The idea to build a brand on the Second World War icon, the jerry can, was born in 2010. Danish Fuel had its international breakthrough in 2013 at the Milan furniture fair, Salone Internazionale del Mobile.
We use original, used jerry cans and upcycle them: we keep this piece of living history, the can that won the Second World War, and add a few unique features. Every one is made by hand in Denmark, for people who love design and for people who love history.
“How hard can it be to make a table? It is just a plate and four pieces of wood for the legs, right?”
Our note to self from 2010
If we had known what a journey it would be, we might never have started. Back then we were a little naive.
What is a jerry can?
Like many of today’s great designs, the jerry can was born of necessity, at a time when resources and time were both short. It was developed in Germany in the 1930s for military use: fuel had to be stored and moved efficiently to soldiers and machines on the front lines.
The name “jerry can” came from the British and American forces, who called German soldiers “Jerries”. The original German name is Wehrmacht-Einheitskanister, the armed forces unit canister.
The cans were coloured by what they carried: red for petrol, grey for kerosene, black for diesel and white for gear oil. Our Army Green is the colour of the German tanks of the Second World War.
A world history icon
By D-Day in 1944 more than 21 million jerry cans were spread across Europe, and according to our research about 1,800 different models exist. The jerry can went hand in hand with the Willys MB jeep: small, compact and quick to refuel vehicles on the front line.
“Without these cans it would have been impossible for our armies to cut their way across France at a lightning pace which exceeded the German Blitz of 1940.”
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
How it is made
Making a Danish Fuel design takes serious machinery: a furnace to remove old rust and paint, sandblasting equipment, a laser cutter, CNC milling and moulds for the plywood shelves. Several Danish workshops are involved, and more than 20 people have their hands on each design from beginning to end. See the eight steps.
We offer a 2-year warranty on all designs, and you have more than 60 combinations to put your own Danish Fuel together.
Questions and answers
Who is behind Danish Fuel?
Danish Fuel started in Denmark in 2010. The first years went into prototypes of the suitcase design. In 2013 we showed the bar cabinet at Salone del Mobile in Milan, and it has been our best known design since.
Are Danish Fuel cabinets made from real military jerry cans?
Yes. Our limited edition cabinets are made from used military jerry cans collected from military surplus warehouses in Europe. Dents and corrosion from their years in service may be visible. The Tribute series (also called Originals) is different: it uses our own reproduction of the 1939 German jerry can, with clean lines and no traces of corrosion.
Where are Danish Fuel cabinets made?
In Denmark. Every can is upcycled by hand in Danish workshops, from the furnace and sandblasting to the laser cutting, painting and final assembly.
Why is it called a jerry can?
The can is a German design from 1937, the Wehrmacht-Einheitskanister ("armed forces unit canister"). British and American troops called German soldiers "Jerries", and the name stuck to the can. The history of the jerry can.