The “Draft Beer Can” using can coatings, jointly developed by TOYOCHEM and Asahi Breweries, won the 2026 National Invention Award Invention Award.

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TOYOCHEM (President and Representative Director Yasushi Ariyoshi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo) of artience group and Asahi Breweries Co., Ltd. (President and Representative Director Kazuo Matsuyama, Sumida-ku, Tokyo) jointly developed Asahi Beer's “Draft Beer Can” using can coatings, which received the 2026 National Invention Award Invention Award. In conjunction with this, two TOYOCHEM developers attended the awards ceremony held on June 15, 2026.

Scene from the awards ceremony (June 15, 2026, at The Okura Tokyo)

The inside of beverage and food cans is coated with paint to protect the can from its contents (corrosion prevention) and to prevent flavor changes caused by the metal components dissolving into the contents. can coatings, developed by leveraging TOYOCHEM 's polymer design technology, has a long track record as an interior paint for canned beer. The paint used in Asahi Breweries's “Draft Beer Can” is the exact opposite of the conventional belief that "foam bursts out from canned beer = failure," and it was jointly developed by TOYOCHEM and Asahi Breweries. The technical point of this invention lies in the "small crater-like uneven structure" formed by a special paint applied to the inside of the can. By placing 200 to 1,200 unevenness per square meter with diameters of 5–20μm, and combining even smaller unevenness with diameters less than 0.5–5μm at high density, we realized a mechanism where fine bubbles continuously rise in response to changes in air pressure upon opening.

TOYOCHEM matches its unique polymer design and coatings technologies with customer needs, and will continue to deliver people's value that resonates with the senses together with our customers.

Voices of the developers

We are deeply honored to have received the Invention Award for the “Draft Beer Can,” which incorporates our can coatings technology. The development of the “Draft Beer Can” began when Asahi Breweries''s desire to "recreate the taste of draft beer enjoyed in a restaurant beer in a can" was unexpectedly matched by our own experience of development failures. I am deeply impressed by the company's extraordinary enthusiasm in overcoming numerous obstacles in the subsequent product realization, and being able to contribute even in a small way is an immense joy as an engineer.

The story behind the development of foaming coating for draft beer can
https://www.artiencegroup.com/ja/products/metal-coatings/foam-generating-beer-can-coating.html

About the National Invention Awards

Organized by the Public Interest Incorporated Association of Invention Associations, this is one of the historic award systems held since 1919, aiming to contribute to the advancement of science and technology and the development of industry in Japan. In addition to outstanding inventions, designs, and designs, the target is those expected to achieve great accomplishments in the future.

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