Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) is investing almost A$100m ($65.7m) into two canning lines at a production facility in Australia.
Some A$22.2m was injected into one canning line, which has just re-opened following renovations at the Richlands site in Queensland.
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Described as CCEP’s “most efficient can line to date”, the expansion enables the company to now produce up to 2,000 cans a minute of drinks like Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Sprite and Mount Franklin Lightly Sparkling.
The move is expected to help CCEP to scale local canning production to meet the growing demand for canned drinks in Queensland.
Another A$75m is also being invested over a “multi-year” period into a second canning line at the Richlands site.
The line, due to be operational by the middle of next year, is expected to “supercharge” regional production of Monster Energy drinks, and “support job creation and security” for the local community.
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By GlobalDataJust Drinks has asked CCEP to confirm the expected size and production capacity of the second canning line.
The company has also been approached for comment on the number of jobs that might potentially be created at Richlands from the investments.
Orlando Rodriguez, managing director for CCEP’s Australian arm, said: “At CCEP, we have a comprehensive sales and distribution network that covers every Australian postcode. This includes a strong and growing footprint in Queensland, where our local manufacturing capabilities have never been more critical.
“It’s important to us that we’re continually improving our operations to drive efficiencies, both in terms of sustainability and costs. These latest, state-of-the-art investments in manufacturing technology at Richlands represent a leap forward in productivity, safety, quality and environmental stewardship, which are key pillars of our business and essential to our future.”
The recently upgraded canning line is expected to help CCEP save energy, as the site no longer needs to use cooling processes, as cans can be filled at room temperature. Compared to the previous canning line at the site, this shift alone is projected to cut energy consumption by around 23%, the company said.
The latest investments follow on from a A$105.5m injection into a new warmfill line at CCEP’s Moorabbin plant in Victoria in August.
It marked the single largest contribution from CCEP to its Australian manufacturing network to date.
The move was expected to bolster production of Powerade and Fuze Tea, catering to rising consumer demand for sports drinks and no-sugar variants.
Commenting on the investment in Richlands, Rodriguez added: “In the short term, investing in our local manufacturing infrastructure significantly enhances our ability to meet the needs of our valued customers. In the years to come, these efforts to build our operational presence nearer to the end-consumer will help make our ambition to reach net-zero emissions a reality.
“The initiatives come at a cost, but ensuring our operations are as sustainable as possible is a responsibility we’re firmly committed to. It’s part of the value-chain approach we take to doing business and is something we take very seriously.”
Richlands is one of 20 sites managed by CCEP in Queensland. The group runs nine manufacturing facilities and 11 warehouses in Australia.
