Which aluminium alloys do you use for cans, ends and coil?

Can bodies are drawn from 3104-H19 aluminium, easy-open ends from 5182-H48 shell stock and tabs from 5052, while lacquered coil for lids is supplied in 8011 and 3104 tempers. Every coil arrives with a mill certificate stating alloy, temper, thickness tolerance and surface class.

What is the minimum order quantity for aluminium cans and easy-open ends?

Standard bright or plain cans start at one 20 ft container; fully printed cans normally start at 100,000 pieces per design because of plate and lacquer set-up. Easy-open ends in 200#, 202#, 206#, 209#, 211#, 300#, 307#, 401# and 502# are stocked, so trial orders from 200,000 pieces can ship within 15 working days.

Are your lids and cans food-contact compliant for export markets?

Internal lacquers are BPA-NI and are tested against FDA 21 CFR 175.300, EU Regulation 1935/2004 and GB 4806.10 for food-contact migration. We supply migration test reports, food-grade declarations and RoHS/REACH statements with each shipment.

How do you protect aluminium packaging during ocean freight?

Cans travel on bulk pallets with top frames, kraft slip sheets and stretch hood film; ends are packed in polyethylene sleeves inside fibre drums or cartons with desiccant. Loading photos and container seal numbers are sent before vessel departure so quality can be verified on arrival.

Can you match a filling line with specific can and end dimensions?

Yes. Share your seamer model, line speed and target fill volume and our engineers will confirm can height, body wall gauge, neck diameter, end curl and countersink depth, then supply drawings and a sample lot for seam teardown analysis before mass production.

Global Enterprise Supply Chain White Paper

High-Quality Global Leading Aluminium Can Packaging Factory Products & Suppliers

Technical Excellence, Sustainable Metallurgy & High-Speed Packaging Engineering from China's Premier Metal Container Manufacturing Hub.

Primary Product Lineup

Engineered Metal Packaging Solutions (Part I)

Precision-drawn aluminium cans, easy-open ends, and high-purity coil stock tested against international food-contact standards.

Sustainable Aluminum Easy-Open Lids for Powder Packaging

High-Quality Premium Slim 250ml Aluminum Cans

Premium Slim 250ml Aluminum Cans - Eco-Friendly

Superior 8011# Aluminum Coils Leading Factory

High-Quality 355ml Aluminum Cans (12oz Format)

Top-Tier Aluminum Easy-Open Lids for Beer & Juice

Aluminum Beer Cans 330ml - Safe & Sustainable

Food-Grade 603# Tinplate Lids Airtight Seal

Standard 330ml Aluminum Cans for Beverages

Industry Macro Landscape

1. Global Metal Packaging Economics & Sustainable Transition

Analyzing the paradigm shift toward infinitely recyclable aluminium containers across beverage, dairy, and technical powder sectors.

Infinitely Recyclable Metal

Aluminum retains its structural and chemical properties across infinite recycling cycles. Nearly 75% of all aluminum ever produced remains in productive use today, drastically cutting energy consumption by 95% compared to primary smelting.

BPA-NI Chemical Safety

Global food contact regulations (FDA 21 CFR 175.300, EU Reg 1935/2004, GB 4806.10) mandate non-intent bisphenol-A (BPA-NI) interior coatings. Modern polymer linings ensure zero organoleptic distortion and neutral flavor profiles.

Lightweighting Engineering

Advanced draw and wall-ironing (DWI) technology permits body sidewalls down to 0.095 mm while maintaining column strength above 900 N, lowering freight logistics costs and carbon footprint per unit.

3,000+

Cans/Min Line Speed

<0.001%

Defect Rate Tolerance

6.2 Bar

Peak Buckle Strength

40+

Global Export Markets

Information Gain Insight: Modern automated beverage canning facilities require strict mechanical compliance. A deviation of just 0.02 mm in lid countersink depth or end curl diameter can induce micro-leaks or high-speed seamer jams, costing operations thousands of dollars per minute in line downtime.

Metallurgical Engineering

2. Technical Matrix: Alloy Chemistry, Tempers & Coating Integrity

Understanding the precise alloy selections (3104, 5182, 5052, 8011) that drive mechanical performance across cans, easy-open ends, and industrial coils.

Packaging Component	Alloy & Temper	Tensile Strength (MPa)	Thickness Range	Primary Internal Coating	Target Application
Can Body Stock	AA 3104-H19	275 – 310	0.240 – 0.280 mm	BPA-NI Acrylic / Modified Epoxy	DWI Two-Piece Beverage Cans (Standard/Sleek/Slim)
End Shell Stock	AA 5182-H48	360 – 400	0.205 – 0.235 mm	Organosol / Polyurethane Lacquer	Carbonated Drinks & High-Pressure SOT/RPT Lids
Tab Stock	AA 5052-H19	310 – 350	0.350 – 0.400 mm	Clear / Gold Lacquer Varnish	Stay-On Tab (SOT) & Ring-Pull Tab (RPT) Handles
Lid & Closure Foil	AA 8011-O / H14	140 – 180	0.180 – 0.300 mm	Food-Grade Heat-Seal Lacquer	Powder Cans, Peel-Off Ends, Pharma & Dairy Seals
Rigid Can Ends	Food-Grade Tinplate (ETP)	350 – 450	0.190 – 0.280 mm	Epoxy Phenolic / Aluminized Polymer	Sanitary Processed Food Cans (307#, 401#, 603#)

Enamel Rater & Coating Integrity Testing

Internal lacquer coverage is strictly validated using high-voltage low-amperage Enamel Rater testing. Standard acceptance threshold mandates < 2.0 mA under 6.3V electrolyte immersion, ensuring 0% metal exposure to aggressive beverage formulations like high-acid juices or craft beers.

Double Seam Teardown & Overlap Precision

End-to-can hermetic sealing requires continuous double seam verification: Seam Height, Seam Thickness, Body Hook, End Hook, and Overlap Percentage (> 55% target). All factory shipments include full batch teardown quality records.

Supply Chain Competitiveness

3. Chinese Manufacturing Efficiency & Scalability Advantages

Why leading global beverage brands and international importers partner with high-precision Chinese metal packaging hubs.

Ultra-High Speed Press Lines

Factory operations integrate state-of-the-art Stolle, Minster, and Belvac cupping presses and decorators operating at speeds up to 3,400 cans per minute, delivering unparalleled unit-cost efficiency.

Vertical Integration from Coil to Can

Direct supply agreements with primary aluminum hot-rolling mills guarantee immediate access to AA 3104 and AA 5182 master coils, eliminating raw material bottlenecks during global aluminum supply shocks.

Flexibility for Mixed SKU Shipments

Unlike Western suppliers requiring multi-million unit single-SKU commitments, Chinese factories offer flexible minimum order quantities (MOQs) starting at 100,000 printed cans or 200,000 easy-open lids per batch.

Target Market Sectors

4. Specialized Industry Applications & Global Procurement Scenarios

Customized lid configurations, pressure resistance parameters, and barrier properties for diverse product verticals.

Craft Beer & Hard Seltzers

Requires pasteurization-stable 202 SOT (Stay-On Tab) ends capable of enduring pasteurization cycles (140°F / 60°C) without dome inversion or pressure loss. High inner enamel coating weights protect against alcohol and acid breakdown.

Energy Drinks & Carbonated Soft Drinks

High internal carbonation pressures (up to 4.2 volumes CO₂) demand 6.2 bar minimum buckle strength. Lightweight 200# and 202# shell ends optimize raw material usage without compromising structural rigidity.

Infant Formula & Nutritional Powders

Demands 100% airtight, oxygen-proof barrier protection. Uses 300#, 401#, or 502# aluminium easy-open lids paired with nitrogen flushing processes to maintain residual oxygen levels under 0.5% for extended shelf life.

Electronic-Grade & Coastal Chemical Packaging

Specialized anti-static internal coatings prevent particle adhesion in micro-powder packaging. Corrosion-resistant exterior lacquers ensure zero surface oxidation during humid ocean transport and coastal warehousing.

Technical Procurement Guide

5. Global Buyer Execution: Seamer Matching & Logistics

Key technical parameters every international procurement team must specify prior to mass production tooling.

Seamer Tooling Compatibility Checklist: Always provide your factory engineer with: (1) Seamer brand and model (e.g. Angelus, Ferrum, Pneumatic Scale, FMC); (2) Can neck diameter (200, 202, 206); (3) Target countersink depth tolerance; (4) Chuck and roll profile profiles.

Sea Freight Packaging Protection

Aluminium cans travel on heavy-duty wooden bulk pallets reinforced with top frames, moisture-barrier kraft slip sheets, and full stretch-hood shrink wrapping. Easy-open lids are packed into polyethylene sleeves inside corrugated cartons with desiccant packs.

Quality Control Documentation

Every exported sea container includes: Mill Material Test Reports (MTR), BPA-NI Food Contact Compliance Certificates, Heavy Metal Test Reports (RoHS/REACH), and Enamel Rater/Pop-Pull test certificates matched to container numbers.

Technical Support & Sourcing FAQ

6. Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A) for Importers & Fillers

Direct technical answers from senior packaging engineers regarding alloy selection, minimum orders, compliance, and filling line seamers.

Q1: What aluminum alloys are utilized for can bodies, easy-open ends, and coil stock?

Can bodies are manufactured using high-formability AA 3104-H19 aluminum alloy. Easy-open ends (shells) utilize high-strength AA 5182-H48 shell stock, while tabs are formed from AA 5052-H19. For lacquered coil supplied directly to lid manufacturers, we offer AA 8011 and AA 3104 alloys in customized tempers and slit widths, complete with mill test certificates per coil.

Q2: How do you guarantee BPA-NI compliance for international export markets?

Our factory applies next-generation non-intent bisphenol-A (BPA-NI) acrylic and polyester internal coating systems sourced from premier global coating suppliers (e.g., AkzoNobel, PPG). All finished batches undergo overall and specific migration testing in compliance with FDA 21 CFR 175.300, European Regulation EU 1935/2004, and Chinese GB 4806.10 standards.

Q3: What are the minimum order quantities (MOQ) for custom-printed cans vs. plain ends?

For plain bright cans or stocked standard easy-open ends (200#, 202#, 300#, 401#), trial orders can start from 100,000 to 200,000 pieces. For custom 6-to-8 color printed aluminum cans, the standard production run MOQ is 100,000 pieces per artwork design due to high-speed printer setup and plate calibration requirements.

Q4: Can your factory supply sample ends for double seam calibration on our filling line seamer?

Yes. We routinely dispatch sample lots (500 to 2,000 pieces) along with mechanical engineering drawings (specifying end curl width, countersink, and radius) so your engineering team can perform seam setup, chuck fitting, and teardown testing prior to authorizing volume container shipments.

Q5: What protective packaging measures prevent transit damage during long ocean voyages?

Cans are layer-packed on wooden pallets separated by clean kraft slip sheets, secured with top frames, and fully wrapped with automated stretch-hood film. Lids and ends are sealed in heavy-duty polyethylene sleeves, packed into export-grade corrugated cartons, and stabilized on heat-treated ISPM-15 wooden pallets with desiccant gel packs inside the container.

Q6: How do SOT (Stay-On Tab) and RPT (Ring-Pull Tab) easy-open ends differ in application?

SOT ends feature a tab that remains permanently attached to the lid shell after opening, making them the global standard for carbonated soft drinks, beer, and seltzers to prevent littering. RPT ends allow the ring and tab orifice seal to detach completely upon opening, typically used for juice cans, non-carbonated food liquids, or specialty promotional cans.

Extended Catalog