Preparing for the Era of Printed Electronics – Part 2

Brands are continually seeking new ideas and different means by which to engage consumers and they look to their packaging partners for new inspiration and concepts.

So what happened when Crown engaged the next generation of packaging designers from Brunel University to research and model new concepts that would leverage printed electronics to engage consumers at a higher level?

Beauty and Brains

Because of the opacity of an aerosol container, it is typically difficult for consumers to gauge when their products like deodorant or hairspray are running low. As a result it’s easy to run out without warning. Brunel students proposed adding a printed LED indicator on the aerosol package, powered by the thermoelectric charge generated by the drop in temperature inside the can when product is dispensed. The result is a self-powered aerosol container that senses – and clearly displays – the volume of product remaining in the can, reducing the risk of coming up short before a date!

Cans for the Fans

Sports fans love to promote – and share – their intense loyalty to their favorite teams. Typically, beverage cans targeted at fans have been limited to printing team colors, logos or images of players on the can itself – the students at Brunel, however, took this to a whole new level. By adding an Actuator Printed Battery to the can, brands can power a whole suite of effects and capabilities on their packaging. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) could be used to light up the can in team colors, for example, or micro-speakers could be employed to create sound effects when supporters toast one another.

Near Field Communication (NFC)

The use of Near Field Communication (NFC) tagging within the can could link content to consumers’ smartphones, enabling multiple fans to interact, take part in activities through connected social networks, or share content. Enhanced beverage cans (or Experiential Packaging) maintain the feeling of elation, excitement and enjoyment – keeping consumers involved and engaged with the brand.

Watch out for Part 3 of this series, where we will continue to showcase some of the students’ eye-catching ideas. In the meantime, learn more about innovation at Crown.