Fred Baur, who developed the Pringles can, had part of his ashes buried in one after he died.

Fred Baur, inventor of the Pringles can, had some of his ashes buried in one. He loved his iconic cylindrical design so much, he wanted to spend eternity with it. It's a quirky way to go out, forever part of the snack packaging legacy he created.

Fred Baur, the chemist and packaging engineer behind the iconic Pringles container, was so proud of his aerodynamic design that he requested to be buried in one. After his death in 2008, his children honoured the request by placing a portion of his cremated remains inside an Original flavour can.

Key Details of the Baur Legacy

• Year of Patent: 1970
• Primary Material: Foil-lined cardboard
• Shape: Hyperbolic paraboloid
• Date of Death: 4 May 2008
• Burial Flavour: Original

Why It Matters: This story represents the ultimate synthesis of a creator and their creation, proving that great design often becomes a central part of an architect's identity.

The Architect of the Hyperbolic Paraboloid

The Pringles can was not an accidental invention. In the mid-1950s, Procter & Gamble tasked Fred Baur with solving a specific consumer complaint: broken, greasy, and stale potato chips.

Unlike traditional bagged snacks, which rely on air pockets for protection, Baur engineered a structural solution. He utilised a hyperbolic paraboloid shape—mathematically precise and stackable—ensuring that every chip remained intact from the factory to the pantry.

The can itself was a masterclass in pressure-sealed engineering. By using a foil-lined tube with a plastic lid, Baur created an airtight environment that outperformed the flimsy cellophane bags of the era.

A Final Request Fulfilled

Baur’s daughter, Linda Baur, told the Associated Press that her father hit upon the burial idea in the 1980s. While he initially joked about it, he eventually became serious about the poetic symmetry of spending eternity within his greatest professional achievement.

When Baur passed away at age 89, his children stopped at a Walgreens on the way to the funeral home to purchase the burial vessel. Despite the variety of flavours available today, they opted for the classic red Original can.

While the majority of his remains were buried in a traditional urn and another portion given to a grandson, a distinct part of Fred Baur resides forever in the cylindrical vacuum he spent years perfecting.

The Engineering Behind the Crunch

The Pringles can is more than a cardboard tube; it is a sophisticated piece of industrial design. According to researchers at the University of Warwick, the shape of the chip is designed to withstand high pressure while providing a specific snapping sound that the human brain associates with freshness.

Real-World Applications of the Design

Baur’s work influenced more than just the snack aisle. His focus on uniform stacking and protective barriers can be seen in various modern industries:

• Logistics: High-density stacking reduces shipping costs and carbon footprints.
• Material Science: The composite layers of the can paved the way for modern multi-material food packaging.
• Marketing: The Pringles can became one of the most recognisable silhouettes in retail history, proving that the container is as valuable as the content.

Common Misconceptions

Is the entire body in the can?

No. Only a portion of Baur’s cremated remains were placed in the Pringles can. The rest were buried traditionally or distributed to family members.

Was it a promotional stunt?

Absolutely not. The burial was a private family matter that only became public knowledge because of Baur's immense pride in his engineering legacy.

Why is the Pringles can so hard to recycle?

The can is a composite of paper, plastic, and metal. Because these materials are glued together, they are difficult to separate in standard recycling facilities, often referred to as a villain of the recycling world by environmental groups.

Did Baur invent the Pringles logo too?

No, Baur was responsible for the packaging engineering and the physical shape. The mascot, Julius Pringles, was a separate branding creation by the Procter & Gamble marketing department.

Are all Pringles cans the same size?

The standard can is roughly 25 centimetres tall, but the design has been scaled for pringles-on-the-go snack sizes, using the same mathematical principles Baur established in the 1960s.

Key Takeaways

• Designer Identity: Fred Baur requested his ashes be buried in a Pringles can to mark his pride in the 1970 patent.
• Innovation: The design solved the problem of broken and stale chips through structural engineering rather than chemical preservatives.
• Legacy: Baur’s children followed his wishes in 2008, using an Original flavour can for his remains.
• Mathematical Precision: The chips are a hyperbolic paraboloid, a shape that allows for perfect stacking and resistance to breakage.