NCI Packaging is launching Digital Metal Decoration technology in Australia and New Zealand, advancing agility, design flexibility, and sustainability in metal packaging beyond the beverage sector. CEO Frauke Tyrrell discusses the company’s innovation journey with Lindy Hughson.
Invention in metal embellishment has long been part of NCI Packaging’s DNA. Since the corporation first introduced metal printing to Australia in the 1950s, it has continued to invest in new technologies, including UV curing, computer-to-plate printing, and automated quality control. The connection of Digital Metal Decoration (DMD) at NCI’s Sydney Centre of Decoration Excellence shows the next step in that heritage. “This speculation fits logically into our long-period decoration plan,” Tyrrell articulates. “Offset printing will endure as vital for an extended period, but technology permits us to provide the flexibility and suppleness the industry now demands. It’s the flawless accompaniment.” The new DMD media, installed in October, enables direct digital printing on metal without the need for plates.
It associates high-resolution imagery, vibrant color reproduction, and varied surface finishes with the ability to produce briefer runs at lower cost, opening new opportunities for brand owners across both manufacturing and food packaging. NCI has been exploring digital options for over 10 years. Tyrrell remembers observing early prototypes in 2018, but the excellence then “wasn’t there”. The advancement came when an Italian partner, a fellow member of the International Packaging Association (IPA), collaborated with the machine producer to refine the structure.
“The machine was initially industrialized by a company with knowledge of printing numerically on ceramic tiles, which shares similar substrate features with metal,” she clarifies. “After years of growth, the quality now strives directly with balance. That was the time we knew the moment was right.”
For NCI, the choice reflects both technical readiness and a planned response to regional market requirements. “New Zealand and Australia are smaller sectors with smaller SKU counts. The capacity to print cost-efficiently at low volumes is a game-modifier,” she declares.
Customer response, Tyrrell says, has been “one of exhilaration, especially from marketing teams”. The skill permits brands to trial new patterns, launch partial editions, or run seasonal elevations without the cost or delay of outdated plate-based procedures.
26 January 2026
26 January 2026
23 January 2026
23 January 2026