UK – Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMP), a division of Ardagh Group, is set to build a US$200 million beverage can facility near Belfast in Northern Ireland to meet rising demand from its customers in Europe.
The project is part of the firm’s multi-billion-dollar investment strategy to strengthen its recyclable metal packaging capacity in Europe, North America, and Brazil.
AMP’s CEO, Oliver Graham, said: “This exciting project is an important part of AMP’s global investment programme.
We are delighted to be investing in Northern Ireland, supporting our clients’ sustainability needs and further reducing our carbon footprint by locating capacity closer to our end customers.”
Ardagh said details on the number of jobs to be created at the facility are still being finalized but noted that it expects to create several full-time roles for engineers and technicians.
AMP Europe’s CEO, David Spratt, added: “We plan to have the new state-of-the-art plant operational during 2023 and we expect to commence recruitment in 2022. This investment is supported by key AMP customers and will have capacity for further expansion to service additional growth in customer demand.”
The company is engaging with local stakeholders on the project and further details of the plant are to be announced over the coming months.
Earlier, AMP bought a Canadian provider of digital printing services that allows drinks companies to put colorful artwork on aluminium cans for an undisclosed sum.
Quebec-based Hart Print, founded in 2018, is the first company to offer digital printed cans in the North American market, said AMP.
The deal will help AMP to respond flexibly to larger customers’ shorter-run requirements, including for new product introductions and targeted promotions, it said.
“This initiative complements our US$2 billion-plus (€1.77 billion-plus) growth investment programme across 2021-2024 and further enhances our ability to serve these customers, as well as to work with our larger customers on special launches, promotions and tactical marketing,” said AMP chief executive Oliver Graham.
“We look forward to integrating Hart Print into our offering and supporting its growth across our business in the years ahead.”
Ardagh Group also recently published its new Sustainability Report 2021 where it made commitments to achieve net-zero waste to landfill by 2025.
The company also targets a 10% VOC emission intensity reduction, a 20% water use intensity reduction and aims to source 100% of its annual electricity demand from renewable sources by 2030.
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