Why Hawaiian Drink Can Designs Have Those Ridges

In Hawaii, it’s not just the pizzas that are different (we jest—you have the Canadians to thank for Hawaiian pizza), but the drink cans too. The aluminum packaging in the US has smooth necks, but the state’s ones have multiple ridges and are wider at the top too.

Sam Denby of the Half as Interesting YouTube channel (via Laughing Squid) has cracked the not-so-cold case of cans as to why Hawaii’s cans are built this way. Older millennials and up might remember that drink packaging in the US used to have the ribbed design, as well. It turns out that this style—called ’206’—was the national industry standard until about 1998, but everyone has moved on from it except for the main facility in Hawaii.

The older cans had ridges to hold up to pressure and impact during travel. Owing to the fact that the lids made up more than twice as much material as the body, though, US companies began cutting costs and making them smaller, while also eliminating the reinforced neck.  The latest standard became the ‘202’.

It’s true that the streamlined cans would save major beverage producers a significant amount of money, but Hawaii’s primary canning plant already had a 206-based equipment in place and didn’t want to get rid of it. Upgrading the technology didn’t seem worthwhile, considering that the facility only supplies to a “small and remote” territory, the video details.

You can find out more in the interesting explainer below.

[via Laughing Squid and Tasty Libation, images via various sources]