Aluminum Can Lifecycle Series - Part 3: Inside The High-Speed Journey From Aluminum Sheet To Finished Can

For brands and manufacturers in the beverage industry, the aluminum can may look simple—but its production is one of the most precise and efficient industrial processes in modern packaging. At Jinzhou Packaging, together with our partner manufacturing facilities, every can is engineered through dozens of high-speed, high-precision steps before it ever reaches a filling line.

This article (Part 3 of our Aluminum Can Lifecycle Series) takes you behind the scenes to understand how a roll of aluminum becomes the lightweight, durable, and beautifully printed can in your hand.

01. A High-Speed Factory Behind Every Can You DrinkAn aluminum can is not just a container. It is an engineering achievement created through coordinated machinery, micro-level precision, and extreme production speed.

Inside our partnered can-making facilities:

• Production speed: 2,000+ cans per minute per line

• Equipment accuracy: within 0.01 mm

• Daily output per line: over 1 million cans

What seems like an everyday beverage package is actually the result of a fast, automated, and highly technical manufacturing journey.

02. Cup Pressing: Transforming Aluminum Coil Into the First Can Shape

Process name: Cup Pressing
Material: 3104 aluminum alloy coil
Equipment: High-speed cupper press

The aluminum coil is fed into a press where an upper and lower die rapidly punch out shallow, round cups—this is the earliest form of the can body.

Engineer’s insight:
Cup forming determines the initial wall uniformity, which directly influences the strength, weight, and stability of the final can.

03. Deep Drawing & Ironing (DWI): The Most Critical Transformation

This is where the can truly takes shape.

The aluminum cup passes through multiple progressive dies that:

• Draw it taller

• Iron it thinner

• Shape the final cylindrical form

After this step:

• Wall thickness: approx. 0.10 mm

• Height: more than 130 mm

Engineer’s insight:
The can’s light weight, durability, and ability to withstand internal pressure are all achieved in this stage.

04. Bottom Forming & Trimming: Strength and Precision

Reinforced dome bottom

The bottom of a can is never flat. It features a standardized concave dome, engineered to improve:

• Pressure resistance

• Stability under carbonation

• Transport safety (reduced risk of bursting)

Trimming for uniform height

Because drawing creates uneven edges, a high-speed trimming blade removes excess material, ensuring every can meets the exact height specifications required by filling lines worldwide.

05. Cleaning & Drying: Preparing for Printing

Before printing, all lubrication from earlier steps must be removed.

The cleaning process includes:

• Multi-stage washing

• Ultrasonic degreasing

• Steam rinsing

• High-temperature tunnel drying

Engineer’s insight:
The cleaner the surface, the better the ink adhesion and overall print quality. A clean can is essential for high printed yield.

06. High-Speed Multi-Color Printing: Giving Each Can Its Identity

Printing is often considered the “soul” of an aluminum can.

Using 6–8 color high-speed decorators, cans can be finished with:

• Glossy or matte effects

• White base coating

• Tactile emboss-like textures

• High-precision gradients and skin-tone reproduction

At Jinzhou Packaging, we specialize in:

• High-definition artwork

• Ultra-low color variation

• Smooth large-area color layouts

In just a few seconds, the can rotates through cylinders that apply vibrant, durable, food-contact-safe inks.

07. Internal Coating: Food-Grade Protection

Inside the can, a thin, uniform food-safe liner is sprayed to prevent the beverage from contacting metal directly.

Benefits include:

• Corrosion resistance

• No metallic taste

• Improved shelf life and flavor stability

The coating is then cured in a high-temperature oven to ensure full adhesion and safety.

08. Necking: The Precision Step That Reduces Material and Cost

The top of the can is gradually reduced from about 60 mm to 52–54 mm.

Why multiple steps?
The neck is shaped through 20–30 small reductions, each performed by a dedicated die to avoid cracking or deforming the can.

Advantages:

• Smaller lid → lower cost

• Sleeker appearance

• More stable sealing

• Camera-based inspection ensures consistency

  
  

09. Testing, Quality Control & Palletizing

Every finished can undergoes strict quality tests based on global export standards:

• Sidewall thickness measurement

• Dome pressure test

• Internal coating integrity test

• Print color variation check

• Neck roundness inspection

• Leak detection

Only qualified cans are automatically palletized and prepared for shipment to beverage factories worldwide.

Final Thoughts

The aluminum can is one of the most technically optimized packaging products in the world—lightweight, strong, hygienic, recyclable, and infinitely customizable. At Jinzhou Packaging, we work with advanced manufacturing partners to deliver high-quality cans with consistent performance for breweries, beverage brands, and OEM/ODM projects.

This is the story behind every can you hold: a blend of industrial innovation, engineering precision, and high-speed production.