3-piece cans are produced from three main components; a can body, a can top/lid and a can bottom/end. While 2-piece cans have their sidewall and bottom pressed out of a single piece of material, 3-piece cans are made from a flat steel sheet (or blank sheet) which is cut, rolled and side-seamed to form a cylindrical shape. The side-seam is welded by “seam welding”, a type of electric resistance welding to form the cylindrical can body. The welding results in surface oxidization and degradation in corrosion resistance, so the welded side seam is repaired with OSS (outside side seam striping) coating on the outside to prevent rust, and with ISS (inside side seam striping) coating on the inside to protect the contents.

Sencon manufactures a range of products for makers of three-piece food can and ends - from fully automatic gauges to sensors that manage the line and oven loggers that monitor coating cure profiles. Sencon’s range of products for three-piece manufacturers has been developed over many years of experience within the three-piece canmaking industry.