Application
Aluminium Slugs for Food Packaging
From premium coffee cans and infant formula tins to concentrated food pastes — food-grade aluminium slugs engineered for the shelf life and safety standards demanded by global food brands.
Why aluminium is the format of choice for premium food packaging
Food packaging has three jobs: protect the product, communicate the brand and minimise environmental impact. Aluminium is one of the few materials that does all three well. The full barrier against oxygen, light and moisture extends shelf life dramatically — typically two to three times longer than plastic or laminated formats. The metal surface takes high-end printing and lacquering for premium brand presentation. And the material is infinitely recyclable in a way that composite formats simply are not.
Impact-extruded aluminium food containers — made from our plain slugs — combine these benefits with the structural advantage of a seamless, one-piece construction. There are no side seams or base seams to fail, no welds to corrode, no laminate layers to delaminate over the product's shelf life.
Food categories packaged in impact-extruded aluminium
- Coffee — whole bean and ground coffee cans where oxygen exclusion is critical to flavour retention
- Infant formula and follow-on milk powders — regulatory-grade packaging where moisture and oxygen barrier are non-negotiable
- Premium tea — specialty teas where light protection preserves the leaf
- Food supplements and protein powders — the same barrier requirements as infant formula
- Spices and herbs — premium-grade containers that prevent flavour loss
- Concentrated food pastes — tomato concentrate, anchovy paste, wasabi, harissa, in collapsible aluminium tubes
- Confectionery and gifting — high-end chocolate, biscuit and sweet packaging
What food packaging applications demand from the slug
Food packaging is a tightly regulated industry — particularly for infant formula and other categories under direct food-safety scrutiny. The slug specification must support both the food-safety regime and the commercial requirements of high-speed container production:
- 99.7% pure primary aluminium with full chemical traceability for regulatory documentation
- Food-safe lubricants applied pre-extrusion (eco-friendly, compatible with downstream food contact)
- Surface finish prepared for internal lacquering — critical for the food-contact surface inside the finished container
- Dimensional consistency for high-speed extrusion lines producing thousands of containers per hour
- Batch documentation supporting food-safety audits (FSSAI, HACCP, BRC, FSSC 22000 and similar)
What we deliver to food packaging manufacturers
Food-grade purity
99.7% pure primary aluminium — no recycled content. Full chemical certificates supporting food-safety audits.
Food-safe lubrication
Eco-friendly food-safe lubricants applied pre-extrusion — compatible with all major food container coatings.
Coating-ready surface
Surface finish prepared for downstream internal lacquering — critical for acidic, salty or fatty food contact.
Audit-ready documentation
ISO 9001:2015 quality system plus batch traceability supporting FSSAI, HACCP, BRC and FSSC 22000 audits at customer facilities.
Sustainable supply
ISO 14001:2015 environmental management plus 1.32 MW solar power — supports brand-owner sustainability commitments.
Global supply chains
Serving Indian and export food packaging customers — slugs reach can manufacturers across Asia, Africa, Middle East and Oceania.
Recommended product
For impact-extruded food containers, specify our Plain slugs.
Plain Slugs (Without Center Hole) →
Plain aluminium slugs for impact extrusion of seamless food containers. 9.8 – 135.8 mm diameter, EN AW-1050A grade, 99.7% pure, with food-safe lubrication available.
View product specifications →Frequently asked questions
Is aluminium safe for direct food contact?
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Aluminium has been used safely for food packaging for over a century. Modern food-grade aluminium containers either rely on an internal protective lacquer (epoxy, phenolic, or BPA-NI alternatives) for acidic or salty foods, or are used uncoated for dry foods (coffee, milk powder, infant formula). The choice depends on the specific food chemistry. Our slugs are supplied with food-safe lubricants compatible with downstream lacquering operations.
What food products are packaged in impact-extruded aluminium containers?
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Common food products in impact-extruded aluminium containers include coffee (whole bean and ground), infant formula and follow-on milk powders, premium tea, spices, food supplements, condensed milk, concentrated pastes (in collapsible tubes), confectionery and high-end gift packaging. The full aluminium barrier protects against oxygen, moisture and light — extending shelf life.
What aluminium purity is used for food-grade slugs?
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We use 99.7% pure primary aluminium (EN AW-1050A or EN AW-1070A) for all food-grade slugs. The high purity ensures no migration of trace elements into the food product and is compatible with both lacquered and uncoated food container designs.
Do food-grade aluminium containers need an internal coating?
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It depends on the food. Dry, non-acidic foods (coffee, milk powder, dry spices) often use uncoated aluminium. Acidic, salty or fatty foods typically require an internal food-safe lacquer to prevent any interaction between the aluminium and the food. The container manufacturer applies the coating after impact extrusion; the slug must be supplied with a surface finish compatible with downstream coating.
Are aluminium food containers recyclable?
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Yes. Aluminium is infinitely recyclable with no loss of properties. An aluminium food container is one of the most recyclable food packaging formats — significantly more sustainable than laminated cartons or composite plastic containers, which are difficult or impossible to recycle in most municipal streams.
Discuss your specifications with our team
India's largest aluminium slug manufacturer. Serving 50+ countries since 1978.