AN innovative ‘no-look’ label that matches the quality of printing directly on to aerosol cans is in the running for a top industry award.  

The reel-fed SASO (Self Adhesive Shrink On) label, which features an image of a snakeskin being unzipped from around an aerosol can, has been nominated in the Graphic Design category of the Print, Design and Marketing Awards 2016. 

Created by Springfield Solutions, the label enables companies to apply 360o graphics over the full height of an aerosol can while utilising all the benefits of digital printing including short print runs, lower pre-press costs and fast lead times.  

The can is then finished by applying heat to the neck and base, shrinking the label to create a perfect fit and ensuring the finish matches that of conventional printing.  

Matt Dass, joint managing director of Springfield Solutions, said the nomination highlighted both the design skills of the company and the innovation that went into creating the SASO label.  

Matt said: “Our designers came up with the idea of the zip and the snakeskin because we wanted to demonstrate that the label wraps snuggly around the can. It has certainly caught the attention of a lot of companies that produce aerosol cans and other, similar, products. 

“SASO reproduces the quality of finish of traditional printing but, due to the advances of digital printing, we can produce them more quickly and in print runs of any size.  

“Traditional printed aerosol cans are usually subject to a minimum order quantity of tens of thousands of units, but using reel–fed SASO labels printed on a digital printer means you can have as many or as few as you need, down to the 100s or even 10s, without compromising on quality.”  

Matt added; “We have experimented with the amount of heat needed to produce a perfect finish and have got that right,”  

“Creating a self-adhesive shrink-on label via digital print is a revolution and we’re delighted that the label, and our design work, has been recognised by this nomination.”  Springfield Solutions will find out if they walk away with the top prize at an awards ceremony held aboard the Silver Sturgeon on the River Thames in London, on Thursday, June 30.