The Irish Coca-Cola plant in Knockmore Hill will install a second canning line.

A second canning line will be installed at Coca-Cola’s Irish plant in Knockmore Hill. Recently, Ireland’s Prime Minister welcomed the progress made from Knockmore Hill and the move to Sleek Cans.

The aforementioned line will be able to meet the increased demand for can production, being able to manufacture up to 4.8 million units per week. Thanks to this upgrade, the plant will have the opportunity to increase its production capacity and offer a wider variety of products in different package sizes. This will also decrease the need to rely on other Coca-Cola HBC facilities in Europe for supplies, as it will bring the production of many Monster Energy products in-house.

The Coca-Cola company has announced the launch of a new line of taller cans that will add to its transition to a new, more modern design. This change is the most significant change made to Coca-Cola’s can offering in the last seven decades and represents a milestone for the soft drinks industry in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Coca-Cola HBC general manager Miles Karemacher also noted that “With our new launch, we have demonstrated our ability to adapt to the times and create a new, modern Sleek Can. This is just the beginning of our journey towards a more sustainable world, as we are transitioning to more environmentally friendly solutions such as multipack carton cans. We are very proud to announce that this initiative will reduce the use of shrink film plastic by 620 tons each year in the Irish market.”

The news is a major milestone in Coca-Cola HBC’s growth and investment in Northern Ireland, where it has had a presence for more than 80 years. With a workforce of 470 direct employees and a contribution to a further 370 indirect jobs, the company is a major contributor to the region’s economy, generating £36 million in wages and £70 million in gross value added.

In addition to having a positive impact on environmental sustainability, the investment also aims to support Coca-Cola in its journey towards a waste-free world. Part of this investment will be used to develop more sustainable secondary packaging for multipack cans. This year, innovative packaging solutions, such as cardboard and solid board, will be implemented, helping to eliminate 620 tons of shrink wrap annually from the environment.