# Our story

*https://danishfuel.com/concept/*

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?”
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> 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.

![](https://danishfuel.com/wp-content/uploads/df-yt/J83p76iTXD4.jpg)

## 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.

![Jerry can depot of the Red Ball Express during the Second World War](https://danishfuel.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/18_Red_Ball_Express_-_Jerricans_depot.jpg)

## 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.”
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> 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](/production/).

We offer a 2-year warranty on all designs, and you have more than 60 combinations to put your own Danish Fuel together.