When we first think of aluminum, we think of aluminum foil or aluminum cans, those ubiquitous containers that line beverage shelves in almost every grocery store. But have you ever thought about the decades of design and engineering that went into creating this recyclable aluminum can?
Engineer Guy Bill Hammack explains The Ingenious Design of the Aluminum Beverage Can in this information dense yet super interesting video. Levers, gaskets, pressure calculations… Why is it smaller at the top? What are those numbers printed on them? Why are they cylindrical?
Another excellent video recommendation by Hammock: Rexam’s Full Circle film – the lifecycle of an aluminium can.
Related reading: Aluminum vs aluminium and bauxite.
Watch these next: Design Ah! (デザインあ) introduces kids to design concepts and Why do honeybees love hexagons?via Kottke.
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