Methods and systems for forming vacuum insulated containers, such as beverage and food containers, are described. The methods and systems include using a laser to close openings in walls of the container while the container is held at vacuum conditions. The closing of the opening forms the vacuum space within the walls of the container.

A container system for radioactive waste and method for using the same is provided. The system includes a canister configured for holding radioactive waste and a lid system. In one embodiment, the lid system comprises a two-part lid assembly including a confinement lid and a shielded lifting lid. The confinement lid is detachably mounted to the confinement lid. In use, the lifting lid supports the confinement lid for lifting and placement on the canister. The lifting lid further shields operators while the confinement lid is mounted to the canister. Thereafter, the lifting lid is removed and may be reused for confinement lid mountings on other canisters. In one embodiment, the confinement lid is bolted to the canister. The canister may be disposed in a protective overpack for transport and storage.

An implantable medical device includes an enclosure having a sidewall and a welded seam in the sidewall, the seam extends along a perimeter of the enclosure. A thermoform is located adjacent a surface of the enclosure and is secured in place within the enclosure. A metalized surface is located adjacent an interior surface of the enclosure sidewall and is secured in place by the thermoform. The metalized surface extends along a perimeter of the enclosure and is configured to obstruct laser energy during a weld seam process. The metalized surface may be provided as a separate backup band component or may be integrated in a perimeter sidewall of the thermoform.

A container can include a body having a volume defined therein for retaining a product. The body can include a top surface adapted to be sealed by a lid. The container further includes a channel defined in a portion of the body such that the channel is in fluid communication with the internal volume at a first end and sealed by a portion of the body at an oppositely disposed second end. The container further includes a top flange surrounding the top surface of the body and includes a portion that borders the channel, with removal line disposed in the container to define a removable portion. The removal line extends from a first edge to a second edge and through the channel such that the removable portion can be removed from the body along the removal line to expose the channel.

A container blank handling apparatus (5) for a container blank trimming system (1) for metallic tubular container blanks comprises first and second air bearing body portions having respective arcuate inner surfaces. The first and second body portions are arranged to be moveable with respect to one another between a closed configuration of the apparatus in which the inner surfaces are substantially contiguous so as to form a substantially continuous bearing surface which defines a container blank receiving volume of the apparatus, and an open configuration of the apparatus in which the first and second body portions spaced apart from one another such that the inner surfaces are not contiguous with one another. One of the first and second body portions defines an air delivery pathway therethrough, the air delivery pathway terminating in at least one air delivery aperture in the inner surface of the body portion such that the air delivery pathway is contiguous with the air delivery aperture, the pathway and aperture being arranged for supply of air therethrough into the container blank receiving volume.

A container for distilled spirits includes a stainless steel body, stainless steel top element and stainless steel bottom element wherein the body, top element and body element are joined together without solder such that the flavor of the distilled spirits therein is preserved. A method of making the container is also disclosed.

A single-use beverage barrel for one-time use, produced from a primarily cylindrical casing part, deep-drawn bottom and lid parts, having an opening in the center of the lid part, which is sealed by a plastic fitting and wherein the casing part is produced from stainless steel and has a wall thickness of 0.8 mm or less and the bottom part and the lid part are also produced from stainless steel and have a wall thickness of 0.8 mm or less.

A method of forming a sealed canister and a method of storing radioactive materials is provided. The method of forming includes placing a top plate on a top opening of a side wall, a bottom of the side wall being sealed to a base plate. The top plate includes a top surface with a top edge having a bevel and with a channel set in from the top edge. Finally, a weld is formed between the beveled top edge and the top opening of the side wall to seal the top plate to the side wall.

For the determination of the welding current to be used for the resistance welding of the overlap seam of container bodies, welding with a test body is carried out with a changing strength of welding current which in the test body produces a varying welding of the seam. The current strength varies from welding of this seam with a too high temperature to welding with a too low temperature. Along with this the welding current strength used in the welding is determined so that it is further determined at which point of the seam the welding has been accomplished and with what strength of welding current. By means of a mechanical and/or optical investigation of the welded seam it can then be easily determined where the seam has been correctly welded for the series production of container bodies from the same sheet material as the test bodies. When such a point or such a region of the seam is known the welding current used in the test welding can be taken as the welding current for serial production.

With a roller head (10) of a resistance seam welding machine, which roller head has a stator (12) and a rotor (14), the bearing outer housing (18, 18) is cooled by means of channels (2, 2) provided in its interior. This increases the life of the roller head.