deltaH Innovations will showcase its first commercial Cool>Can with Brains Brewery at London Packaging Week on 16 and 17 September. The fully branded Bayside Welsh Lager can is designed to cool a room-temperature drink by around 10 to 15°C through a button-activated salt-and-water reaction. Developed over more than two years by Welsh inventor James Vyse, the product is intended to work without refrigeration, ice or external power. Its debut offers a notable commercial test for self-cooling packaging designed to remain compatible with recycling.

A Commercial Packaging Debut

Cool>Can is moving from prototype development into a branded beverage application through the partnership between deltaH Innovations and Brains Brewery. The collaboration places Bayside Welsh Lager in what is presented as the first fully branded, commercialised and shelf-ready version of the self-cooling can.

The technology uses a chemical reaction activated at the base of the can. Consumers press a button, initiating a reaction involving water and a patented salt-based coolant that reduces the drink’s temperature. The beverage itself does not come into contact with the cooling chemistry, while the can has been designed to retain recyclability.

James Vyse, founder and CEO at deltaH Innovations, said:

“London Packaging Week will be the first place to see a commercial Cool>Can. Up until now, we’ve been sending and discussing prototypes, but what we’ll actually be presenting is the first Cool>Can in a commercial partnership, with the brand actually on the can. It’s a huge leap from technical development and towards mainstream market adoption.”

Cooling Without External Power

The proposition behind Cool>Can centres on convenience at the point of consumption. A room-temperature beverage can be chilled without a fridge, ice or a power source, which could make the format relevant in settings where conventional cooling equipment is unavailable or impractical.

Its cooling performance will depend on the starting temperature of the drink, with deltaH Innovations citing a reduction of around 10 to 15°C. The company has also established a pilot production line in Wales, providing a route to test production beyond the development stage.

For packaging professionals, the design’s focus on the existing drinks-can supply chain is an important part of the proposition. New functionality in beverage packaging can introduce material and end-of-life complications, but Cool>Can has been developed with recyclability retained as a core requirement.

A Welsh Brewing Partnership

The Brains Brewery collaboration brings a Welsh lager brand into a project developed by a Welsh inventor. It also draws attention to Wales’ place in canned-beer history: Felinfoel Brewery in Llanelli produced Britain’s first canned beer in 1935.

Vyse sees the partnership as a chance to build on that legacy while establishing a new packaging format for a wider drinks market. The company reports that early discussions have included brands interested in the technology, with international distribution an ambition as the product scales.

James Vyse, founder and CEO at deltaH Innovations, said:

“We have had many conversations with brands, but this one felt right. I’m definitely a proud Welshman, teaming up with a Welsh brand and creating another piece of Welsh history, as I believe this is going to create something special in this business. London Packaging Week is a chance to get in on the ground floor as we scale up to take this to international markets.

“My dream is to get on a plane and land anywhere and see a Cool>Can!”

London Packaging Week Demonstration

Visitors will be able to activate the commercial Cool>Can at London Packaging Week, held at Excel London. Vyse is scheduled to present “The self-cooling can: turning packaging innovation into reality” at 12:00 on Thursday 17 September in the Discovery Theatre.

The session is set to cover the engineering, regulatory and commercial considerations behind the format. A live demonstration gives attendees an opportunity to assess the cooling experience directly, rather than solely through technical specifications or prototype discussions.

The event setting also places Cool>Can before packaging and brand decision-makers at a useful moment in its development. With a commercial partner and pilot production line now in place, deltaH Innovations is presenting a clear example of how new beverage-can functionality can progress towards market use.

From Prototype To Market Test

Cool>Can’s public debut marks a practical next step for the technology. The Brains Brewery launch tests whether a self-cooling format can combine consumer appeal, branded shelf presence and a recyclable packaging proposition in one product.

For a sector examining ways to improve convenience while maintaining attention on materials and recovery, the project offers an intriguing Welsh-led addition to the beverage packaging conversation. Its performance at London Packaging Week will provide the first public view of a product designed to make a chilled drink possible wherever a fridge is not.