Three-piece cans are metal packaging containers formed from thin metal sheets through processes like crimping, adhesive bonding, and resistance welding. They consist of three parts: the body, the bottom end, and the lid. The body features a side seam and is seamed to the bottom and top ends. Distinguished from two-piece cans, they are often called tinplate three-piece cans, named after the tinplate material typically used. They are commonly used as containers for food, beverages, dry powders, chemical products, and aerosol products. Compared to two-piece cans, three-piece cans offer advantages such as superior rigidity, the ability to be produced in various shapes, high material utilization, ease of size changes, mature production processes, and suitability for a wide range of packaged products.
Overview of the Three-Piece Can Industry
The three-piece can is a metal packaging container belonging to the packaging industry. In recent years, the Chinese government has released a series of policies promoting the green development of the packaging sector. For instance:
- In January 2022, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and other departments issued the “Implementation Plan for Promoting Green Consumption,” which sets the goal that by 2025, the concept of green consumption will be deeply ingrained, extravagance and waste will be effectively curbed, the market share of green and low-carbon products will significantly increase, significant results will be achieved in the green transformation of consumption in key areas, green consumption methods will be widely adopted, and a preliminary consumption system featuring green, low-carbon, and circular development will be formed.
- In November 2023, the NDRC and other departments released the “Action Plan for Further Promoting the Green Transformation of Express Packaging,” proposing intensified efforts to substantially reduce express packaging waste, accelerate the development of new reusable express packaging models, continuously promote the recycling of used express packaging, enhance the standardization, circularity, reduction, and harmlessness of express packaging, support the high-quality development of the e-commerce and express delivery industries, and underpin the green transformation of development models.
Three-Piece Can Industry Chain
From the perspective of the industry chain:
- Upstream: Primarily involves raw material and equipment suppliers. Raw material suppliers mainly provide tinplate steel sheets and tin-free steel (TFS) sheets. Equipment suppliers provide machinery like welding equipment.
- Midstream: Refers to the manufacturing of three-piece cans. Producers in this segment utilize upstream raw materials and process them into three-piece can products through techniques like crimping, adhesive bonding, and resistance welding.
- Downstream: Refers to the application areas of three-piece cans, primarily the food and beverage sector. Due to their good metallic luster, non-toxicity, excellent corrosion resistance, and superior sealing properties, three-piece cans are widely used for packaging products such as tea drinks, protein beverages, functional drinks, eight-treasure porridge, fruit and vegetable juices, and coffee drinks. Food and beverage companies purchase cans from midstream manufacturers to package and sell their products. Additionally, three-piece cans find applications in industries like chemicals.
Food and beverages constitute the main application field for three-piece cans. As the market demand in this sector continues to increase, the demand for three-piece cans is also rising. In recent years, China’s food and beverage industry has been relatively volatile due to external factors.
In 2023, benefiting from national consumption-stimulating policies, the market demand gradually recovered, with transaction value growth shifting from negative to positive, recording a year-on-year increase of 7.6%. The food and beverage industry showed vigorous development momentum in 2024, driven by growing consumer demand for health, quality, and personalization, pushing companies to innovate and break through. The industry is moving towards higher quality and healthier development. Transaction value in the food and beverage market is projected to continue its upward trend in 2024.
Green and Eco-Friendly as the New Trend
Amidst growing global environmental awareness, green and eco-friendly practices have become a crucial trend in the packaging industry. As a recyclable and reusable eco-friendly packaging material, the market demand for three-piece cans is experiencing further growth.
To align with this trend, companies need to increase investment in the research and development of environmentally friendly technologies and materials, promoting the greening, lightweighting, and resource-efficient utilization of packaging products. Simultaneously, they must actively participate in establishing systems for the collection and reuse of packaging waste to achieve sustainable development for the packaging industry.
International Market Expansion
Amidst the trend of global economic integration, three-piece can enterprises are accelerating their pace in international market expansion. By tapping into overseas markets, companies can enhance brand influence, expand market share, and secure broader development space. International market expansion not only requires strong product R&D and production capabilities but also necessitates the establishment of comprehensive international marketing networks and after-sales service systems. Enterprises need to strengthen trade and cooperation with international markets, understand the policies, regulations, market demands, and consumption habits of different countries and regions, and formulate adaptive market strategies and product solutions to achieve successful international market deployment.
As China’s premier manufacturer of three-piece tin can and aerosol can production machinery, Changtai Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd. specializes in advanced can manufacturing systems. Our solutions encompass comprehensive forming processes including parting, shaping, necking, flanging, beading, and seaming. Engineered with sophisticated modular architecture and precision manufacturing capabilities, these systems deliver versatile applications across diverse production requirements. Featuring rapid, simplified retooling protocols, they achieve exceptional throughput while maintaining superior product quality, alongside robust safety protocols and enhanced operator safeguards. For any can making equipment and metal packing solutions,
Contact us: NEO@ctcanmachine.com https://www.ctcanmachine.com/ TEL&Whatsapp+86 138 0801 1206
Post time: Jun-06-2025