Ardagh Group has said that it has produced “the world’s lightest aluminium seafood can”, after development work at its specialist aluminium can plant in northern Germany.
The shaped seafood can, or “dingley”, has been designed with a conical wall thickness of only 0.17mm, a significant advance over its nearest competitor, which has a wall thickness of 0.215mm. The lightweight can is available in both 100g and 115g versions. The innovation was achieved by technicians at the Cuxhaven plant – 50 miles north of Bremen – supported by Ardagh’s R&D Centre in Crosmieres, France.
Together they applied their in-depth knowledge of beading – the ridges, which come in many shapes and sizes, built into the can to give its body strength and stability.
The development involved detailed testing, which established the most suitable shape and size of the beads, as well as ensuring the correct distance between the beads to achieve the same optimum stability as cans with standard thickness.
The Cuxhaven technical service team also developed a modified seaming technique for the new can. Working closely with Larsen Danish Seafood – the first customer in Germany to use the new lightweight can – they overcame the challenge of securing optimised seaming on a lightweight can with a much thinner body and easy-open ring pull lid, Ardagh Group explained.
Patrick Savouré, commercial director, seafood for Ardagh Group’s metal division, commented: “Our innovative ultra-thin seafood can is a continuation of the pioneering work that we carry out to achieve higher standards of performance with reduced material input and weight.
“As is a feature of many of our important developments, the cooperation with our customer, Larsen, was a crucial part of the process, and I am delighted that the new can has been well received by their customers.”
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