Grand Rapids, Mich. – September 29, 2026 -- X-Rite Pantone, Sun Chemical, and CMA Imaging have made the CanJET digital proofing ecosystem commercially available across North America, targeting beverage brands, can makers, and packaging converters seeking to cut color-approval cycles on metal packaging.
CanJET replaces pilot-line prototyping with direct-on-can measurement
The connected workflow matches color and opacity directly on actual cans rather than through conventional pilot-line proofing, addressing a technical challenge unique to metal packaging: the reflective surface of cans alters final color appearance, requiring opacity matching alongside color matching. The system combines CMA Imaging's CanJET printing hardware, Sun Chemical's extended color gamut inks, PantoneLIVE digital color references, and X-Rite spectrophotometer measurement technology.
PantoneLIVE library offers more than 4,000 achievable metal decoration colors
Brands and supply chain partners can select from over 4,000 color options across metal packaging formats and finishes as objective digital targets. Color development starts with spectral data captured via the X-Rite Ci64 handheld spectrophotometer, which feeds into CMA Imaging's Colorportal cloud platform for AI-powered remote matching against PantoneLIVE references or proprietary brand color libraries. CanJET then executes high-resolution direct-to-can printing on open, closed, and necked cans, letting teams evaluate proofs on the actual container before production.
System won Bronze Innovation Award at METPACK 2026
The workflow received industry recognition at METPACK 2026 prior to this commercial rollout. It now operates as part of Sun Chemical's SunDigiProof service within its SunColorBox color management toolkit, enabling onsite, on-demand printing of color-accurate inkjet swatches and mock-ups.
KCP Connexion cites flexibility in color research on metal cans
Renaud van Cauter, Operations Director at Belgium-based packaging design firm KCP Connexion, said the workflow lets his team assess Pantone colors directly on metal cans and fold color research into design and printability discussions with brands.
Gerardo Cerros, Founder and CEO of CMA Imaging, said the system converts a traditionally equipment-intensive proofing process into a connected digital workflow, reducing repeated sampling. Richard Hayden, Sales and Business Development Manager at Sun Chemical, said the tool helps packaging producers cut trial work and tighten control over color approval to protect brand equity for their customers.
Companies to demonstrate system at IMDPA conference through October 1
The three companies will present the commercially available CanJET ecosystem at the IMDPA Annual Conference running September 29 to October 1, 2026, in Itasca, Illinois. Raf Mulla, Metal Packaging Specialist at X-Rite, is scheduled to deliver a session titled "Advances in Managing Digital Color for the Metal Dec Sector" on October 1.