Aluminium Packaging for Beer and Drinks

Aluminium cans for beer and other drinks have been in use around the world since the 1960s. Beverage cans are produced in very large volumes, which is why they are made on high-speed, high-precision production lines. Many common can sizes share the same body diameter and use the same ends (lids), differing mainly in height.

A major advantage of aluminium cans over glass is that used cans can be recycled back into new cans.

Main elements of a beverage can

Cans for beer and carbonated drinks have to withstand pressure from inside. For that reason the design combines a thick, domed base with thin walls. Once the can is filled and sealed, the internal pressure itself helps give the thin walls their strength.

How the can body is formed

• The body starts as a flat, round blank of aluminium that is drawn into a shallow cup.
• The walls of the cup are then drawn and ironed, which makes them taller and much thinner than the original sheet.
• The base is profiled so that it resists internal pressure and also sits neatly on the end of the can below it when cans are stacked.
• The top of the body is left slightly thicker so it can be necked (narrowed) and joined securely to the end.

The ends are supplied separately. They are attached to the body with a double seam immediately after the can is filled.

Material requirements

A can material has to be formed through large amounts of plastic deformation without cracking, and aluminium alloys are well suited to this. For the ends, the material must also tear predictably along the score line when the tab is opened, which aluminium does reliably.

Because the body and the end are both aluminium, the risk of galvanic effects between two different metals, which could accelerate corrosion, is kept to a minimum.

Choosing cans for your drink

Can size, format (standard or slim) and finish (plain or printed) all depend on your product and your filling line. Akshar Products supplies aluminium beverage cans and slim cans in plain silver or printed finishes. Share your requirement through our quote form and we will confirm the details.