Focus Session - Canning, More Trouble Than It Seams

Description: This will be a packaging focus session on canning & seam quality. Presenters will discuss both potential common & uncommon seam defects and/or issues from their experience as field experts in this area. Presenter topics will also cover seam specifications, seamer adjustments & maintenance, & proper equipment cleaning. Attendees will walk away with a better understanding the seaming process, what specifications need to be met, & critical areas to watch out for to ensure success by maintaining product integrity.

Relevance: Consumer preference continues to shift away from bottles, resulting in more breweries packaging their products into cans. Canning operations became even more prevalent in the industry during the pandemic as brewers pivoted away from draft to adapt & meet consumer demand for off-premise packaging. Ensuring this process is executed with precision, cleanliness, & consistency is critical for operational efficiency, maintaining product quality, & providing optimal consumer experience. Can seams, seamers, & the seaming process are critical aspects of both product quality & consumer safety for any brewery or producer utilizing this package format. Can integrity is most vulnerable at the seam & is the first line of defense in preserving the packaged product.

Brewing Summit 2025 Theme: Numerous breweries had to rapidly change their packaging strategy to maintain share of market during the pandemic. Although draft volume has increased over the past couple of years, it has not rebounded to where it was pre-pandemic & cans are still the preferred container for the modern consumer. Evolving & adapting to this new environment requires producers to have the knowledge & training to successfully operate a robust & efficient canning operation to meet the expectations of the customer & support a healthy bottom line.