The first pop-top appeared in 1935, this three-piece can was designed by Krouger Brewing Co. to hold beer. Convenient for long distance transportation steel-made pop-top was widely used during the Second World War.

The first two-piece aluminum pop-top in the market was born in 1958, it was produced by Adolph Coors Co. Being easier to manufacture and lower in cost, the new type can strongly challenged the three-piece aluminum pop-top, and held a larger quota in market soon.

Facing the challenge of aluminum, researchers of steel can had gained some experience from the success of their rival. Since 1960, a lot were done to improve the technology in steel pop-top making, especially in the way to reduce the weight. In the mid 1980's, aluminum cans regained it market share in Europe, and since 1995 steel took the advantage.