Crown opens Greenfield beverage can facility in the US
Crown has celebrated the opening of its new beverage can manufacturing plant in Nichols, New York with a ribbon cutting ceremony, which took place on 9 May.
The plant, which marks the industry’s first greenfield facility in the United States in more than 20 years, will support the country’s growing demand for speciality beverage cans. Speciality cans, defined as sizes other than the standard diameter for 12-ounce beverages, have become a popular format for a variety of categories including soft drinks, beer, ready to drink teas, coffee, sparkling waters, wine and spirits, juices and other functional beverages.
Timothy Donahue, president and chief executive officer of Crown, said: “Beverage cans remain a valued, trusted format with consumers around the world due to their portability, durability and sustainability. In the US, demand for speciality can sizes is flourishing as brand owners seek to refresh their packaging mix and increase appeal to different demographics.”
Situated in the Tioga County Industrial Park in the town of Nichols, the facility produces two-piece aluminum cans in a range of sizes and is set to create more than 160 new jobs by 2018. Crown’s presence in New York also provides the potential for further development in the Southern tier region, where efforts to grow the advanced manufacturing sector are underway.
“Through innovative and strategic investments in advanced manufacturing, New York is driving economic growth in the Southern tier and across the state,” explained governor Andrew Cuomo. “Crown Holdings’ new facility will create good paying jobs in Tioga County, advance the state’s growing manufacturing industry, and support a stronger, more viable economy for years to come.”
Construction on the 533,853 sq ft building began in December 2015 and commercial shipments began in late January 2017. The plant’s second manufacturing line was completed in April 2017. Crown currently operates 15 beverage can plants in North America, manufacturing aluminium cans ranging in size from 7.5-ounce to 16-ounce, as well as a variety of beverage can ends.
The opening of the new facility coincides with Crown’s 125th anniversary year.
