Companies Have Launched CanJET Digital Proofing Ecosystem
Sun Chemical, CMA Imaging, and X-Rite Pantone released a new digital proofing system for metal packaging.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Consumer Goods
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Sun Chemical, CMA Imaging, and X-Rite Pantone have announced the commercial availability of the CanJET digital proofing ecosystem. The workflow is designed to accelerate design approvals and color matching for metal packaging prior to production.
Why it matters
The system reduces the need for conventional pilot-line proofing by offering a faster, flexible alternative for color and opacity management. It enables brands to iterate designs more efficiently, potentially streamlining the transition from concept to commercial manufacturing.
The system provides access to more than 4,000 color options for metal packaging applications. It integrates into the SunColorBox toolkit to deliver high-resolution direct-to-can printing capabilities.
The players
Sun Chemical
This company is a leading producer of printing inks, coatings, and supplies that serves the global packaging industry.
CMA Imaging
A firm with 20 years of experience, it specializes in color management software and digital proofing solutions.
X-Rite Pantone
Headquartered in 11 countries with 800 employees, this organization is a standard-setter in color science and measurement technology.
Raf Mulla
He is an industry expert who presented on the complexities and advancements of digital color management.
The details
The workflow utilizes spectral data captured by a handheld spectrophotometer and a cloud-based platform for remote proofing. By combining extended color gamut inks with direct-to-can printing, the system ensures precise opacity matching.
Timeline
September 29 to October 1, 2026: The CanJET ecosystem was introduced at the IMDPA conference.
October 1, 2026: Raf Mulla delivered a presentation regarding digital color management.
October 7, 2026: The commercial availability of the CanJET workflow was announced.
Market Landscape
The CanJET workflow builds upon the industry recognition established by the METPACK 2026 Bronze Innovation Award to push for wider adoption of digital proofing. This integration signals a broader shift as manufacturers move away from traditional pilot-line proofing toward cloud-based workflows.
Brands and packaging manufacturers can expect reduced wait times for design approvals due to the elimination of traditional, slow pilot-line proofing. This digitalization also allows for more precise color consistency across diverse metal can projects.
The takeaway
Digital color management tools allow companies to iterate designs with greater speed and accuracy than legacy physical proofing methods. Adopting cloud-based spectral data workflows can significantly compress timelines in the complex metal packaging supply chain.
Further reading
Explore industry trends in Consumer Goods to see how digital ecosystems are changing manufacturing standards.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Paper, Film and Foil Converter.
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