Leading glass and metal packaging manufacturer Ardagh Group is entering into a supply agreement with ConAgra Foods to supply substantially all of the company’s food can requirements in the US.
As part of the agreement, Ardagh Group will invest over US$250 million to construct two new state-of-the-art DWI can making facilities to convert “the vast majority” of ConAgra Foods’ shelf-sized cans from traditional 3-piece can technology to Ardagh’s flexible Drawn and Wall-Ironed (DWI) technology.
According to Ardagh, the new facilities will also have the capability to manufacture Ardagh’s uniquely developed pressurised thin-wall DWI food cans, recently launched in Europe.
Commercial supply will commence January 1, 2015.
James Willich, Ardagh Group Metal Americas CEO, said: “Our approach to DWI will allow ConAgra Foods to convert many lower-volume, specialty shelf sizes to this process, something that has not been feasible with the traditional DWI installations.”
