Tinplate, once primarily used for food safety, is now transforming into a core material for 5G base station signal receivers. This technological revolution led by "steel flowers" is redefining the boundaries of high-end manufacturing.

In front of supermarket shelves, Fang Yuan, Deputy Director of the Tinplate Division of Shougang Jingtang, explains to visiting clients: "The easy-open lid of this beverage can, the body of that milk powder can, and the packaging of that canned food are all made from Shougang Jingtang's tinplate."

Tinplate, known for its excellent corrosion resistance and coating properties, has long been widely used in the manufacturing of food cans, beverage cans, milk powder cans, and other packaging areas. But now, this small piece of "iron" is undergoing dramatic changes.

01 Ultra-Thin Limits: Challenging World Records

The technological competition in tinplate has shifted from traditional packaging fields to extreme thickness challenges. "The thinner it is, the more difficult it is to roll, and the higher the added value," points out Wang Dawei, Deputy General Manager of Rizhao Yulan New Materials Co., Ltd.

At the Rizhao Yulan Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park, steel plates undergo processes such as pickling, cold rolling, and coating, with thickness reduced from 3 mm to 0.08 mm—thinner than an A4 sheet of paper. In the past, only a few production lines in the United States and Japan could achieve such ultra-thin rolling, with technology completely locked down.

Shougang Jingtang has pioneered the efficient preparation process of wide-width ultra-thin low-carbon steel strips globally, achieving a one-time cold rolling minimum of 0.09 mm and secondary cold rolling minimum of 0.07 mm, with thin-gauge production technology reaching internationally advanced levels.

02 Application Expansion: From Food Cans to 5G Base Stations

The application fields of tinplate are rapidly expanding. The "Cicada Wing Steel" produced by Shougang Jingtang is only 0.07 mm thick and is not only used for making Beijing Winter Olympics theme postcards but, more importantly, it provides materials for 5G base station signal receivers, signal emission filters, and integrated circuit board steel.

This ultra-thin tinplate, known as "5G steel," represents the world's advanced level of refined steel today. Meanwhile, at the other end, Shougang Jingtang has successfully produced 0.6 mm ultra-thick规格 tinplate, breaking through the 0.55 mm design上限 and enabling widespread application in high-end fields such as automotive parts and industrial electronics.

03 Technological Breakthroughs: Solving Industry Challenges

Tinplate production is highly technical. Taking DI material (deep-drawn tinplate) as an example, this material is mainly used for processing two-piece food cans, beverage cans, etc. As can manufacturing uses ultra-deep drawing technology, the can wall is reduced by more than 50%, making it one of the most technically challenging cold-series products.

"At that time, the vast majority of domestic DI materials relied on imports. By making what others cannot, we can firmly occupy the market," says Fang Yuan. Shougang Jingtang uses six-high roller high-stiffness rolling mills to achieve large-reduction rolling through small work roll diameters, completing closed-loop shape control and obtaining excellent thickness accuracy and plate shape.

The tin plating process is the most critical part of the entire production process, with tin layer thickness controlled at the micron level and uniformity requiring extreme precision. Hu Jianjun, Director of the Product Management Office of the Tinplate Division of Shougang Jingtang, recalls: "Sometimes, to adjust a 0.1-ampere current difference, we had to repeatedly experiment."

04 Continuous Innovation: Emerging Patent Achievements

Technological innovation has become the core driving force of industry development. Yuehai Zhongyue (Zhongshan) Tinplate Industry Co., Ltd. successfully obtained a patent titled "Composite Coating Tinplate Production Process and Tinplate," solving problems such as poor coating adhesion and weak corrosion resistance in traditional tinplate production processes.

Foshan Shunde Lianggao Hardware Industry Co., Ltd. also obtained a patent for "Solderable and Corrosion-Resistant Tinplate," improving the service life of tinplate through composite layer structure design.

Industry-university-research cooperation has become an important way to promote technological progress. On May 29, 2025, the Shansteel Rizhao-Yulan Food-Grade High-End Tinplate Joint Laboratory was inaugurated, marking a new stage of technological cooperation and resource sharing between the two parties.

05 Market Fluctuations: Responding to Global Challenges

The tinplate industry also faces market challenges. In early 2025, tinplate prices surged, approaching the "8" mark, with downstream can-making companies calling costs too high and cautiously accepting high-priced orders.

In July 2025, the European Commission officially announced the imposition of anti-dumping duties ranging from 13% to 62% on tinplate products originating in China, aimed at protecting the EU's domestic industry from unfair trade practices.

Despite this, China's tinplate industry continues to find ways forward through innovation. From relying on imports of DI materials to Shougang Jingtang becoming one of the world's six major DI material suppliers, and with tinplate exports accounting for more than half of annual sales, China's tinplate industry is fighting a beautiful turnaround.

As Shougang Jingtang focuses on the high-end tinplate market, promotes product thinning and iteration, and achieves large-scale application of chromium-free passivation technology, more and more tinplate companies are also increasing their R&D investment.

Tinplate is no longer just the "steel on the tip of the tongue" that safeguards the food safety of millions of households but has also become a key material promoting development in various fields such as 5G communication and electronic manufacturing.

In the future, this technological revolution triggered by a piece of tinplate will create infinite possibilities in more fields.

Why Choose Our Tinplate Products?

Global Compliance Assurance
Our products meet international standards including ASTM A624, EN 10202, and JIS G3303. All our food-grade tinplate is FDA certified and EUcompliant for food contact materials.

Advanced Production Capabilities
With 3 state-of-the-art production lines, we maintain an annual output of 600,000 tons of premium tinplate. Our manufacturing process incorporates AIquality control systems ensuring 99.97% product consistency.

Customized Solutions
We provide tailored tinplate solutions for various industries:

• Food and beverage packaging (0.15mm-0.30mm)

• Electronic components (0.08mm-0.15mm)

• Industrial applications (0.30mm-0.60mm)

• Specialty coatings: Chromium, Lacquer, Printable

Sustainable Manufacturing
Our production facilities implement circular water systems and recover 95% of processing chemicals. All our tinplate is 100% recyclable, supporting your sustainability goals.

Global Logistics Network
With strategic partnerships with major shipping lines, we guarantee timely delivery to ports worldwide. Our export documentation expertise ensures smooth customs clearance in over 60 countries.