The new plant at Widnau represents an investment of some £115m over three years for Europe’s leading beverage can maker, and forms part of the company’s current capital investment plans.
Initially intended to operate two lines and employ around 120 people, the new plant is a wall-to-wall facility and is being configured as a four line operation for various sizes of Rexam’s Slim and Sleek can formats.
The first line is expected to come on stream at the start of 2015.
“Energy drinks have been the fastest growing category in soft drinks globally in recent years and they are expected to continue on this path,” says Iain Percival, sector director for Rexam Beverage Can Europe.
“The new plant will free up capacity at other Rexam plants in the region, which will enable us to grow specialty can volumes or release production capacity for other sizes.”
Overall, Percival adds, the move is: “Another step to strengthen relationships with our customers by offering them the best cans and the best service possible.”
Rexam says the Widnau plant will be built to the latest environmental specifications, keep traffic to and from the site to a minimum, optimise logistics costs, and will “further enhance the sustainability credentials of the beverage can”.
