The canning line is the second of its kind to be installed at the plant and will support increased demand for can production, with the capacity to produce 4.8 million cans per week. It enables the plant to expand production capabilities and increase the number of products and pack sizes available. It will reduce the company’s reliance on external sourcing from other Coca‑Cola HBC facilities across Europe, most notably bringing the production many of the Monster Energy products in-house.
The announcement represents a key milestone in Coca‑Cola HBC’s growth and investment in Northern Ireland, where it has proudly operated for more than 80 years. Today, Coca‑Cola HBC directly employs 470 people in Northern Ireland and contributes to a further 370 jobs indirectly. It is a significant contributor to the region’s economy, delivering £36M in wages along its value chain and £70M in Gross Value Added. Read more about the social economic impact here.
The new line will also support Coca‑Cola’s transition to new taller “Sleek Cans”, launching this month. The move to Sleek Can marks the most significant change in Coca‑Cola’s can offering for more than 70 years and is a first for the soft drink industry in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The investment also supports Coca‑Cola’s journey towards a World Without Waste, by enabling the introduction of more sustainable secondary packaging for multipack cans. Innovative paperboard and cardboard packaging solutions for multi-pack cans will be introduced this year, eliminating 620 tonnes of shrink plastic from circulation annually. Read more.
Coca‑Cola HBC's Group Supply Chain Director, and former General Manager of Ireland and Northern Ireland, Marcel Martin reflected on the last decade of growth and development for the Knockmore Hill plant:
