Background

used to describe such a process is “canning”. Canned food has become an important part of the human
diet in developed countries during the past century. It is of particular value in those parts of the world
where no or limited refrigeration exists for storing food. It is a means of safely preserving foodstuffs
without microbiological deterioration.
Metal packaging has a double function as a protection against any external influence on the foodstuff
during heat treatment and storage and as a sales and information pack. The basic requirement for such
a package is the hermetic tightness of the container. The food, which is sterilised by the heat process,
ought to be protected against any re-infection with microorganisms or any other kind of influence from
the outside. This rather complex requirement is often described as “container integrity”.
Metals are used for many food contact applications, such as saucepans and coffee pots as well as
packaging. This monograph only considers metal packaging for foodstuffs. As many of these contain an
organic layer (referred to as coating) on the metal surface between the foodstuff and the metal, the topic
of coatings has been given a special emphasis.
Metal packaging
Main type of metal packaging
Types of metals
• In the food sector there are strinct rules of
applicable materials (metal poison, heavy
metal trace, etc,)
• Aluminium (cans, containers, closures)
• Steel/Iron (cans, closures, drums
Food cans
Three pieces vs two pieces can
Structure of food can
Three pieces welded can
• It has three elements: a welded body, and can ends at bottom and
top.
• The body is cut from a rectangular blank which maximizes material
use, and the ends are cut from smaller circular blanks to limit scrap.
• The base of the can may be necked slightly for stackability and
beads – concentric ridges - on the body are provided to prevent
implosion during the early stage of the retorting process.
• Circular beads in the end panel provide for expansion during the
later stage of the retort process.
• Double seams on the top and bottom give additional stability.
Two pieces welded can
• Drawn and Ironed (D&I) or Drawn and Wall
Ironed (DWI)
• Faster than 3 pieces welded can (2,500 cans
per minute) producing
• The can is made from a disc, then drawn into a
low cup of final diameter, which is wall ironed
(reduction though compression) to form a high
can body.
• The top end is a separate component (put after
filling).
• Beads on the body and ends provide strength
and flexibility to withstand pressure differences
during retort/cooking
End plates bottom end
Aluminium beverages can
• Every year approximately 280 billion beverage cans are manufactured
world wide , and more than 85 percent of them are made from
aluminium
Foils
• Tin (not used nowadays)
• Aluminium foils: wrapping of item
• Main application is confectionery products
packaging : chocolate bar, pralines, candies,etc.
• Plain and printed version also
Aluminium tray
Continuous thread closures
Continuous thread
closures are commonly
known as CTs and they
are screwed onto the
crown of a glass, plastic
or metal container. Inside
the caps, a gasket forms a
tight seal when pressed
against the container's
mouth
Aluminium
Composition
Continues….
Advantages
•  Light 
• Strong
• High strength-to-weight ratio       
• Resilient
• Ductile at low temperatures       
• Corrosion resistant
• Non-toxic       
• Heat conducting      
• Reflective
Continues….
Disadvantages
• Corrosion
• Cant see contents
• Storage issues
• Acidity
Environmental regulations
• The proportion by weight of metal packaging within the totalquantity
of packaging put on the market is shown
Continues….

• Aim is to reduce impact of packaging waste to environment

• Further its improve packaging waste management and enhance to
recovery and recycling of packaging materials
• Due to magnetic property steel is easiest type of packaging to recover
for recycling