Aluminum beverage can industry tonnage

Used to anchor the 3000-series (Al-Mn) aluminum alloy in industrial scale. Largest tonnage use of aluminum at one time was forty percent into beer cans.

The non-heat-treatable 3000 series — here's your beer can stock. Largest tonnage use of aluminum. At one time forty percent of all the aluminum in the world went into beer cans. It's a major part of the aluminum industry — billion-dollar plants, and all they do is turn out cheap stock for the beverage manufacturers. Non-heat-treatable, with one or two percent manganese for higher strength. The 4000 series have silicon — basically welding wire. The most common welding wires are nearly pure aluminum — 4043, 4042. Non-heat-treatable. The 5000 series, the Navy uses for building hulls, and has for fifty years. They're aluminum-magnesium alloys.