Cans and can ends take up space very differently. To give you an idea:
1 pallet of aluminum cans holds approx. 5,500 to 11,000 cans, depending on size and format.
1 pallet of 202 can ends? 180,500. Yep, you read that right.
To visualize it, that single opened pallet of can ends holds enough to seal all the cans you see in the other photo.
That’s why we plan shipments carefully. A full truckload (FTL) order could be something like 21 pallets of cans + 1 pallet of can ends, balancing space while keeping costs efficient.
And how aluminum cans and ends ship is just one part of the freight equation, and that is something we can control. But there are also factors we cannot, like market shifts, global events, and supply chain disruptions, that impact shipping costs and availability.
By now, we probably have all been trained to expect the unexpected, COVID-19 lockdowns, port strikes, Red Sea attacks, container shortages, and now tariffs. To keep costs in check, we plan shipments in advance and work closely with freight partners to secure the best pricing possible. This means you can focus on your beverage business while we handle the logistics.
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One of the best ways we manage freight challenges is by keeping popular formats (e.g. 355 mL/12 oz. Standard Cans, 473 mL/16 oz. Standard Cans, 202 B64 Can Ends, etc.) stocked in our local warehouses. This helps stabilize supply, making it easier for customers to pull inventory as needed instead of waiting on long shipments.
We have warehouses in Western Canada, Eastern Canada, and the West Coast United States, covering most of our North American customers. This means we can ship immediately when an order comes through. And since cans take up a lot of space, we also offer warehousing services, so you do not need to take everything at once. Just let us know when you are ready, and we can arrange depletion from our warehouse as needed.
That said, warehouse space is not unlimited, and aluminum cans and ends do have a shelf life. While we cannot store every format locally, we can plan ahead to make sure you get what you need, when you need it. So please share your desired format(s) with us, this way, we can add them to our next shipment, stock extra in our warehouse if feasible, and ensure you have supply available for future orders.