Method and manufacturing device for producing printed containers or container precursors

Abstract

In order to provide a method for producing printed containers or container precursors with which containers can be printed flexibly, quickly, cost-effectively and sustainably, in particular customisably, a method (100) for producing printed containers (10) or container precursors is proposed, comprising the steps of: providing (11) material blanks (12) that can be shaped into the containers (10) or container precursors to be produced; printing (13) the material blanks (12) in a printing method; and shaping (14) the material blanks (12) into containers (10) or container precursors, wherein the printing method is a digital printing method.

Description

[0001] PMS Consult UG 15.10.2025

[0002] 1

[0003] Method and manufacturing equipment for the production of printed containers or container pre-products

[0004] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing printed containers or container precursors, such as boxes or cans. The present invention further relates to a manufacturing apparatus for carrying out such a method.

[0005] Technological background

[0006] Digital printing is widely used, particularly for printing posters and information sheets. It is also frequently employed for printing on glass containers and floor coverings.

[0007] However, digital printing has not yet gained widespread acceptance in other application areas, such as the production of containers like folding cartons, cans (especially food cans or paint cans), and particularly in three-part metal printing. This is because offset printing, which is most commonly used in these applications, offers high print quality and high output. Simply replacing traditional offset printing with digital printing at the same point in the production process does not allow digital printing to leverage its strengths, such as a high degree of customization of printed products, speed, and cost advantages, for example, due to reduced waste.

[0008] Description of the invention: Problem, solution, advantages

[0009] The present invention is based on the objective of providing a method for the production of printed containers or container pre-products, with which containers, in particular individualized ones, can be printed flexibly, quickly, cost-effectively and sustainably.

[0010] RGTH P241695W012303PT PMS Consult UG October 15, 2025

[0011] 2

[0012] To solve the problem underlying the invention, a method for producing printed containers or container pre-products is proposed, comprising the steps of providing material blanks that can be formed into the containers or container pre-products to be produced, printing the material blanks in a printing process and forming the material blanks into containers or container pre-products, wherein it is further provided that the printing process is a digital printing process.

[0013] In this process, container pre-products are defined as products that have already been manufactured by printing and forming blanks of material. Only a few further steps are then required to produce containers from these pre-products. For example, a container pre-product for a box, particularly a folding box, can consist of a formed, especially folded, and glued blank of cardboard or paperboard. To manufacture the box, especially the folding box, the formed and glued blank simply needs to be unfolded. Furthermore, a container pre-product for a three-part can can consist of a cylindrically formed and welded blank of material made of, for example, aluminum or tinplate.To manufacture the cans from the semi-finished products, the further steps can consist of crimping the edge of the cylindrically formed and welded material blanks, filling and sealing with lids.

[0014] In the inventive method, the steps of providing material blanks that can be formed into the containers or container pre-products to be manufactured, printing the material blanks in a printing process, and forming the material blanks into containers or container pre-products can be carried out in a continuous production line. The inventive method can then also be described as a digital inline printing process, particularly for the production of printed containers or container pre-products.

[0015] It is also possible that the step of printing the material blanks in a printing process and / or the step of forming the material blanks into

[0016] RGTH P241695W012303PT PMS Consult UG October 15, 2025

[0017] 3

[0018] The production of containers or container pre-products is carried out in one or more separate production lines, meaning that the devices for providing the material blanks and the devices for printing on the material blanks and / or for forming the material blanks are spatially and functionally separated. In particular, there can be a significant time interval between the execution of the process steps. The method according to the invention can then also be described as a digital offline printing method, especially for the production of printed containers or container pre-products.

[0019] According to the invention, the step of printing the material blanks takes place after the provision of material blanks that can be formed into the containers or container pre-products to be manufactured, and thus later than in known methods for the production of printed containers or container pre-products, in which sheets or plates or webs of material are first printed in a non-digital printing process, for example an offset printing process, and then cut into material blanks that can be formed into the containers or container pre-products to be manufactured.

[0020] Preferably, the digital printing process is used to print, in particular to a large extent, flat or planar material blanks, i.e., material blanks that lie in a single plane. Flat or planar material blanks can also be understood to include those that deviate slightly from perfect flatness. For example, material blanks for the production of boxes, especially folding boxes, which have been provided with grooves along the intended folding lines in upstream manufacturing steps, can be considered flat or planar material blanks within the scope of this process.

[0021] The printing step preferably takes place at the last position in the process, where the material blanks are flat or even.

[0022] In particular, compared to known methods, the printing step on the material blanks is thus moved further towards the end of the production chain. This allows the digital printing process to demonstrate its advantages over other methods.

[0023] RGTH P241695W012303PT PMS Consult UG October 15, 2025

[0024] Four well-known printing processes, such as offset printing, are particularly effective.

[0025] By shifting the digital printing process further back in the production chain, especially to the end of the production chain, it becomes advantageously possible to highly individualize the containers to be printed while simultaneously reducing waste or scrap paper.

[0026] With established printing processes like offset printing, individual product or container customization is either impossible or extremely costly and labor-intensive. Instead, customization with established printing methods, particularly offset printing, is limited to small print runs or batches. This means that for each customization, print runs of, for example, 100 or more identical products or containers are produced. A separate printing plate must be provided for each print run or batch. Switching to a different printing plate for a different print run or batch customization is only possible once the entire print job for that run or batch has been completed. This necessitates storing the printed containers during the production process and continuously inspecting them.Only when the specified batch quantity has been produced in printed containers that meet the quality requirements can the switch to a different printing plate take place.

[0027] In contrast, the inventive method, in which the digital printing process is only carried out after the formable material blanks have been provided, allows for the individualization of the containers or container pre-products to be printed, either "offline" or "inline." Since a digital printing process allows for rapid switching between different print templates, permanent storage of the printed products, especially the containers or container pre-products, is no longer necessary. In particular, individually printed containers or container pre-products can be quickly reprinted and manufactured without any loss of time, as there is no need to change the printing plates, as is required in offset printing. This is because virtually all manufacturing steps for the containers or container pre-products have already been completed.

[0028] RGTH P241695W012303PT PMS Consult UG October 15, 2025

[0029] If 5 were printed, they can be reprinted directly at the end of the printing process, which greatly simplifies production.

[0030] A further advantage of the method according to the invention is that other, and in particular more cost-effective, colors and inks can be used. Especially in the food packaging sector, printing inks must be approved for direct contact with food and be harmless to the health of the end consumer. In known methods for manufacturing food packaging, the colors and designs are applied or printed onto sheets, plates, or webs of material before the material blanks are provided. These blanks are then cut into material pieces only after the inking or printing process.Since the material blanks are often stacked further in the production chain, and thus the top of one blank comes into contact with the underside of the blank above it, the printing inks for the top of the material blanks, which forms the outside of the container in the finished product, must also be approved for direct food contact or undergo processes to eliminate harmful substances contained in the printing inks in order to prevent the transfer of harmful substances to the underside, which forms the inside of the container in the finished product.

[0031] Preferably, the step of printing the material blanks takes place immediately before or simultaneously or, preferably, immediately after the step of forming the material blanks.

[0032] If the printing step of the material blanks in the digital printing process takes place immediately before the forming step of the material blanks, this means that the digitally printed material blanks can be fed to a forming device without further intermediate steps. This device then forms the material blanks into the containers or container pre-products to be manufactured. If the printing step of the material blanks takes place simultaneously with the forming step of the material blanks, this can mean, in particular, that a digital printer used for the digital printing process can be integrated into the

[0033] RGTH P241695W012303PT PMS Consult UG October 15, 2025

[0034] 6. The corresponding forming device is integrated, i.e., the step of forming the material blanks also takes place in the forming device.

[0035] Preferably, the material cutouts will be individually printed using the digital printing process.

[0036] Due to the positioning of the digital printing process near or at the end of the production chain, digital printing can particularly well exploit its strengths, such as individualization and low waste consumption, so that the material cutouts and consequently also the containers or container pre-products to be manufactured can be individually printed cost-effectively and quickly.

[0037] A further advantage is that the digital printing process is an industrial digital printing process, in particular an inkjet printing process, a thermal sublimation printing process, or a laser printing process.

[0038] In principle, any other known and suitable digital printing process can also be used within the framework of the procedure described above.

[0039] A further advantage is that the printed containers are boxes, in particular folding boxes, or food packaging, in particular beverage cartons, or that the printed container pre-products are pre-products for the manufacture of boxes, in particular folding boxes, or food packaging, in particular beverage cartons.

[0040] Furthermore, it may be provided that the printed containers are cans, in particular food cans or beverage cans, or paint cans or aerosol cans, in particular deodorant cans or hairspray cans, or that the printed container pre-products are pre-products for the manufacture of cans, in particular food cans or beverage cans, or paint cans or aerosol cans, in particular deodorant cans or hairspray cans.

[0041] RGTH P241695W012303PT PMS Consult UG October 15, 2025

[0042] 7

[0043] In existing processes for manufacturing printed boxes, food packaging, or cans, sheets, plates, or webs of material are first printed using a conventional non-digital printing method, such as offset printing. These are then cut into blanks, which are subsequently formed into the boxes, food packaging, or cans. Customizing the printing in this process is only possible at high cost and with considerable effort. The proposed method now allows for the cost-effective customization of printing on boxes, food packaging, and cans by shifting the digital printing process to the end of the production chain.

[0044] A further advantage is that the step of providing the material blanks that can be formed into the containers or container pre-products to be manufactured includes the steps of providing material sheets or material plates or material webs and cutting the material sheets or material plates or material webs into the material blanks.

[0045] The steps of providing material sheets, material plates or material webs and cutting the material sheets or material plates or material webs into the material blanks are therefore upstream of the printing of the material blanks and the forming of the material blanks in the process chain.

[0046] In particular, it can be provided that each sheet of material or each sheet of material or web of material is cut into at least two, preferably at least five, more preferably at least ten, material blanks.

[0047] The material sheets, panels, or webs are therefore not identical to the material cutouts. Rather, the material cutouts are cut from the material sheets, panels, or webs and can be printed directly and formed into containers or container pre-products without further cutting processes.

[0048] RGTH P241695W012303PT PMS Consult UG October 15, 2025

[0049] 8

[0050] A further advantage is that the step of forming the material blanks includes the step of gluing or welding the formed material blanks.

[0051] If the printed containers or container pre-products are boxes, especially folding boxes, or food packaging, especially beverage cartons, the material blanks can also be glued during or immediately after forming to provide a sufficiently stable box or food packaging, or a pre-product for a stable box or food packaging. If the printed containers or container pre-products are cans, they are welded together at the adjacent contact lines of the cylindrically formed body during forming.

[0052] With a further advantage, it is provided that the step of providing material sheets or material plates or material webs includes the step of coating a first side of the material sheets or material plates or material webs, preferably with a varnish, in particular with a primer, in a varnishing process or a non-digital printing process, in particular an offset printing process or flexographic printing process, or the step of printing a first side of the material sheets or material plates or material webs in a non-digital printing process, in particular an offset printing process or flexographic printing process.

[0053] The first side of the material sheets, material plates, or material webs is preferably the outside of the containers, which are formed from the material blanks that are in turn cut from the material sheets, material plates, or material webs.

[0054] The varnish, and in particular the primer, can preferably be a single-color, especially preferably white, or transparent varnish or primer. The varnish or primer provides a single-color or transparent background motif for the digital printing that follows later in the process chain.

[0055] RGTH P241695W012303PT PMS Consult UG October 15, 2025

[0056] 9

[0057] It is also possible that a background motif is applied during the coating or printing step of the first side of the material sheets, panels, or webs, which is identical for all subsequent customizations in the digital printing process. Such background motifs can also have more than one color.

[0058] Since the non-digital printing process preferably only applies a few, and especially single-color or transparent, background motifs to the material sheets, panels or webs, the material cutouts can be quickly and cost-effectively individualized using the digital printing process after the material sheets, panels or webs have been cut.

[0059] The step of coating the first side of the sheets, plates, or webs of material is a preceding step in the process of cutting the sheets, plates, or webs into blanks. A drying step in a drying oven may also be included between the coating step and the cutting step. The dried sheets, plates, or webs then exit the drying oven and are subsequently cut into blanks.

[0060] Similarly, for the production of printed boxes or food packaging, a first side of the respective sheets, plates or webs of material can be printed in a non-digital printing process before the step of cutting the material sheets, plates or webs.

[0061] Furthermore, it may be provided that the step of providing material sheets, plates, or webs includes the step of coating a second side of the material sheets, plates, or webs opposite the first side, preferably with a coating approved for direct contact with food, for example, an epoxy resin-based coating.

[0062] RGTH P241695W012303PT PMS Consult UG October 15, 2025

[0063] 10 or polyester-based, in a coating process or a non-digital printing process, in particular an offset printing process or flexographic printing process, or the step of printing a second side of the material sheets or material plates or material webs in a non-digital printing process, in particular an offset printing process or flexographic printing process.

[0064] The second side of the material sheets, panels, or webs is preferably the inside of the containers, which are formed from the material blanks that are in turn cut from the material sheets, panels, or webs.

[0065] In particular, containers for the food sector, such as food packaging, especially beverage cartons, or food cans or beverage cans, require an inner coating that is approved for direct contact with food.

[0066] After coating the first side of the material sheets, plates, or webs with a varnish, in particular a primer, the second side opposite the first can also be coated. The step of coating the second side of the material sheets, plates, or webs, or the step of printing the second side of the material sheets, plates, or webs using a non-digital printing process, preferably takes place before the step of cutting the material sheets, plates, or webs, and in particular before the step of printing using a digital printing process.

[0067] With a further advantage, it can be provided that the step of providing the material blanks that can be formed into the containers or container pre-products to be manufactured includes the step of intermediate storage of a large number of material blanks, wherein the material blanks are preferably coated or printed in a painting process or a non-digital printing process.

[0068] RGTH P241695W012303PT PMS Consult UG October 15, 2025

[0069] 11

[0070] In other words, the material blanks, which may be coated or printed on the first and / or second side, are temporarily stored. These temporarily stored blanks are then used for printing in a digital printing process and forming the blanks into printed containers or container components.

[0071] As explained above, the material blanks can be coated on the first side. Since the coating or primer forms the background motif for the printing, preferably customized, using the digital printing process, relatively few background motifs are required. The intermediate material blanks can then be selected from the stored material blanks as needed, particularly depending on the requirements for the background motif, and fed into the digital printing process.

[0072] This significantly reduces the amount of rejects or waste from printed containers or container pre-products. With known methods for replacing rejects, the entire production chain must be followed, starting with coating the first side of the material sheets, plates, or webs, possibly coating the second side, drying the coated sheets, plates, or webs, and cutting them into blanks.

[0073] Because the pre-printed material blanks, especially blanks, are stored with only a few background designs, the entire production chain does not need to be repeated to replace rejected materials. Instead, these pre-produced, unindividualized material blanks, which have only a few background designs, can be fed into the digital printing process as needed for each reprint. The steps required to replace rejected materials are therefore limited to the temporary storage of the

[0074] RGTH P241695W012303PT PMS Consult UG October 15, 2025

[0075] 12

[0076] Material cutting and feeding the material cuts to the digital printing process.

[0077] It is therefore preferably provided that the intermediately stored material blanks are fed to the step of printing the material blanks in a printing process and forming the material blanks into printed containers or container pre-products.

[0078] Furthermore, the step of forming the material blanks into printed containers or container pre-products can be followed by further process steps.

[0079] These further process steps can, for example, in the production or manufacture of boxes, especially folding boxes, consist of filling and / or packaging and / or delivery of the boxes. The folding boxes can also be packaged and delivered in their folded state. If the printed containers are cans, the further steps following the forming of the material blanks into printed containers or container pre-products can consist of crimping, possibly filling, closing, packaging, and delivery of the containers.

[0080] Another solution to the problem underlying the invention consists of a manufacturing device set up for carrying out a method according to one of the aforementioned claims, comprising at least one, preferably several, digital printers and at least one forming device, in particular a folding carton gluing machine or a can forming and welding machine.

[0081] The digital printers can be arranged “inline” or “offline” in the manufacturing device.

[0082] The manufacturing device can also be called a printing line.

[0083] RGTH P241695W012303PT PMS Consult UG October 15, 2025

[0084] 13

[0085] The manufacturing device comprises one, preferably several, digital printers and at least one forming device.

[0086] The manufacturing device may further comprise one or more of the following devices: a, in particular first, coating device for applying a varnish, in particular a primer, and / or an offset printing device and / or a flexographic printing device, a, in particular second, coating device for applying a coating approved for direct contact with foodstuffs and a cutting device for cutting, in particular coated, sheets or plates or webs of material.

[0087] The digital printers are positioned behind the cutting device in the manufacturing apparatus with regard to the production process.

[0088] It is particularly advantageous that the digital printer(s) is / are integrated into the forming device.

[0089] The printing of the material blanks in a digital printing process therefore preferably takes place within the forming direction, in particular within the folding carton gluing machine or the can forming and welding machine.

[0090] Another solution to the problem underlying the invention consists in providing a forming device for a previously described manufacturing device, in particular a folding carton gluing machine or can forming and welding machine, wherein the forming device comprises at least one digital printer and / or wherein at least one digital printer is integrated into the forming device.

[0091] Brief description of the characters

[0092] The invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying figures. These show:

[0093] RGTH P241695W012303PT PMS Consult UG October 15, 2025

[0094] 14

[0095] Fig. 1 shows a flowchart of a process for the production of printed containers or container pre-products,

[0096] Fig. 2 shows a first manufacturing device for carrying out the process, and

[0097] Fig. 3 shows a second manufacturing device for carrying out the process.

[0098] Detailed description of the characters

[0099] Fig. 1 shows a flowchart of a process 100 for the production of printed containers 10 or container precursors. Fig. 2 illustrates the process 100 with reference to a production device 200 set up for carrying out the process 100. Fig. 3 shows another production device 200 set up for carrying out the process 100.

[0100] According to Figures 1 to 3, the process 100 comprises the steps of providing 11 material blanks 12 that can be formed into the containers 10 or container pre-products to be manufactured, as well as the steps of printing 13 on the material blanks 12 using a digital printing process and forming 14 on the material blanks 12 into the containers 10 or container pre-products. The step of printing 13 on the material blanks 12 takes place immediately before or simultaneously with the step of forming 14 on the material blanks 12.

[0101] In the example shown in Fig. 2, the containers 10 are cans 15, such as food cans or aerosol cans. In the example shown in Fig. 3, the containers 10 are folding cartons 16.

[0102] The method 100 according to Fig. 1 will first be explained in more detail with reference to the manufacturing device 200 of Fig. 2.

[0103] The step of providing 11 material blanks 12 that can be formed into the containers 10 to be produced comprises the step of providing 17 material sheets 18 made of, for example, aluminum or tinplate, and the step of coating 19 a first side 20 of the material sheets 18 with a primer in a coating device 21, which can be designed as a painting device or an offset printing device. The coating device 21

[0104] RGTH P241695W012303PT PMS Consult UG October 15, 2025

[0105] 15 includes a drying tunnel 22 for drying the primer. The primer applied to the first side 20 of the material sheets 18 represents background motifs 23 for the digital printing process to be carried out later.

[0106] Furthermore, the step of providing 11 of the material blanks 12 includes a step following the step of coating 19 of the first side, namely the second side 25 of the material sheets 18 opposite the first side 20. In this step, a coating approved for direct contact with food, for example based on epoxy resin or polyester, is applied to the second side 25 of the material sheets 18 by means of a further coating device 26.

[0107] Subsequently, the step of providing 11 the material blanks 12 includes the step of cutting TI the material sheets 18 into the material blanks 12 using a cutting device 28. Subsequently, the material blanks 12 coated with the primer and, if applicable, the coating approved for direct contact with food, and cut to size, are temporarily stored as so-called blanks 29 in a step of intermediate storage 30.

[0108] The temporarily stored material blanks 12 are then fed, as needed, to the printing step 13 and forming step 14 into printed containers 10. One or more digital printers 31 are provided for carrying out the printing step 13. The forming step 14 of the material blanks 12 into containers 10, which in the example according to Fig. 2 are designed as cans 15, is carried out by means of a forming device 39 designed as a can forming and welding machine 32.

[0109] As can be seen from Figs. 1 and 2 and the preceding explanations, in method 100, compared to known methods, the step of printing 13 on the material blanks 12 is moved far to the end of the production chain.

[0110] Further process steps can follow the printing steps 13 and forming steps 14 of the material blanks 12. These steps can include a

[0111] RGTH P241695W012303PT PMS Consult UG October 15, 2025

[0112] 16

[0113] The process includes crimping 33 or flanges of the can ends, filling and sealing 34 of the cans 15, packaging 35 of the cans 15 and delivering 36 of the packaged cans 15.

[0114] Another variant of the method 100 according to Fig. 1 is explained with reference to the manufacturing device 200 of Fig. 3.

[0115] The step of providing 11 material blanks that can be formed into the containers 10 to be manufactured or container pre-products 12 comprises the step of providing 17 sheets of material 18 made of cardboard and the step of coating 19 a first side 20 of the material sheets 18 with an offset printing device 37. The print applied to the first side 20 of the material sheets 18 represents background motifs 23 for the digital printing process to be carried out later.

[0116] Subsequently, the step of providing 11 the material blanks 12 includes the step of cutting TI the material sheets 18 into the material blanks 12 using a cutting device 28. The cut material blanks 12 are then, as required, fed to the step of printing 13 and forming 14 into printed containers or container semi-finished products 10, which in the example according to Fig. 3 are folding boxes 16. For carrying out the printing step

[0117] 13 One or more digital printers 31 are provided. The forming step

[0118] The forming of 14 of the material blanks 12 into containers 10 or container pre-products, which in the example according to Fig. 3 are designed as folding boxes 16, is carried out by means of a forming device 39 designed as a folding box gluing machine 38. The digital printers 31 are integrated into the folding box gluing machine 38.

[0119] In the example shown in Fig. 2, further process steps can follow the steps of printing 13 and forming 14 of the material blanks 12. These steps can include packaging 35 of the folding cartons 16, particularly in the folded state, and delivery 36 of the packaged and folded folding cartons 16.

[0120] RGTH P241695W012303PT PMS Consult UG October 15, 2025

[0121] 17

[0122] List of reference symbols

[0123] 100 procedures

[0124] 200 manufacturing devices

[0125] 10 containers

[0126] 11. Providing material cutouts

[0127] 12 Material cutting

[0128] 13. Printing the material cutouts

[0129] 14. Shaping the material blanks

[0130] 15 cans

[0131] 16 folding boxes

[0132] 17. Providing material sheets

[0133] 18 sheets of material

[0134] 19 Coating one side of the material sheets

[0135] 20 First page

[0136] 21 Coating device

[0137] 22 drying tunnels

[0138] 23 Background motif

[0139] 24 Coating a second side of the material sheets

[0140] 25 Second page

[0141] 26 Coating device

[0142] 27 Cutting the material sheets

[0143] 28 Cutting device

[0144] 29 blank

[0145] 30 Intermediate storage of the material cutouts

[0146] 31 digital printers

[0147] 32 Can forming and welding machine

[0148] 33 flanging

[0149] 34 Close

[0150] 35 Packing

[0151] 36 Deliver

[0152] 37 Offset printing device

[0153] 38 Folding carton gluing machine

[0154] 39 Forming device

[0155] RGTH P241695W012303PT

Claims

PMS Consult UG 15.10.2025 18 Patent claims 1. Method (100) for the production of printed containers (10) or container pre-products, comprising the steps of providing (11) material blanks (12) that can be formed into the containers (10) or container pre-products to be produced, printing (13) the material blanks (12) in a printing process and forming (14) the material blanks (12) into containers (10) or container pre-products, characterized in that the printing process is a digital printing process.

2. Method (100) Claim 1, characterized in that the step of printing (13) the material blanks (12) takes place immediately before or simultaneously or, preferably immediately, after the step of forming (14) the material blanks (12).

3. Method (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the Material blanks (12) are individually printed in the printing process, and / or that the digital printing process is an industrial digital printing process, in particular an inkjet printing process or a Thermal sublimation printing or a laser printing process.

4. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printed containers (10) are boxes, in particular folding boxes (16), or food packaging, in particular beverage cartons, and / or that the printed containers (10) are cans (15), in particular food cans or beverage cans, or paint cans or aerosol cans, in particular deodorant cans or hairspray cans.

5. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the step of providing (11) the material blanks (12) that can be formed into the containers (10) or container pre-products to be manufactured comprises the steps of providing (17) material sheets (18) or material plates or material webs and cutting (27) the material sheets (18) or material plates or material webs into the RGTH P241695W012303PT PMS Consult UG 15.10.2025 19 material blanks (12) are comprised, wherein preferably each sheet of material (18) or each sheet of material or web of material is cut into at least two, more preferably at least five, and even more preferably at least ten, material blanks (12).

6. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the step of forming (14) the material blanks (12) comprises the step of bonding or the step of welding the formed material blanks (12).

7. Method (100) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the step of providing (17) material sheets (18) or material plates or material webs comprises the step of coating (19) a first side (20) of the material sheets (18) or material plates or material webs, preferably with a varnish, in particular with a primer, in a varnishing process or a non-digital printing process, in particular an offset printing process or flexographic printing process, or the step of printing a first side (20) of the material sheets (18) or material plates or material webs in a non-digital printing process, in particular an offset printing process or flexographic printing process.

8. Method (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that the step of Providing (17) of material sheets (18) or material plates or material webs, the step of coating (24) one of the second sides (25) of the material sheets (18) opposite the first side (20) or Material sheets or webs, preferably with a coating approved for direct contact with food, in particular based on epoxy resin or polyester, in a coating process or a non-digital printing process, in particular an offset printing process or flexographic printing process, or the step of printing a second side (25) of the material sheets (18) or material sheets or webs in a non-digital printing process, in particular an offset printing process or flexographic printing process. RGTH P241695W012303PT PMS Consult UG 15.10.2025 20 9. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the step of providing (11) the material blanks (12) that can be formed into the containers (10) or container pre-products to be produced comprises the step of intermediate storage (30) of a plurality of material blanks (12), wherein the material blanks (12) are preferably coated or printed in a painting process or a non-digital printing process.

10. Method (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that the intermediately stored material blanks (12) are fed to the step of printing (13) the material blanks (12) in a printing process and forming (14) the material blanks (12) into printed containers (10) or container pre-products.

11. Manufacturing device (200), configured to carry out a method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one, preferably several, digital printers (31) and at least one forming device (39), in particular a folding carton gluing machine (38) or a can forming and welding machine (32).

12. Manufacturing device (200) according to claim 11, characterized in that the digital printer(s) (31) is or are integrated into the forming device (39).

13. Forming device (39) for a manufacturing device (200) according to claim 11 or 12, in particular a folding carton gluing machine (38) or a can forming and welding machine (32), characterized in that the forming device (39) comprises at least one digital printer (31) and / or that at least one digital printer (31) is integrated into the forming device (39). RGTH P241695W012303PT

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