Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Maragondon Branch

Maragondon, Cavite

Joshua A. Sismaet BSME-V

TIN CANS

What is Tin Can?

A tin can, tin (especially in British English, Australian English and Canadian
English), steel can, steel packaging or a can, is a container for the distribution or storage of
goods, composed of thin metal. Many cans require opening by cutting the "end" open; others
have removable covers. Cans hold diverse contents: foods, beverages, oil, chemicals, etc.
Steel cans are made of tinplate (tin-coated steel) or of tin-free steel. In some dialects,
even aluminum cans are called "tin cans".

History of Tin Can

The tin canning process was allegedly created by Frenchman Nicolas Appert and the
idea passed to British merchant Peter Durand who was used as an agent to patent Girard's idea
in 1810. The canning concept was based on experimental food preservation work in glass
containers the year before by the French inventor Nicholas Appert. Durand did not pursue food
canning, but, in 1812, sold his patent to two Englishmen, Bryan Donkin and John Hall, who
refined the process and product, and set up the world's first commercial canning factory on
Southwark Park Road, London. By 1813 they were producing their first tin canned goods for
the Royal Navy. By 1820, tin canisters or cans were being used for gunpowder, seeds, and
turpentine.

Types of Tin Can

 2 Piece Tin Can
2-piece cans consisting of two components of (1) a body integrated with a bottom lid
and (2) a lid with a lip (an opening).
 3 Piece Tin Can
3-piece cans consisting of three components of (1) a bottom lid, (2) a cylindrical body
and (3) a top lid (a lid with a lip [an opening] for a beverage can)

Advantages of Tin Can

 Tin Can over Carton
 Tin Cans are much stronger than Carton. The stronger the material the more secure and
safe the food stored inside. It can protect the product in transit and prevent leakage or spillage,
while also reducing the need for secondary packaging.
 Tin can over Plastic
Tin Cans are much stronger than Carton. It can protect the product in transit and prevent
leakage or spillage, while also reducing the need for secondary packaging.
 Tin Can over Glass
Tin Cans are less fragile than Plastic. The less fragile the material the higher resistance
to breaking. It can protect the product in transit and prevent leakage or spillage, while also
reducing the need for secondary packaging.
 Tin Can over Carton, Plastic and Glass.
Steel packaging offers 100% barrier protection against light, water and air, and is the
most tamper-evident of all packaging materials. Steel cans preserve and protect the product
from damage by light, oxidation, extremes of temperature and contamination, safeguarding
flavor, appearance and quality from factory to final consumer. Food and drink packed in steel
cans has equivalent vitamin content to freshly prepared, without needing preserving agents.
Steel cans also extend the product’s shelf-life, allowing longer sell-by and use-by dates and
reducing waste.
As an ambient packaging medium, steel cans do not require cooling in the supply chain,
simplifying logistics and storage, and saving energy and cost. At the same time, steel’s relatively
high thermal conductivity means canned drinks chill much more rapidly and easily than those in
glass or plastic bottles.

Disadvantages of Tin Can

 Dissolution of tin into the food
Tin is corrosion resistant, but acidic food like fruits and vegetables can corrode
the tin layer. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea have been reported after ingesting canned
food containing 200 mg/kg of tin. Evidence of tin impurities can be indicated by color, as
in the case of pears, but lack of color change does not guarantee that a food is not
tainted with tin.
 Lead Content
Tin cans were sealed by soldering with a tin-lead alloy, which could lead to lead
poisoning.
 Bisphenol-A Content
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a controversial chemical compound present in
commercially available tin can plastic linings and transferred to canned food. The inside
of the can is coated with an epoxy coating, in an attempt to prevent food or beverage
from coming into contact with the metal. The longer food is in a can, and the warmer and
more acidic it is, the more BPA leaches into it.
 Materials Used
 Tin
Low price, High physical strength and corrosion resistant.
 Aluminum
Aluminum is less costly than tin-plated steel but offers the same resistance to
corrosion in addition to greater malleability, resulting in ease of manufacture.
 Paper or Plastic
Acts as the label of the product inside the can.

Manufacturing Process
 Manufacturing Process for 2 Piece Can

Figure 1: 2 Piece Can Manufacturing Process

Manufacturing Equipment
1. Uncoiler
Uncoils the coiled materials and feed it to Cupping Press.
2. Cupping Press
Forms the uncoiled material from the Uncoiler into Cup shaped using Press.
3. Redraw Press
The Redraw Pressing Machine stretch, draw and press the Cup shaped material
form the Cupping Press and forms the Can Body Shape and the Can Bottom Lid by
Pressing.
 4. Heat Setting Oven
The Coil materials contains PET coating, in order to remove the PET coating the
material from the Redraw Press undergoes heating.
5. Trimmer
The Trimmer trims the upper portion of the Can to meets the dimension
requirements of the Product.
6. Printer
Prints the design outside of the Trimmed Can.
7. Curing Oven
Aligns the Can into proper dimensions and cures the ink from the printer.
8. Necker Flanger
Narrows the opening or the upper part of the can to produce flange for the
installment of the upper lid.

 Manufacturing Process for 3 Piece Can

Manufacturing Process and Equipment
1. Plate Alignment
In this process Steel Plates are aligned and delivered to the next equipment.
2. Plate Cutting
After the Plate Alignment, the plates are cut to proper dimensions the delivered
to the next equipment.
3. Excess Material Cutting
After the primary cutting, the plates are now subjected to excess material cutting
to produce a more precise dimension and to remove the rough edges.
4. Plate Packing
The plates after the cuttings are now packed for preparation for the next process.
5. Plate Circling Process
The plates are circled to produce a circular shape for easier seam welding.
6. Seam Welding
The circled plates are welded to produce a more compact and firm can.
7. Seam Coating
The seam welded part of the plate will be coated to prevent corrosion and
chemical reaction to the goods to be stored.
8. Seam Coat Drying
That Powder is solidified after interacting with heat. After the drying the can now
go to the cooling line.
9. Can Shaping and Bottom Lid Welding
 The can now goes to alignment and shaping machine. It is aligned and shaped in
that process. After that bottom lid of the can is installed using welding.
10. Can Flanging
After Cooling, a flange is installed to the top part of the can in preparation of cap
installment.
11. Top Lid Installment
After the flanging the Top lid is installed to the can.

12. Final Preparations

The can is now stacked and sealed. The finished can is ready to be shipped.

Safety Precautions
 Train all employees
Every person working in a machine shop must be trained on the equipment present,
even if they may not use it frequently.  A thorough knowledge of tools and parts is necessary to
maintain high-quality safety standards.
 Wear PPE
PPE provided by the employer should meet all safety standards established by the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. According to Safety Services Company, the
most important gear include:

- Goggles – When operating machinery, wearing goggles protects eyes from flying
debris and sparks. This is true even for workers not operating machines, as others
engaged in work could cause debris to fly.
- Gloves – Especially if workers utilize harsh chemicals, gloves should be worn to
protect skin and nails. Thick gloves can also protect against rust or cuts from tools.
- Respirators – In workshops with potentially harmful fumes, OSHA-compliant
respirators should be worn by all employees.

 Do not Wear Hazardous Clothing

While PPE is required, there are other clothing items to be actively avoided in a machine
shop. The following items could drastically increase the potential for injury:

- Loose-fitting clothing – Anything too loose could be sucked or fed into a machine
or caught on equipment.
- Open-toed shoes – Articles or shoes that expose the body must be avoided as they
increase the surface area exposed to harmful chemicals, tools and fumes.

 Inspect Machines before Use

Prior to utilizing any machine, workers should inspect it for hazards. Make sure the
previous user shut the machine down properly and there are no exposed sections, parts or
wiring that could cause malfunction. In addition, once in use, keep ears open for any aural clues
that the machine is operating incorrectly. Strange sounds could indicate a problem.

 Leave Machine Clean after Use

After using every machine, workers should aim to leave it better than they found it. This
means inspecting thoroughly to ensure the machine has been turned off properly and
completely, along with cleaning any and all parts that may have been dirtied in use. Excess
debris build-up can decrease a machine’s functionality over time.