Irish Food Packaging Information Service
    Tinplate and Aluminium Cans

Properties of tinplate and aluminium cans when used as a packaging material for foodstuffs

Advantages of tinplate and aluminium cans in food packaging

Disadvantages of tinplate and aluminium cans in food packaging

Major Suppliers of Cans for Food Packaging

Advantages of tinplate and aluminium cans in food packaging

• Provide excellent barrier properties (gases, water vapour, light, odours)
• Can be used in on-line filing processes
• Cheap to produce in large quantities
• Good mechanical strength
• Can be heat treated, suitable for sterile products, can be hermetically sealed
• Aluminium can be easily recycled
• Not suitable for use in the microwave oven

• Shipping an empty can takes up a lot of space
• Once in storage cans must be protected from moisture and/or humidity (if not lacquered or coated).
• Steel (main component in tin plate cans) is not easily recycled
• Shelf space is not maximised by cans
• Cans are only produced in certain sizes and shapes
• Cans are considered old fashioned by the modern consumer

Corrosion of steel based cans is an oxidation-reduction reaction and can occur as a result of cans being in contact with dissimilar metals or being stored in a humid environment.

Cans are coated/enamelled/lacquered both internally or externally to prevent corrosion and,

• To prevent interaction of the can with the food product
• To aid in handling and decorating the can

Can coatings/enamels/lacquers should have the following properties

• Impart no odour or flavour to the food
• Must be acceptable for contact with foods – i.e. non-toxic
• Must protect the can and contents during the required shelf-life
• Must not flake of the plate during can manufacture or storage
• Must be of nominal cost, easy to apply and quickly cured.
• Must withstand all temperatures encountered during processing and storage.

Quality control tests on cans

• Can seal integrity is the most commonly carried out quality control test on cans.

Major Suppliers of Cans for Food Packaging

HOME PAGE