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| Q: | How are DEL MONTE® cans made? |
| A: | Read all about the process below: |
| How DEL MONTE® Cans Are Made |
There are both basic and optional steps in the can-making process. The latter depends on the weight of the tinplate, the size of the can, and the use for which it is intended. Tinplate is delivered in multi-ton coils to the coil-cutting facility where it is cut into sheets, and for some products, enamel coated for shipment to the can manufacturing plant. The major machines in the can-making line are: |
| THE SLITTER |
| Divides each sheet into strips and each strip into body blanks |
| THE BODY-MAKER |
| The body blanks are fed into the body-maker or welder where they are formed into cylinders and the side seam is welded together. The actual welding process uses two threads of copper wire, one inside and the other outside the cylinder. The wire serves as a conductor for electricity that creates a heat so intense it fuses the sides of the cylinder together in a series of overlapping spot welds. The copper wire, having served its purpose, is ejected by the machine and returned to the factory for recycling. |
| THE CURING OVEN |
| On cans intended for certain products, a protective enamel is sprayed on the welded seam inside and outside the cylinder. The cylinder must pass through an oven where the enamel is cured for a few seconds at high temperature. |
| THE PARTER |
| Most cans are formed individually, but some of the small cans start out two per cylinder. The cylinder must be divided at the parter. |
| THE FLANGER |
| Adds a curved lip at both ends of the can to allow the double-seaming of ends to form a hermetic seal. |
| THE BEADER |
| Creates the rings that circle some cans for added panel resistance. Beading makes it possible to use slightly thinner tinplate. |
| THE SEAMER |
| Puts on and seals one end of the can. The interior periphery of the end is coated with a latex material called seaming compound which helps form the seal. |
| THE TESTER |
| High-pressure air is used to test the cans. Tester rejects cans that do not have a tight seal. |
| THE PALLETIZER |
| Cans may be conveyed directly to the cannery for immediate use or they can be palletized and stretch-wrapped for storage. |
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