To celebrate Pac-Man’s 45th anniversary, Candy Can and Ardagh Metal Packaging are launching a series of 45 uniquely designed, special edition collectible cans printed with H!GHEND technology.
Designed to enable one design to be printed on a shell surface, H!GHEND utilizes CMYK colours and enables texts, logos, QR codes and hashtags, among other designs, to be printed on side walls with controlled distortion. Random tab orientation is also made possible.
The technology will be applied to Ardagh Metal Packaging’s Sleek 33cl cans with a matte finish and facilitate the creation of 45 uniquely designed ends featuring Pac-Man-themed artwork. At end-of-life, the cans are intended to be kept as collectable items.
The cans will be sold in Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Czechia, Hungary, Lithuania, and Denmark, targeting consumers with an interest in gaming, design, and/or unique drinks flavours.
“Pac-Man is a cultural icon that’s instantly recognizable and universally loved,” said Sander de Jonge, Founder of Candy Can. “At Candy Can, we’re all about fun and creativity, so teaming up with AMP felt like the perfect match.
“When we saw what was possible with the H!GHEND technology, we knew it was a chance to do something truly unique - turning each can into a collectible moment and offering something the market hasn’t seen before.”
“With the right design and technology, a can becomes more than packaging – it becomes a storyteller,” added Gerlof Toenhake, director Sales at Ardagh Metal Packaging. “Thanks to our H!GHEND innovation, this special edition series doesn’t just celebrate Pac-Man, it captures 45 years of cultural history in every detail.”
All the way back in 2023, Ardagh Metal Packaging applied its H!GHEND technology to Heineken Enterprise’s Pélican craft beer cans; the on-pack design encouraged consumers to flip the pack upside down, mixing the yeast throughout the beer and optimizing the drink’s flavour.
Since then, Budweiser and Draftline, AB InBev’s in-house creative agency, have unveiled their own line of limited-edition ‘Home Again’ cans to celebrate the England Lionesses winning back-to-back European football championships.
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