Asahi Beer's "Fresh Draft Can" Using Can Coating Material Co-Developed by Toyochem and Asahi Breweries Wins the Invention Award at the 2026 National Invention Awards

Asahi Beer's "Fresh Draft Can," which uses a can coating material co-developed by Toyochem Co., Ltd. (President and CEO Yasuyoshi Ariguchi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo), part of the artience Group, and Asahi Breweries, Ltd. (President and CEO Kazuo Matsuyama, Sumida-ku, Tokyo), has received the Invention Award at the 2026 National Invention Awards. In connection with this achievement, two Toyochem developers attended the award ceremony held on June 15, 2026.

Award Ceremony Highlights (June 15, 2026, at The Okura Tokyo)

Coatings are applied to the interior surfaces of beverage and food cans to protect the can from its contents (corrosion prevention) and to prevent metallic components from leaching into the contents, which could alter flavor. The can coating material developed by Toyochem, leveraging its proprietary polymer design technology, has long been used for interior coatings of beer cans.

The coating used in Asahi Beer's "Fresh Draft Can" was co-developed by Toyochem and Asahi Breweries, based on a concept that completely reverses the conventional wisdom that "beer foam overflowing from a can is a failure." The key technical innovation lies in the "micro-crater-like uneven structure" formed by the special coating applied to the inside of the can. By arranging 200 to 1,200 uneven features with diameters of 5–20μm per 1mm2, and combining them densely with even smaller uneven features under 0.5–5μm in diameter, the technology enables a continuous, fine stream of foam to rise when the can is opened, triggered by the sudden change in internal pressure.

Toyochem will continue to match its proprietary polymer design and coating technologies with customer needs, delivering value that resonates with people's sensibilities in collaboration with its customers.

Developer Comments

We are deeply honored that the "Fresh Draft Can," which incorporates our can coating technology, has been awarded the Invention Award. The development of the "Fresh Draft Can" began when our past R&D failure unexpectedly aligned with Asahi Breweries' desire to "recreate the taste of draft beer from a restaurant beer tower in a can." We were profoundly impressed by their extraordinary dedication in overcoming numerous obstacles to bring the product to market. Being able to contribute, even in a small way, has been an immense joy as engineers.

Related Page

Behind the Development of the Foam-Generating Beer Can Coating

https://www.artiencegroup.com/ja/products/metal-coatings/foam-generating-beer-can-coating.html

About the National Invention Awards

Organized by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation, the National Invention Awards is one of Japan's longest-standing award programs, first held in 1919 to promote scientific and technological advancement and industrial development. The awards recognize outstanding inventions, ideas, and designs, as well as those with high potential for future impact.