Coca-Cola HBC has installed a new canning line at its Northern Ireland plant following a £9.3 million investment to increase its production capabilities.
The canning line, which is the second of its kind to be installed at the Lisburn plant, will support increased demand for can production with the capacity to produce 4.8 million cans per week.
According to Coca-Cola HBC, the installation will increase the number of products and pack sizes available and will reduce the company’s reliance on external sourcing from its other facilities across Europe.
Most notably, the company said it will enable it to bring production of its Monster Energy products in-house.
The new line will also support Coca‑Cola’s transition to new taller “Sleek Cans”, launching this month and its journey towards World Without Waste.
Launched it 2018, the World Without Waste initiative aims to help collect and recycle the equivalent of 100% of its packaging by 2030.
The canning line will enable the introduction of more sustainable secondary packaging for multipack cans as well as paperboard and cardboard packaging solutions for multi-pack cans. As a result, Coca-Cola HBC said this will eliminate 620 tonnes of shrink plastic from circulation annually.
According to Coca-Cola HBC, the development represents the largest investment in Knockmore Hill since the opening of the Lisburn plant.
Coca‑Cola HBC’s general manager Miles Karemacher, said: “Northern Ireland is a great place to do business. This investment marks our continued commitment to the region, where we have operated as a proud local employer for more than 80 years. This new canning line will serve to future-proof our growth needs for decades to come while supporting our sustainability ambitions.”
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