The Ingenious Design of the Aluminum Beverage Can

Have you ever taken a moment to wonder how they make the aluminum can you drink your soda or beer out of? Have you ever wondered why it is the shape that it is? If you haven't learned anything this week, then take a few minutes to be amazed. You just might never look at that can the same way again.

I must have been in the 2nd grade when the soda can changed. We used to have a pull tab, where you would literally pull the tab completely off the can. Sometimes those suckers would be on real tight. The loop would break off at the half way point. You then had to use something else to pry that sucker off. My fingers probably still have scars on them from these sharp shivs of metal, not to mention my feet from stepping on them. I think it was the reason why shoes were invented. I could be wrong.

It was a weird day when I put in my 25 cents to get a can of soda, and the now modern pull tab was on the can. Took me the whole recess to figure out how to get thing to work. Turns out the engineering behind the attached pull tab is just the tip of the engineering marvel that is the aluminum beverage can.

Watch the life cycle of the Aluminum can.

See exactly how the Aluminum Can is made with help of How It's Made.