Manufacturing

By Alucan Editorial Team | Updated: August 2026 | ISO 9001 / FSSC 22000 certified

From aluminum coil to finished can: the key stages that determine quality, consistency and performance.

How Aluminum Beverage Cans Are Manufactured

Modern aluminum cans are produced through a highly efficient process called drawing and ironing (D&I). A single aluminum disk is transformed into a thin-walled, one-piece can body in seconds.

Step-by-Step Process

Cupping: A circular blank is punched from aluminum coil and drawn into a shallow cup.
Drawing & Ironing: The cup is redrawn and ironed through rings to stretch the wall and form the can body.
Trimming: The top edge is trimmed to precise height.
Cleaning: The body is washed to remove lubricants and debris.
Coating: Internal lining is sprayed and cured to protect beverage and aluminum.
Decorating: Dry-offset lithography applies up to 8 colors plus varnish.
Necking: The top is narrowed to accept the end diameter (200 or 202).
Palleting: Finished cans are inspected, counted and packed for shipment.

Quality Control

Inline cameras and gauges check wall thickness, height, diameter, coating weight and print registration. Destructive tests sample buckle strength, axial load and internal pressure resistance.

Production Scale

Alucan supplies aluminum beverage cans and matching easy open ends produced on a 200,000 m² manufacturing base that handles high-volume OEM orders per year.

Standard Can Formats: Key Dimensions

Format	Capacity	Finished Height	Body Diameter	Neck Size	Cans per 40′HQ
Standard	330 ml	115.19 mm	66.04 mm	202	124,480
Standard	355 ml	122.22 mm	66.04 mm	202	118,256
Standard	473 ml	157.23 mm	66.04 mm	202	93,360
Standard	500 ml	167.84 mm	66.04 mm	202	87,136
Sleek	330 ml	146.05 mm	57.40 mm	202	132,352
Sleek	355 ml	155.73 mm	57.40 mm	202	124,080
Slim	250 ml	134.00 mm	53.00 mm	200	162,656
1L Sharing	1000 ml	204.80 mm	84.10 mm	209	42,240

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Frequently Asked Questions About Can Manufacturing

How are aluminum cans made?

Aluminum cans are made through a drawing and ironing process. A circular blank is cupped, redrawn and ironed to form a thin-walled body. The can is then trimmed, cleaned, internally coated, decorated, necked and palletized for shipment.

What is a two-piece can?

A two-piece can consists of the can body and a separate easy open end. The body is formed from a single aluminum disk, while the end is stamped, scored and tabbed before being seamed onto the filled can at the customer’s filling line.

What quality checks are performed?

Inline cameras and gauges check wall thickness, height, diameter, coating weight and print registration. Destructive tests sample buckle strength, axial load, internal pressure resistance and seam integrity.

What is the production capacity?

Alucan supplies aluminum beverage cans and matching easy open ends produced on a 200,000 m² manufacturing base that handles high-volume OEM orders per year.

Is recycled aluminum used?

Aluminum cans are highly recyclable and can be back on shelf as new cans within 60 days. Alucan supports sustainable packaging goals through efficient material use and recyclable, label-free can decoration.

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Precision at Every Production Stage

Each manufacturing stage is controlled to tight tolerances. Cup thickness, wall ironing ratios, coating adhesion, print registration and neck dimensions all affect final performance. Our inline monitoring and laboratory testing ensure that every batch meets internal specifications and international food-contact standards.

Scale and Flexibility

With multi-million-can daily capacity and a full suite of diameters and ends, Alucan supports both large beverage brands and emerging craft producers. We run blank cans for fast turnaround and custom-printed campaigns for brand launches, all managed under ISO 9001 and FSSC 22000 systems.