Add laser-etched hollow-tab logos or under-tab QR codes to support brand protection and CRM campaigns.
End-to-end support: From artwork review to container loading, our team manages pre-press, production, quality control, and logistics.
Whether you are a global beverage brand or a craft startup, our printing service is designed to match your volume, timeline, and brand guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions About OEM Can Printing
We support up to 8-color dry-offset lithography plus a protective over-varnish. This lets brands reproduce detailed artwork, brand colors, and photographic images directly on the can body.
Available finishes include glossy, matte, frosted, white base, tactile, metallic, fluorescent, and spot highlights. We can also combine finishes to create premium shelf differentiation.
Yes. Our pre-press team reviews separations, trapping, and color consistency, then supplies digital or struck-digital proofs for approval before cylinder engraving.
Typical MOQ starts around one 40HQ container per SKU for unprinted bodies. Custom-printed programs usually require a higher volume to amortize plate and color-setup costs; contact us for a project-specific quote.
Yes. We offer laser-etched hollow-tab logos and under-tab QR codes to support brand protection, consumer engagement, and CRM campaigns.
