upcycling product design
This is an open-source initiative transforming aluminium cans into roof tiles. The system consists of 3 steps. First, by using a specialized tool "Can Slicer", smoothly cut out and flattened the can into an aluminum sheet in less than 30 seconds. Next, the sheet is fed into a compact paper craft die-cutter; the machine presses the aluminum sheet onto a customized die to stamp into a uniform shape with folding lines embedded, then folded into a roof tile. The folding edges interlocking with the next tile not only keeps it in place but also prevents rain from seeping in from underneath in windy conditions.
The integrated system allows lightweight, rust-proof, and long-lasting roof tiles to be produced anywhere aluminium cans can be collected. It doesn’t require heavy machinery and provides an immediate, low-cost roofing solution for rural and sustainable communities.
The development began during my time in a Portuguese sustainable community “Project KAMP”, where we experiment to live and build in the most sustainable way. Low-carbon footprint material for roofing has always been a struggle. Yet, aluminium cans are abundant and weatherproof, making them a perfect roofing material. Together with video guidance and open-sourced blueprints, hundreds of Can Slicers have been shipped to over 30 countries, to and the 3D print files has been downloaded for over 3000 times, empowering localized community upcycling.
Canify 屋頂瓦片系統是一個開源項目，透過三個步驟將鋁罐輕易轉化為屋頂瓦片：首先，透過「Can Slicer」鋁罐裁片器，在不到30秒的時間內，順暢地裁剪鋁罐並將其展平為鋁材片。接著，將鋁片放入市面通用的紙藝壓花機，機器將鋁片壓在特製瓦片模具上，沖壓出內嵌折線的統一形狀，隨後將其摺成屋瓦。瓦片摺疊邊與下一片相互鎖定的設計，不僅能將其固定位置，亦能防止雨水在強風下從下方滲入。
這套系統讓大眾在任何能收集到鋁罐的地方，皆可生產出輕巧、防鏽且經久耐用的屋瓦。它不需要重型的機械設備，能為鄉村地區和永續社區提供即時且低成本的屋頂解決方案。
鋁罐瓦片計畫始於我在葡萄牙一個永續發展社區的經歷，在探索低碳建築材料的過程的啟發。在當時，尋找低碳足跡的屋頂材料一直是一大挑戰；然而，鋁罐數量龐大且兼具耐候性，是完美的屋頂材料。如今，影片教學與開源3D打印工具檔案的下載次數已突破3000次，數百份 Can Slicer 和瓦片模具已運往全球超過30個國家，切實賦能了在地社區的升級再造項目。
Step-by-step videos and open-sourced blueprints can be found inside the research module:
https://community.projectkamp.com/research/can-we-make-a-roof-from-recycled-aluminium-cans