USA – Ball Corporation, supplier of packaging solutions for beverage and household products, is planning to build a new aluminium beverage packaging plant in Pittston, Pennsylvania.
The company has pledged to make an initial investment of US$300 million into the project over several years with the multi-line plant scheduled to begin production in mid-2021 and will create approximately 230 manufacturing jobs.
“Ball is excited to expand into Pennsylvania to build a state-of-the art manufacturing plant to support the growth of our customers in infinitely recyclable aluminum beverage packaging,” said Colin J. Gillis, president of Ball Beverage Packaging North & Central America.
“We appreciate the cooperation between state and local agencies as part of the site selection process, and we look forward to being part of the Pittston community.”
The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team. Ball received a proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development for up to US$2 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Project funding to be distributed upon the creation of the new jobs, US$400,000 in funding for workforce development training, and may be eligible for the Manufacturing Tax Credit Program and a Qualified Manufacturing Deduction.
“Ball Corporation has a longstanding presence in the international marketplace, and Pennsylvania is pleased with the company’s commitment to expand its manufacturing facilities in the northeast,” said Governor Tom Wolf.
“This project will inject much-needed revenue into the region, create new, high-paying jobs, and provide a lasting impact on the surrounding community,” he stated.
The novel coronavirus pandemic caused a dramatic shift in consumer demand for aluminum cans.
Sales of kegs to restaurants and bars cratered when the businesses closed for the pandemic, and demand for canned food and six-packs shot up in response, straining the supply chains for can manufacturers like Ball and Crown Holdings, Inc.
Ball’s second-quarter earnings report, released August, took note of the jump, “Higher at-home consumption combined with already tight supply/demand conditions outpaced domestically produced volume,” it read, and noted that importing cans would help fill summer demand for the short term.
Ball Corp. has already added production capacity to two of its facilities in Texas and Georgia and begun construction on another plant in Glendale, Arizona; the Glendale plant is also slated to start up early in the first quarter of 2021.
“Our new Pittston plant is Ball’s latest investment to serve accelerating demand for our portfolio of infinitely recyclable aluminum containers used in the sparkling water, spiked seltzer, beer and carbonated beverage categories,” said Daniel W. Fisher, COO, global beverage packaging.
“Pittston will join our industry-leading network of more than 20 North American plants.
“These investments, supported by numerous long-term customer contracts, will enable us to serve customer and consumer needs for more sustainable beverage packaging while furthering our Drive for 10 vision for long-term success.”
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