Here’s Why The Soda Can Is Shaped The Way It Is, And It’s Absolutely Fascinating

We typically never really give any thought to the underlying design of the soda can, at least I never have until today.

Can you believe nearly half a trillion of these cans is manufactured yearly?! The design serves a very important purpose – it’s the most practical when packed as close as possible.

Bill, a.k.a. the engineeringguy, on YouTube has detailed the choices behind the design of a beverage can, like coke, and explains why it is cylindrical and the manufacturing steps needed to create the can.

The Soda Can

The can is punched from an aluminum sheet about three-tenths of a mm thick

The first step starts with a “drawing die,” which sits the blank and then a “blank holder” that rests on top

It is then punched again by a smaller cup until the final diameter is reached

We’ll let the engineerguy explain in the video below

Now you know how soda cans are made! If you thought that was cool check out how the whale oil ban led to a surge in transmission failures and repair shops.

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