When Did Beer Cans Change From Steel To Aluminum?

1950 – 2000 – 1953 – Robert Abplanal invents a crimped valve that can dispense pressurized gas. This significantly improves the aerosol can design.1955 – Cans participated in A-Bomb civil defense tests in Nevada in order to test whether canned foods were safe to eat after Nuclear explosions (they were found safe).1957 – Aluminum was introduced in metal can making.1959 – First all-aluminum beer can.

When did steel beer cans go away?

Primo Beer, 1958 – Primo Brewing Company was originally founded in Honolulu in 1898, and their 11-ounce can in 1958 was the first all-aluminum beer can to hit market. Straight-sided steel cans would go on to be produced until 1984, but for them this was the beginning of the end.

Did beer cans used to be steel?

From Church Key to Pop Top, a Look Back at Canned Beer Until very recently, if one wanted to buy cheap beer, the solution was to visit a convenience store, reach for the bottom shelf, and buy Keystone Light or Milwaukee’s Best — always in a can. Cheap equalled can.

But today, that dynamic has been totally turned on its head, with more than 500 craft breweries in over 40 U.S. states choosing to package their carefully created beers in a can. But how did beer end up canned in the first place? Why has canned beer been maligned for so long? And why are craft breweries now turning to cans, too? Even though canned foods date back to 1813, the first successful attempt to put beer in a can wasn’t accomplished until 1935 and was the offspring of a partnership between the American Can Company and the New Jersey-based Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company.

Less than two years before that, the American Can Company managed to overcome two challenges which, until then, had precluded them from canning beer — the company successfully produced cans strong enough to hold the pressurized carbonated beverage and “keglined” the inside of the cans with a special coating that prevented any metallic taste from flavoring the beer.

Krueger’s Finest Beer, Krueger’s Cream Ale and Krueger’s Special Beer (all at 3.2 percent ABV — the highest legal level for beer at the time) became the first beers canned and about 4,000 were imbibed by the lucky few in Richmond, Virginia. Though today beer cans are made from aluminum, those early cans were constructed out of heavy gauged steel coated with a thin layer of tin to prevent rusting.

This tinning of steel cans became so ubiquitous that even today aluminum cans are still sometimes called “tin cans.”

Facebook/ The quality of the beer sealed in a can is identical to or even slightly better than the same beer in a bottle.

In 1958, Hawaii Brewing Company became the first brewery to store beer in aluminum cans. Fast forward to today, and now virtually all beer cans in this country are made out of an aluminum alloy, a metal brewers prefer thanks to its lighter weight and resistance to rusting.

In addition to its packaging material, the beer can’s shape also changed over time. Though the first cans looked like cylinders with flat tops and bottoms, producers eventually introduced cans with cone tops. Cone topped cans became popular with small breweries because they were easier to fill and could be sealed with the same crown caps as glass bottles, and thus did not require a brewery to purchase new canning equipment.

By the late 1950s, however, cone top cans all but disappeared. Currently almost all beer cans are the classic cylinders with flat tops and bottoms. While opening a can of beer these days is as simple as flipping a tab, original flat top beer cans required a device called a “” in order to access the brew inside.

And printed on the can itself were instructions on how to open. Using the church key, an imbiber would puncture a triangular hole at the top of the beer from which he/she would drink, in addition to puncturing a smaller hole on the opposite side to let air into the can and facilitate the free flow of beer.

Cone tops, on the other hand, could be opened with the same tool used for glass bottles. Facebook/ A major beer can breakthrough came in 1962 when Iron City, a brewing company in Pittsburg, used a self-opening can. The “” can had a small flat tab riveted to the center of the can’s top that one pulled back in order to puncture the can and then tear off the removable perforated piece,

Three years later, a pull ring replaced the flat tab (similar to how pet food cans open). While self-opening cans eliminated the need for a separate opening gadget, they introduced a new problem — littering. This environmental nuisance was fixed in 1975 when Reynolds Metals Company designed a stay-tab, which the company introduced to the public through Falls City Brewing Company in Kentucky.

This stay-tab is currently used on virtually all beer and soda cans around the world. Canned beer’s reputation as a poor quality and thus dirt cheap brew partly owes to the fact that until quite recently most canned beer fell to mass-produced lagers. Canned beer’s reputation as a poor quality and thus dirt cheap brew partly owes to the fact that until quite recently most canned beer fell to mass-produced lagers.

• The cost of buying canning equipment and the high price of steel — and then aluminum — ensured that only large breweries could afford the investment.
• Another reason for many to hold canned beer in low regard was the misconception that the can added a metallic taste to the drink — it didn’t.
• Nowadays, the stigma of canned beer is gone.

The metallic flavor myth has been thoroughly debunked and canning has become affordable even for small craft breweries. In 2002, Colorado brewery Oskar Blues boldly started canning their hoppy Dale’s Pale Ale and the canned beer revolution was on, with craft breweries touting canned beer’s more durable, more stackable, easier to stock, lighter weight, recyclable and opaque (sunlight is the mortal enemy of beer) attributes.

1. What’s more, canned beer can be hermetically sealed, beer in cans cools faster than bottles and it is great for outdoor activities like camping, hiking, mountain climbing and fishing.
2. But the ultimate test for any beer drinker answers the question, “How does good beer in an aluminum can taste?” According to many a craft connoisseur, the quality of beer sealed in a can is identical to or even slightly better than the same beer in a bottle.

In fact, many people, this beer writer included, can’t tell the difference between craft beer in a can or craft beer from a bottle. : From Church Key to Pop Top, a Look Back at Canned Beer

How old are steel beer cans?

2. Weight/Gauge of Metal – Older cans (1935 to mid-1940s) were made of a thicker gauge steel. As time passed and manufacturing processes improved, the gauge and weight of cans decreased. Cans were made (mostly) of steel from 1935 through about 1980. With many exceptions, steel cans generally date between 1935 and 1980 and aluminum cans date after 1980.

When were cans made of aluminum?

The first aluminum beverage can was manufactured by Reynolds Metals Company in 1963 and used to package a diet cola called ‘Slenderella.’ Royal Crown adopted the aluminum can in 1964, and by 1967 Pepsi and Coke followed.

Why did Heineken change cans?

Heineken Refreshes Look of Can Packaging WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – With consumers increasingly choosing cans over bottles and zero sign of a slowdown in this market share shift, Heineken is refreshing its brand identity with a generous splash of its iconic green color and bold red star to help pop on shelves and at accounts.

Heineken is introducing a brand-new look to its cans, a package type that accounts for over 57 percent of the beer category and is prime for the summer drinking occasion. The newly redesigned cans and new point of sale materials featuring the bold update hit stores starting in May. “We’re leveraging our equity with a bigger, bolder brand name wrapped around the lower half of the can and reinforcing our immediately-recognizable red star in the most prominent position,” said Lorenda Alward, brand manager, Heineken USA.

“More and more beer drinkers prefer cans to bottles and we’re stamping a more visual, impactful identity on our cans to stake out claim to this growing set. Heineken drinkers are proud of what they drink, and this new can design makes a statement, both in hand and in the on-prem.” The timing of the Heineken can refresh ushers in on-the-go summer occasions when drinkers flock to cold, refreshing beverages for their warm weather moments.

Cans, which chill quickly, keep quality and taste and provide a warm nostalgia with the crisp pop on opening. On top of that, with can volume growing at an average of 11 percent over the last two years, cans are driving growth in the category and is a package option Heineken is excited to invest in for the short and long term.

Heineken cans are available in 12 oz.12- 18- and 24-packs, 16 oz and 24 oz. About Heineken Heineken USA Inc., the nation’s leading high-end beer importer, is a subsidiary of Heineken International NV, the world’s most international brewer. Key brands imported into the U.S.

1. Are Heineken– the world’s most international beer brand, Dos Equis, Tecate and Strongbow Hard Apple Ciders.
2. Heineken USA also imports Amstel Light, Red Stripe, Tiger Beer, Newcastle Brown Ale, Birra Moretti, Bohemia and more.
3. For news and updates, follow us on Twitter @HeinekenUSACorp, or visit HEINEKENUSA.com.

: Heineken Refreshes Look of Can Packaging

Why are cans aluminum and not steel?

Is it aluminium? –

Aluminium cans are mainly used for drinks – most drinks sold in the UK come in aluminium cans – but the metal is also used for cans for foods, oils, chemicals and other liquids. Aluminium cans are more malleable and lighter than steel cans (aluminium is one-third as heavy as steel), and also do not rust or corrode. Aluminium is an element (Al, atomic number 13), whereas steel is an alloy made mainly of iron and carbon. Aluminium is alloyed with small amounts of different metals like magnesium or manganese to give it the properties needed for each specific task. Aluminium cans are not magnetic. Recyclable aluminium cans will have the ‘alu’ symbol printed somewhere on them. Only aluminium cans can be sold at recycling centres offering cash from cans.

Are Coke cans aluminum or steel?

Applications – The bodies of beverage cans are made of aluminum alloy (Al) 3004, while the ends are made of Al 5182, making it the largest volume alloy combination in the industry. Al 5454 has been widely used for rail car body construction for heavy load applications, and Al 5083/5383 has also been used in high speed single-hull ships, like the ‘Proserio’.

• Al–Mg alloys such as Al 5454, Al 5086, Al 5083/5383 are used for the welded structures of offshore oil rigs and platforms applications to protect against high humidity and salt water exposure.
• In the automotive industries, Al 5754 has been used for body-in-white and Al 6111-T4 is used for external body panels.

Al 7XXX series are used in guard rail and truck bumpers due to their toughness. Current applications of Al-tailor welded blanks (TWB) include body parts for high performance cars, such as Lamborghini Gallardo, and generally in the manufacture of bonnets, front door inners, rear rail inners, body side outers, etc.

Are steel beer cans worth anything?

What are my beer cans worth? – The value of a vintage beer cans can run the spectrum of virtually nothing to upwards of $25,000. The three factors that impact a cans worth are: rarity, desirability and quality, Any can missing one or two of these factors will suffer in value.

What are modern cans made of?

7. Selected references – FPF Dossier Why are cans coated?

Bomgardner MM.2013. No clear winner in race to find non-BPA can linings. C&EN.91:24-5. Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 October 2004 on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food,

Can production and market data

LaKind JS.2013. C an coatings for foods and beverages: Issues and options, Int J Technol Policy Manag.13:80-95. Robertson GL.2006. Food Packaging: Principles and Practice, Second Edition. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA. Pegg D.2013. ” PPG Packaging Coatings – Bringing innovation to the surface. ” (pdf) Page B, Edwards M, and May N.2011. Metal packaging. In: Food and Beverage Packaging Technology,R. Coles and M. Kirwan, eds. Wiley Online Library. pp 107-35. Rexam.2015. ” Annual Report 2015. ” (pdf) European Coatings.2012. ” Can and coil coatings have a significant market impact. ”

Coatings: properties and alternatives

LaKind JS.2013. Can coatings for foods and beverages: Issues and options, Int J Technol Policy Manag.13:80-95. Robertson GL.2006. Food Packaging: Principles and Practice, Second Edition. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA. Oldring PKT, and Nehring U.2007. Packaging materials – 7. Metal packaging for foodstuffs. ILSI Europe Report Series.1-44. Simal-Gandára J.1999. Selection of can coatings for different applications, Food Rev Int.15:121-37. NAMPA.2009. ” Considerations in development of can coatings technologies. ” (pdf) Whitaker R.2007. Metal packaging and chemical migration into food. In: Chemical Migration and Food Contact Materials,K.A. Barnes, C.R. Sinclair and D.H. Watson, eds. Woodhead Publishing Limited, Cambridge. pp 251-70.

Migration, exposure & biomonitoring

2015. Scientific Opinion on the risks to public health related to the presence of bisphenol A (BPA) in foodstuffs, EFSA Journal.13:3978. Grob K, Spinner C, Brunner M, et al.1999. The migration from the internal coatings of food cans; summary of the findings and call for more effective regulation of polymers in contact with foods: a review, Food Addit Contam.16:579-90. Geueke B.2013. ” FPF Dossier: Bisphenol A. ” Food Packaging Forum. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.33495. (pdf) Geueke B.2014. ” FPF Dossier: Non-intentionally added substances. ” Food Packaging Forum. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.33514. (pdf) Geens T, Apelbaum TZ, Goeyens L, et al.2010. Intake of bisphenol A from canned beverages and foods on the Belgian market, Food Addit Contam A.27:1627-37. Cao XL, Corriveau J, and Popovic S.2010. Sources of low concentrations of bisphenol A in canned beverage products, J Food Prot.73:1548-51. Simoneau C, Theobald A, Hannaert P, et al.1999. Monitoring of bisphenol-A-diglycidyl-ether (BADGE) in canned fish in oil. Food Addit Contam.16:189-95. Theobald A, Simoneau C, Hannaert P, et al.2000. Occurrence of bisphenol-F-diglycidyl ether (BFDGE) in fish canned in oil, Food Addit Contam A.17:881-7. Paseiro-Cerrato R, MacMahon S, Ridge CD, et al.2016. Identification of unknown compounds from polyester cans coatings that may potentially migrate into food or food simulants, J Chromatogr A.1444:106-13. Magami SM, Oldring PK, Castle L, et al.2015. Migration of melamine from thermally cured, amino cross-linked can coatings into an aqueous ethanol food simulant: aspects of hydrolysis, relative reactivity and migration, Food Addit Contam A.32:403-9. Geens T, Aerts D, Berthot C, et al.2012. A review of dietary and non-dietary exposure to bisphenol-A, Food Chem Toxicol.50:3725-40. Vandenberg LN, Hauser R, Marcus M, et al.2007. Human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), Reprod Toxicol.24:139-77. Wang L, Wu Y, Zhang W, et al.2012. Widespread occurrence and distribution of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) and its derivatives in human urine from the United States and China, Environ Sci Technol.46:12968-76.

Health effects

2015. Scientific Opinion on the risks to public health related to the presence of bisphenol A (BPA) in foodstuffs. EFSA Journal.13:3978. Gao XQ, and Wang HS.2014. Impact of bisphenol a on the cardiovascular system – epidemiological and experimental evidence and molecular mechanisms, Int J Environ Res Public Health.11:8399-413. Heindel JJ, Newbold RR, Bucher JR, et al.2015. NIEHS/FDA CLARITY-BPA research program update, Reprod Toxicol.58:33-44. Khan D, and Ahmed SA.2015. Epigenetic regulation of non-lymphoid cells by bisphenol A, a model endocrine disrupter: potential implications for immunoregulation, Front Endocrinol.6:91. Le Corre L, Besnard P, and Chagnon MC.2015. BPA, an energy balance disruptor, Crit Rev Food Sci.55:769-77. Li J, Mao R, Zhou Q, et al.2016. Exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) in Wistar rats reduces sperm quality with disruption of ERK signal pathway, Toxicol Mech Method.26:180-8. Michalowicz J.2014. Bisphenol A – Sources, toxicity and biotransformation, Environ Toxicol Phar.37:738-58. Vandenberg LN.2014. Low-dose effects of hormones and endocrine disruptors. In: Endocrine Disrupters.G. Litwack, ed. pp 129-65. Geueke B.2013. ” FPF Dossier: Bisphenol A. ” Food Packaging Forum. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.33495. Poole A, van Herwijnen P, Weideli H, et al.2004. Review of the toxicology, human exposure and safety assessment for bisphenol A diglycidylether (BADGE). Food Addit Contam.21:905-19.2004. Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food (AFC) on a request from the Commission related to 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane bis(2,3-epoxypropyl)ether (Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether, BADGE). The EFSA Journal.86:1-40. Yang YJ, Lee SY, Kim KY, et al.2010. Acute testis toxicity of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether in Sprague-Dawley rats. J Prev Med Public Health.43:131-7. Chamorro-Garcia R, Kirchner S, Li X, et al.2012. Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether induces adipogenic differentiation of multipotent stromal stem cells through a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma-independent mechanism. Environ Health Persp.120:984-9. Mittag N, Förster S, Hoppe S, et al.2006. Bioassay guided analysis of migrants from can coatings. J Verbrauch Lebensm.1:345-53.

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How can I tell how old a beer can is?

For cans, the pull date is located on the bottom of the can. Location of the pull date code on secondary packaging is determined by package artwork and is generally printed in the upper left-hand corner of the packaging. It can be on the long or short side of the package.

What year did cans change?

Canning of Beverages Becomes a Can-Do – It wasn’t until 1930 that technology had advanced to the stage where beverages could be packaged in cans. Beer was available in cans from 1935 – closely followed by sodas, with their higher acidity and higher pressures. Flat-Tops for the US The first flat-top can appeared for sale in Richmond, Virginia. These cans were factory sealed and required a special opener called a ‘churchkey’ to consume the contents. As shown in the advertisement ( pictured left ), can manufacturer Schlitz were pretty pleased with themselves when they developed the ‘soft-top’ can with an aluminium lid for easier opening.

You still needed to use the churchkey, but apparently it required a lot less effort. “Some day all beer cans will open this easy!” – indeed! Cone-Tops for the UK Flat-top cans didn’t make their way to the UK until 1950. Until this time, beverage cans in the UK had aesthetic similarities to a bottle – steel cans with cone shaped tops, sealed with crown corks.

Because it was more akin to a bottle shape it could be filled using the existing equipment for bottles. The next major development in can manufacturing came in 1958 when the first aluminium can was produced. In 1959, an American man called Ermal Fraze devised the can-opening method that would come to dominate the canned beverage market: the pull-tab.

1. This invention had a huge impact on the popularity of cans as containers for beverages as it brought a new level of convenience to the consumer.
2. The ring-pull eliminated the need for a separate opener tool by attaching an aluminium pull-ring lever with a rivet to a pre-scored wedge-shaped tab section of the can top.

The ring was riveted to the centre of the top, which created an elongated opening large enough that one hole simultaneously served to let the beverage flow out while air flowed in. However, it was felt at the time that the pull-tab, while solving one problem – created another. People would frequently discard the pull-tabs on the ground as litter, or drop them into the can and risk choking on them. Coors addressed this issue with the invention of the push-tab – the push-tab was a raised circular scored area used in place of the pull-tab.

It needed no ring to pull up. Push tabs never gained a wide popularity as there was a concern they created a safety hazard – the consumer’s finger on pushing the tab into the can was immediately exposed to the sharp edges of the opening. The ring-pull design we have on our beverage cans today was introduced in 1989 for soft drinks, and 1990 for beer cans.

The last major advancement in can manufacturing was in 1992 with the development of widget technology for cans of draught beer, and later for cans of cider in 1997. The widget device stores a tiny amount of gas which is released into the beer when the can is opened to form a creamy head – arguably one of the biggest innovations in can manufacturing in the second half of the 20 th century.

How can you tell if a can is steel?

Steel Cans and Tin Cans (soup cans, veggie cans, coffee cans, etc.) – Most people call them “tin cans,” but the containers your green beans come in are mostly made of steel. The term “tin” comes from the fact that these cans have a micro-thin coating of tin inside, to protect the flavor and prevent the can from corroding.

How can you tell a steel or tin can from an aluminum one? See if a magnet attaches to it. Steel is magnetic, and aluminum is not. Steel cans make up about 90% of the U.S. food can market. Americans use about 100 million steel cans every day. That’s 36.5 billion cans a year. About 71% of steel cans are recycled, making them one of the most recycled packaging products in America.

In addition, steel cans typically contain at least 25% recycled steel, but many are made almost entirely of recycled steel. Where does this recycled steel come from? Mainly from scrap metal. Recycling steel saves at least 75% of the energy it would take to create steel from raw materials.

When did Coke stop using steel cans?

The 1960’s – Aluminium has been used for beverage cans since as early as 1960, first for frozen juice concentrate. But, as early as 1961 Reynolds Metals Co., now part of Pittsburgh-based Alcoa Inc., armed with a study showing that the public preferred aluminium cans over tin plated steel cans, established its Reynolds Can division and soon made inroads into the marketplace with its easy-open aluminium can lids.

Why did they change cans?

The History of Soda Cans – Image via Flickr by billsoPHOTO Until around 1980, most manufacturers produced soda cans with standard neck ridging, which refers to the lines you see on the neck of soda cans. This ridging helps strengthen the can as it expands and contracts, reducing the risk of the can rupturing under pressure.

1. While there are benefits to the ridged design, an increasingly competitive marketplace in the 1980s led most can manufacturers to reduce the amount of aluminum they used, which changed the shape of soda cans.
2. These manufacturers made can lids smaller by altering the shape of the neck and the size of the can opening.

By reducing the diameter of the can, manufacturers could save money on aluminum materials. Before the 1980s, soda cans had a 211 measurement, which means they had a diameter of 2 11/16 of an inch. Over time, the industry standard became smaller until it reached a 202 measurement, where it currently stands today.

Why are beer cans slim now?

Retailers get more product on the shelf. Slim, tall cans fill a smaller surface space, which allows retailers to place more items on their shelves. The average slim can measures 6.125 inches tall and has a 2.25-inch diameter. A standard can is 4.83 inches tall with a 2.6-inch diameter.

Why does Heineken taste so different?

Heineken’s special A-yeast is responsible for the beer’s rich flavour and taste – The pure strain of yeast was cultivated in a lab in 1886 by a student of Louis Pasteur and is still used solely by Heineken today. The yeast is highly significant to the process – it acts as a catalyst, kick-starting the reaction as well as imbuing a unique taste to the brew.

Why did they change Carlsberg?

Carlsberg has reacted to consumer distaste for its lager by admitting that it was “probably not” the best in the world, as the lager has been rebranded as Carlsberg Danish Pilsner. Photo: Carlsberg UK/PA Wire Josie Clarke Wed 17 Apr 2019 at 12:24 Carlsberg has reacted to consumer distaste for its lager by admitting that it was “probably not” the best in the world.

Why did we switch from tin to aluminum?

What Happened to Tin Foil? – We don’t use tin foil anymore for a simple reason — something better came along. Aluminum foil was first used as food packaging in the early 1910s; specifically, it was used to wrap candies such as Toblerone bars and Life Savers.

Why choose aluminum over steel?

How aluminum is more effective and efficient than steel – Aluminum is a versatile, lightweight, durable, and ductile metal. It is often chosen over other metals for various applications because it performs effectively and efficiently in a wide array of environments.

1. The benefits of aluminum versus steel are many.
2. Compared to other metals, including steel, aluminum weighs less by volume.
3. Aluminum is one-third the weight of other metals, including steel, brass, and copper.
4. According to the Aluminum Association, aluminum automotive structures are more cost-effective than steel automotive structures: using aluminum has a weight savings of up to 55 percent compared to steel structures.

In the marine transportation industry, aluminum structures are also more cost-effective compared to steel. Aluminum hulls have a weight savings of 35 to 45 percent. If aluminum is used instead of steel to construct marine superstructures, there is a weight savings of 55 to 65 percent.

Fuel and battery consumption is more cost-effective in aluminum than steel structures because lightweight vehicles use less energy. According to Drive Aluminum, electrical cars that have advanced aluminum body structures use fewer batteries than those with steel body structures, which results in a weight savings of up to 3,000 (US) dollars per unit.

Compared to steel hybrid cars, aluminum hybrid cars experience fuel savings of 5 to 7 percent. Unlike steel, aluminum is naturally non-corrosive. According to Futura Industries, aluminum forms an oxide film that naturally protects the metal from corrosion.

How Stuff Works explains that this natural corrosion protection occurs when aluminum reacts with oxygen. The resulting barrier protects the metal from various compounds, including water and further contact with oxygen. This natural barrier is one reason that aluminum is more beneficial in some environments than carbon steel and some stainless steels.

The British Stainless Steel Association explains that stainless steel can corrode in “aggressive conditions.” Steel must undergo painting or other treatments to protect it from corrosion. Aluminum surpasses steel in heat conductivity. Ask any chef and they will tell you that aluminum-based cookware is more efficient for cooking food than steel-based cookware.

Aluminum kettles boil water more quickly than stainless kettles because aluminum conducts heat more quickly than steel. When it comes to thermal conductivity, aluminum has a fourfold increase compared to steel. According to Secat, a research laboratory that studies aluminum products and processes, aluminum’s thermal conductivity reduces cooling cycles more efficiently than steel in molding operations.

Aluminum also has a higher electrical conductivity rate than steel. This high electrical conductivity, combined with aluminum’s low melting point compared to that of steel, means that aluminum has the ability to increase electrical discharge machining rates fivefold compared to steel.

• Steel is not very malleable, which is why many manufacturers choose to use aluminum.
• Steel is restricted to certain shapes and formations, whereas aluminum’s elasticity means that engineers and designers have more freedom to create complex structures.
• According to Wenzel Metal Spinning, the spinning process can crack or rend steel, even though it is a strong metal.

Truly, aluminum’s ductility produces safer and more efficient structures than steel.

Do all aluminum cans have BPA?

Do Coca-Cola cans and bottles contain BPA? | FAQ Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used in thousands of materials, including some plastics. We use BPA in the linings of our beverage cans and in other packaging such as metal caps. The linings protect the quality and taste of the beverage inside. Extensive reviews have been conducted by regulatory agencies not only in Canadabut also Australia, the European Union, Japan, New Zealand and the United States.

These organizations include Health Canadaalong with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).Each agency has determined the trace levels of BPA found in can linings poses no risk to consumers. Why is BPA in Coke can liners? BPA is a chemical used worldwide in making thousands of materials, including some plastics, coatings, and adhesives.

Virtually all metal cans used for food and beverage products are lined on the inside with a coating that uses BPA as a starting material. This coating guards against contamination and extends the shelf life of foods and beverages. BPA is also used in the manufacture of shatter-resistant bottles, medical devices (including dental sealants), sports safety equipment and compact disc covers.

• It has been used for more than 50 years.
• We are aware that a limited number of metal can producers are using an older generation of can lining material as an alternative for some specialty products.
• Such alternatives do not work for the mass production of aluminum beverage cans, and they do not work for all types of food or beverages.

Are your products safe to consume if theyare in aluminum cans with liners containing BPA? All of our products, regardless of the type of packaging used, are safe. Independent scientists have thoroughly reviewed the data and have assured us that our beverage cans pose no public health risk.Ourown scientists also have reviewed the data and are confident about our packaging safety.

In addition, the scientific body of evidence has been reviewed independently by several government regulators throughout the world. These regulators have repeatedlystated that current levels of exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) through beverage packaging pose no health risk to the general population, including children.

Aluminum can liners that use BPA are the industry standard and have been used safely for more than 50 years. In fact, they have improved food and beverage safety by providing protection against food-borne diseases. A number of studies and reviews conducted in 2010 and 2011, including one study lauded by a leading endocrinologist as being “majestically scientific and cautious,” support the prevailing evidence that BPA is safe for humans.

• Why do you maintain that the levels of BPA found in aluminum Coke cans are safe?
• he clear scientific consensus is that there is no risk to the public fromthe miniscule amounts of BPA found in Coca-Cola or other beverage cans.
• That consensus is accurately reflected in the opinions expressed by those regulatory agencies whose missions and responsibilities are to protect the public’s health.

Regulatory agencies in Canada,Australia, the European Union, Japan, New Zealand and the United States all have conducted extensive reviews and determined that current levels of exposure to BPA through food and beverage packaging do not pose a health risk to the general population.

1. We believe it is reasonable and appropriate to take the lead from these agencies that regulate our business.
2. In 2010 and 2011, in response to the highly publicized controversy, some scientific and regulatory groups decided to undertake their own reviews of the existing literature.
3. The German Society of Toxicology reviewed the complete body of research –some 5,000 studies –and concluded that BPA exposure represents no noteworthy risk to the health of the human population.

The Japanese National Institute for Advanced Industrial Science and Technology; the World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization (WHO/FAO); and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) also reviewed existing research in 2010 and came to the same conclusion.

1. Learn more about the Japan,WHO/FAO and EFSA reviews.
2. EFSA issued a statement in December 2011 reaffirming its position after reviewing a report by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) on BPA.
3. EFSA noted that its risk assessment (which includes a hazard assessment) was based on the question at hand —the safety of BPA from foods –whereas ANSES conducted a hazard assessment only, which included non-dietary exposure to BPA,

Read the full EFSA opinion. In addition, three new studies (described below), including one lauded by a leading endocrinologist as being “majestically scientific and cautious,” support the prevailing evidence that BPA is safe for humans. Are you finding a replacement for liners containing BPA? The Coca-Cola Company does not make aluminum cans or epoxy liners –but we are working with a number of packaging suppliers, leading-edge technology companies and research organizations that are developing possible alternatives.

1. While we have been asked numerous times to share more information about these efforts, information about status, timelines, materials and processes being evaluated is proprietary to our suppliers’ businesses and to their suppliers, and we are not in a position to divulge it.
2. While we believe our role in this process is important, the metal packaging industry is highly standardized and we are just one company involved in this process.
3. If you are convinced liners containing BPA are safe for Coke and other beverage cans, why are you working with your suppliers to look for alternatives?

We are confident that all of our packaging is safe. We also recognize that some of our consumers and shareowners have expressed concerns and initiated campaigns to legislate alternatives to can linings containing BPA. While we do not believe such action would be based on sound science, our continuous improvement efforts in this area will help ensure we are prepared for any eventuality so that we can protect our business and our consumers’ and shareowners’ interests.

1. I’ve read reports that your shareowners have submitted proposals asking you to eliminate BPA from your cans and you have refused to do so.
2. Is that true? No.
3. The requests from a few of our shareowners, submitted as Shareowner Proposals at our2010 and 2011 Annual Meetings, were to create a report on our efforts at Coca-Cola to find an alternative to can liners with BPA.

Our position relative to the production of such a report has been publicly available in our Proxy Statements,which can be accessed on our website. It is also important to note that about 75 percent of the votes cast by our shareowners for the 2011 Annual Meeting were against the proposal for a report.

When did aluminum cans stop using pull tabs?

Ring pull tabs were used until 1975.

When did they start lining cans with plastic?

History – “The History of the Liner – Technicians at the American Can Company, even before Prohibition, began toying with the idea of putting beer in a can. As early as 1929, Anheuser-Busch and Pabst experimented with the canning process. Schlitzeven proposed a can design that looked like a small barrel.

1. The major problem the early researchers were confronted with, however, was not strength, but the can’s liner.
2. Several years and most of the early research funds were spent to solve this perplexing problem.
3. Beer has a strong affinity for metal, causing precipitated salts and a foul taste.
4. The brewers called the condition “metal turbidity”.

The American Can Company produced the flat or punch top can in 1934. The lining was made from a Union Carbide product called “Vinylite”, a plastic product which was trademarked “keglined” on September 25, 1934.”

What year did cans change?

Canning of Beverages Becomes a Can-Do – It wasn’t until 1930 that technology had advanced to the stage where beverages could be packaged in cans. Beer was available in cans from 1935 – closely followed by sodas, with their higher acidity and higher pressures. Flat-Tops for the US The first flat-top can appeared for sale in Richmond, Virginia. These cans were factory sealed and required a special opener called a ‘churchkey’ to consume the contents. As shown in the advertisement ( pictured left ), can manufacturer Schlitz were pretty pleased with themselves when they developed the ‘soft-top’ can with an aluminium lid for easier opening.

• You still needed to use the churchkey, but apparently it required a lot less effort.
• Some day all beer cans will open this easy!” – indeed! Cone-Tops for the UK Flat-top cans didn’t make their way to the UK until 1950.
• Until this time, beverage cans in the UK had aesthetic similarities to a bottle – steel cans with cone shaped tops, sealed with crown corks.

Because it was more akin to a bottle shape it could be filled using the existing equipment for bottles. The next major development in can manufacturing came in 1958 when the first aluminium can was produced. In 1959, an American man called Ermal Fraze devised the can-opening method that would come to dominate the canned beverage market: the pull-tab.

• This invention had a huge impact on the popularity of cans as containers for beverages as it brought a new level of convenience to the consumer.
• The ring-pull eliminated the need for a separate opener tool by attaching an aluminium pull-ring lever with a rivet to a pre-scored wedge-shaped tab section of the can top.

The ring was riveted to the centre of the top, which created an elongated opening large enough that one hole simultaneously served to let the beverage flow out while air flowed in. However, it was felt at the time that the pull-tab, while solving one problem – created another. People would frequently discard the pull-tabs on the ground as litter, or drop them into the can and risk choking on them. Coors addressed this issue with the invention of the push-tab – the push-tab was a raised circular scored area used in place of the pull-tab.

• It needed no ring to pull up.
• Push tabs never gained a wide popularity as there was a concern they created a safety hazard – the consumer’s finger on pushing the tab into the can was immediately exposed to the sharp edges of the opening.
• The ring-pull design we have on our beverage cans today was introduced in 1989 for soft drinks, and 1990 for beer cans.

The last major advancement in can manufacturing was in 1992 with the development of widget technology for cans of draught beer, and later for cans of cider in 1997. The widget device stores a tiny amount of gas which is released into the beer when the can is opened to form a creamy head – arguably one of the biggest innovations in can manufacturing in the second half of the 20 th century.

When did can tops change?

When and why did breweries stop using pop-top cans? Welcome to, in which The Takeout ‘s resident beer expert answers everything you’ve ever wanted to know about beer but were too drunk to ask. Have a question? Shoot it to [email protected] Hey Kate, Recently when I was out hiking, I found an old rusty beer can with a pull-tab.

I’m curious how old it is. When did breweries stop using these? And why? Thanks,Kenny Hey Kenny, I can’t resist a beer question that lets me do a bit of historical digging. Beer and soda cans have gone through three major stages in the U.S. The first earliest beer cans, which debuted in 1935, sported that required a tool called a church key to open.

This design had an obvious drawback: You needed to have the key—or some creativity—to open your can. Some breweries experimented with that could be opened with a standard bottle opener rather than a church key, but again, you had to have a tool on hand to get inside your can.

1. The cone-top cans began to fall out of favor in the 1950s and were largely out of use by 1960.
2. At this time, beer was still overwhelmingly consumed on draft or in bottles; only a quarter of beer in the U.S.
3. Was consumed in cans in 1953, according to,
4. By 1963, a Dayton, Ohio man named Ernie Fraze thought he had a better idea.

He invented and patented the, the type you found. The can had a built-in tab that eliminated the need for a tool, a big improvement in terms of convenience. But the tabs and rings had their drawbacks, too. “You could cut your finger badly on them. The tab, which was then replaced by a ring, would sometimes pull off and leave you with this sharp jagged piece of metal sticking up,” Dr.

Mark Benbow, a beer-can collector and a history professor at Marymount University, tells The Takeout, “The very first ones were known as ‘finger rippers’.” Discarding the metal rings polluted forests and beaches—Jimmy Buffett bemoans this in his song Margaritaville (“I blew out my flip flop/Stepped on a pop top/Cut my heel had to cruise on back home”)—and,

Again, the industry innovated. In 1975, the Reynolds Metals Co. the StaTab, the can opening we still see on beer and soda cans today. Instead of ripping off, the tab stayed afixed to the can, saving litter and eliminating choking hazards. Benbow says they caught on quickly, and by 1980, most breweries had completely switched from pop-top cans to StaTabs.