Abstract: A method for manufacture of a metal can body is described in which two or more stretching operations are used so as to reduce the thickness of the central part of a cup base, prior to drawing the cup sidewall and forming a can body. By using two or more stretching operations, it has been found possible to control the thickness of the base without significantly reducing pressure performance of the finished can. Alternative embodiments of apparatus comprising tooling for carrying out this method are also described.

Abstract: A metal can body formed from a base stretching, drawing, and ironing process has a base having a hardness that is greater than the raw sheet, a thickness that is less than raw sheet, and a grain aspect ratio that is elongated relative to the raw sheet.

Abstract: A method for manufacture of a metal can body is described in which two or more stretching operations are used so as to reduce the thickness of the central part of a cup base, prior to drawing the cup sidewall and forming a can body. By using two or more stretching operations, it has been found possible to control the thickness of the base without significantly reducing pressure performance of the finished can. Alternative embodiments of apparatus comprising tooling for carrying out this method are also described.

Abstract: A metal can body formed from a base stretching, drawing, and ironing process has a base having a hardness that is greater than the raw sheet, a thickness that is less than raw sheet, and a grain aspect ratio that is elongated relative to the raw sheet.

Abstract: A metal can body formed from a base stretching, drawing, and ironing process has a base having a hardness that is greater than the raw sheet, a thickness that is less than raw sheet, and a grain aspect ratio that is elongated relative to the raw sheet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mechanically reshaping and/or forming textured features in the side wall of metal can bodies in which a can body is mounted on a profiled mandrel and rolled along a second mandrel or rail, which is also profiled. The tools are made from hard material but the second mandrel or rail is resiliently mounted. This mounting has been found to facilitate control of the depth of the profiled features formed in the can body. In particular, the problem of depth variability which will arise due to expansion of the machine and tooling in normal running conditions, or variability in thicknesses in the can body is avoided. Typically, the can body is clamped between complementary unformed regions on the tools during forming so as to prevent wrinkling or localised thinning of the can side wall.