Can-Do Attitude: 200th Can-niversary timeline

1994 Cans with large opening ends are patented for carbonated beverages.

1995 Ball Corp. introduces the touch top end to help the aluminium can better mimic the experience of drinking from a bottle. Colored tabs are introduced for promotions.

1996 Water-based end coatings are introduced.

1997 The counter shaped can is introduced by the Coca-Cola Co.

1998 Embossed beer cans are introduced.

2000 A new blow-forming process creates a teardrop shape for Michelob and Michelob Light 16-oz beverage cans. Marketing options abound: inside-the-can printing, printing on colored tabs and can ends or on the underside of the tab, and UV-sensitive glow-in the dark graphic options. Self-chilling, environmentally friendly cooling beverage cans are test marketed. Silgan introduces the Dot Top resealable lid.
 
2001 Campbell's Chunky Soup brand is the first to fully convert to easy-open ends.

2002 Oskar Blues, a Colorado brewpub, becomes the first U.S. microbrewery to invest in a canning line.

2002 "A Man, a Can, a Plan: 50 Great Guy Meals Even You Can Make," by David Joachim, Board Book, inspired by an article in Men's Health and a perfect option for the culinary-challenged, is published.

2003 Ball Corp. introduces the Fresh Can for health and sport drinks that contain sensitive substances, such as vitamins or probiotics that cannot be preserved in an aqueous solution. The can stores sensitive elements in a plastic "wedge" so that they are not mixed with the beverage until the can is opened.

2006 The first microwavable steel food cans are introduced in North America.

2007 Direct laser engraving conquers exacting graphic demands using six to eight colors to make two-piece cans stand out on store shelves. Translucent colors in 2-pieced draw/redraw aluminium cans with matching or contrasting easy open ends hit store shelves. Colored pull-tabs take off, creating differentiation, convenience and customized color options.

2008 From 65 to 75 percent of all retail cans are fitted with easy-open ends. Silgan introduces shaped aluminium and steel cans that can be customized and run on current filling equipment. Shapes and ergonomics enter the tinplate aerosol can market. The first vented wide mouth can is designed to deliver a smoother, draft-like drinking experience and is introduced by Molson Coors.

2009 Molson Coors introduces a cold activated can whose label color indicates when the beer is cold enough to drink. More than 40 microbreweries and brewpubs distribute beer and lager in aluminium cans.

2010 Heineken USA launches the STR Bottle, an upscale aluminium bottle, which when viewed under the black light of a club illuminates to reveal a previously hidden pattern of stars and trails.