During the international Canmaker Summit in Istanbul, two beverage packages manufactured by Broomfield, Colo.-based Ball Corp. received Cans of the Year awards. Established in 1996, the Cans of the Year Awards highlight new developments in metal packaging innovation.

Ball’s 56.8-cl. aluminum can with special finishes for Foster’s lager beer earned a silver award in the Beverage, Two Piece category. The can was manufactured in Germany for Heineken, UK Ltd.

A silver award in the Bottles category went to the 16-ounce Alumi-Tek bottle for Miller Lite beer. Ball’s Alumi-Tek bottle is resealable, lightweight, quick to chill and easy to pour, offering a bottle-like drinking experience in a sustainable metal can, the company says. The bottle was made at Ball’s manufacturing facility in Montcello, Ind.

“The can’s superior sustainability story — along with Ball’s new, innovative and eye-catching graphic capabilities — allows for valuable on-shelf differentiation for our customers,” said Jim Peterson, Ball’s vice president of marketing and corporate affairs, in a statement.

Additionally, the company recently announced another can innovation. Ball now manufactures a 568-ml. can, a popular can size in Europe, for the North American market.  

"The 568-ml. can, often called a royal or imperial pint in the United Kingdom, offers Ball’s North American customers a new option to differentiate their brands and appeal to consumers,” said Robert M. Miles, vice president of sales for Ball's metal beverage packaging division in the Americas, in a statement. "Can size has proven to be an important element of branding and Ball now offers more than 20 can sizes worldwide.”

The sleek-looking 568-ml. beverage can’s size — approximately the height of a 24-ounce can and the diameter of a 16-ounce can — provides beverage makers with valuable on-the-shelf differentiation and is ideal for energy drinks, teas, alcohol beverages and other premium products, the company says.