In 1935, the first canned beer was introduced, laying the foundation for the development of aluminum cans. In 1940, stainless steel cans began to be sold in Europe and America, and the emergence of aluminum cans around the same time marked a leap forward in can-making technology.
In 1959, American Ermal Fraze, inspired by the lack of a can opener during a family picnic, invented the pull-tab can. This was a revolution in opening methods.
Early aluminum cans used an external pull tab, which separated from the can body after being pulled open. In the late 1970s, the safer and more environmentally friendly internal (flip-in) pull tab was invented and gradually replaced the external pull tab as the mainstream.
Aluminum cans quickly gained popularity due to their convenience. The random poisoning incident involving Coca-Cola in Japan in the 1970s objectively boosted the promotion of aluminum cans, leading businesses to replace bottled Coca-Cola in vending machines with safer canned versions. By the 1980s, aluminum cans had become the mainstream packaging for beer and carbonated beverages in the European and American markets.
In the 21st century, the design and manufacturing technology of aluminum cans continued to improve. For example, manufacturers introduced patented pull tabs with anti-counterfeiting features, as well as new snap-lock designs designed for easier opening. Simultaneously, lightweighting technology continued to advance, significantly reducing the amount of aluminum used while maintaining strength through improvements to the can wall and bottom design.