Printing process for a metal container and printer for printing on a metal container

Abstract

A printing process for a metal container includes the steps: Heating the metal container, in particular formed as a metal bottle ready for filling, to a pre-treatment temperature lying in an interval between 100 degrees Celsius and 250 degrees Celsius, cooling the metal container to a temperature below 100 degrees Celsius, locally activating a printing zone, formed on an outer surface of the metal container to increase a surface energy of the printing zone and/or locally heating the printing zone to a printing temperature which is in an interval between 30 degrees Celsius and 70 degrees Celsius, printing the printing zone with a printing method.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.