HISTORY OF THE CAN

The Metal Can Industry has come a long way from a humble beginning of production of a few cans a day to thousands of Cans a minute, in the present day. The Can has evolved over a period of 200 years to meet the ever-growing demand of quality packaged goods, today.

Being rigid and almost unbreakable the Can offers the best protection to its contents, which include foods, beverages, paints, chemicals, fertilizers, etc.

In India, the Can Making Industry has grown to assume major economic responsibilities with millions of Indians relying directly or indirectly on the Can for their livelihood. Cans in India, are today largely used for Chemicals, Paints and Fertilizers. The use of Cans by the Food Processing Industry in India is currently small but this industry is expected to grow and probably become the largest in the world.

Since Cans are made from recycled materials, they are environmentally safe and a better alternative to plastics. This has made many consumers switch to canned products, thus promoting the recycling industry. Aluminum Can recycling has already become a Billion Dollar industry worldwide and is one of the world's most successful environmental enterprises.

1795	Napoleon offers 12000 Francs to anyone who can devise a way to preserve food for his Army.
1809	A confectioner, Nicholas Appert has the idea of packing food in bottles, like wine. After many years of research devises a method of preserving food by sterilization and receives the 12000 Franc award from the French Government.
1810	King George III grants Peter Durand a patent for preserving food in glass, pottery tin or metal containers.
1812	English immigrant Thomas Kensett sets up a small plant in New York to Can oysters, meats,fruit and vegetables in hermetically sealed containers.
1825	The first Tin-Plated Can is patented in America by Kensett.
1847	Allen Taylor gets a patent for a machine-stamped tin can with extension edges.
1849	Henry Evans is granted a patent for the pendulum press which is capable of making a Can End in single operation. Production increases from a few Cans to about 50 cans per hour.
1866	E.M. Lang is granted a patent for Sealing Tins by casting or dropping solder on Can Ends.
1875	Arthur A. Libby and William J. Wilson develop the tapered Can for Corned Beef in Chicago.
1876	The Hume "floater" is introduced to "Float" Solder onto the ends of Cans.
1877	The simplified "Side Seamer" for Cans appeared.
1880	Semi-Automatic Can Making machinery is first introduced.
1898	The Sanitary Can is perfected by the George W. Cobb Preserving Company.
1957	Aluminum is introduced in metal can making.
1960	Easy-Open Cans are introduced.
1965	For the first time, Tin-free steel cans are developed
1965	Bubber Machine Tools is founded in the Amritsar, India