The NSW branch of the Lithographic Institute of Australia took its members on a tour through the Visy can factory in Smithfield, where they saw how aluminium goes from sheet to can, followed by printing on the cans.

Led by engineers and factory staff, the tour began with a multimedia presentation featuring graphics accurately detailing how the aluminium is shaped, followed by a walk through the facilities, which date back to the 1980s.

Visy’s factory produces an average of two million cans a day, with the record day sitting just above two and a half million. The Smithfield factory produces for many leading brands including Sprite, Tooheys, Heineken, Captain Morgan, UDL, Jack Daniels, Pepsi, alongside a short run cans for boutique breweries.

Angus Scott, president of LIA NSW said the tour was a great way to gain an insight into how cans were made and printed. The tour proved popular with the members for ‘giving us an understanding of this part of print.’

Vintage cans were on display, from the classic No Name brands of the late 80s and 90s, to Scrooge low calorie cola.

The event was followed by a dinner at Greystanes Hotel, where members unwound and discussed what they had seen.

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