Crown to build new plants in China
Can making giant Crown has announced plans to expand its footprint in China by building two new beverage can plants. The company is also adding a second line at a plant that is being built now.
The new facilities will be located in Zhengzhou (Central China) and Changchun (Northeastern China). Each plant will have an initial annual production capacity of 720 million two-piece aluminium beverage cans. The Zhengzhou plant, which will serve Henan province and surrounding provinces such as Shandong, will produce 33cl cans. It is expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2013. The Changchun plant will produce 33cl and 50cl cans and is expected to be operational in the third quarter of 2013.
Crown is also adding a second line to its previously announced facility in Putian (Fujian Province). The new line, expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2013, will produce 33cl and slim 25cl aluminium beverage cans. This expansion will bring annual production capacity at the Putian facility up to 1.4 billion beverage cans when fully commercialised.
“The consumer market in China is growing at a rapid pace,” comments Jozef Salaerts (pictured), president of Crown Asia-Pacific. “Adding facilities in Zhengzhou and Changchun demonstrates Crown’s commitment to support our customers’ growth in this critical market. The plants are also a testament to the increasing popularity of beverage cans in the region and the value they bring to consumers from both the convenience and sustainability perspectives.”
Once construction is complete, Crown will have 10 beverage can plants strategically located across China. The company currently has operations in Beijing, Foshan, Huizhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai, and construction on plants in Putian, Heshan and Ziyang is underway.
