Don't you just hate it when the task of opening a can is so painful? Or troublesome? Despite the fact that can-openers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, it still is a little cumbersome to have to use it just to open a can. Well, why not have a can that is easy to open, ensures freshness and what's more: it can be reclosed to be stored or refrigerated for future use! Now that feature alone would receive the approvals of housewives!

The invention of the Abre-Facil (Brazilian for "easy open") can, which is patented by Rojek (a major can maker in Brazil), consists of a can end which has a central vent hole sealed using a plastic plug. Once the seal is broken, the internal vacuum formed during the sterilization process is released by removing the plug and the end can be taken off. An additional benefit is that the end has a unique reclosable feature (Source:www.apeal.org). It quickly attracted the attention of the major fillers in Brazil. An additional advantage was the stackability of the pack due to the necking in of the top of the can giving greater stability on the supermarket shelf and during shipping.

Let's Get Down To Business...
It goes to show that by being just a little bit more creative and innovative, an additional small feature to your product might actually attract much more consumers to buy your product. We should learn to focus on the finer details of products at times. For instance, the Abre-Facil can is essential just like your normal can, with the dimensions being basically the same. However, its unique and additional feature of the lid is what sets it apart from other cans. This feature has attracted more clients (food companies) because it has shown that consumers of canned-food favour the practicability of this new feature. Sometimes, we do not have to come up with a new break-through design to win over the hearts of consumers. Rather, we could innovate and improve upon and already existing product, keeping in mind that it is the consumers that we have to please. By just tweaking a product, who knows, you might just secure a wider consumer base! :)

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http://www.apeal.org/Contents/Inno/Pub11-10.html
http://www.packworld.com/articles/Features/10793.html