Crown ramps up Chinese can production

Metal packaging supplier Crown Holdings is officially opening and commercialising three of its Chinese facilities, which aim to supply aluminium drink cans to local markets.

Crown says the plants in Heshan (Guangdong province), Ziyang (Sichuan province) and Putian (Fujian province) may also be called on to supply to other parts of China, depending on demand.

Jozef Salaerts, president of Crown Asia Pacific, says, “As brand owners and consumers continue to recognise the many benefits aluminium beverage cans bring, demand for the package continues to increase. Crown is committed to supporting our customers’ growth, and we are pleased that we are working together to meet both new and existing demand.

“In Asia specifically, growth in market segments such as energy drinks, ready-to-drink coffees and teas, wine and nutraceutical beverages like juices is expected to continue, and ongoing popularity of nutritional teas and beverages such as Jia Duo Bao and Tian Di Yi Hao can be expected in markets where there is a large Chinese consumer base.”

The Putian facility features two lines, with the ability to produce 150ml, 330ml and 500ml two-piece cans. The first line was installed in April 2012, with a second switched on earlier this year in February. The plant currently produces 1.4 billion 330ml beverage cans a year.

The Heshan plant has been up and running since June 2012, initially with one can line and one end line, giving it an annual production capacity of about 725 million two-piece 330ml and 355ml beverage cans and 1.4 billion 202-diameter ends. Crown says it aims to also produce 500ml drink cans at the site.

The Ziyang plant began manufacturing beverage cans in July 2012, with one can line producing about 650m two-piece 330ml and 355ml cans a year.

With a growing presence in South-East Asia, Crown currently operates seven plants in China as well as sites in Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. It currently has 32 plants in the region producing aerosol, food and beverage packaging and metal closures with 4,300 employees and claims to have had US$979m net sales for 2012.

Salaerts says the company is open to exploring opportunities in the market, particularly with the new scope for packaging design afforded by the latest printing techniques and ink finishes.

He says, “Differentiation remains a critical goal for brands, and many are experimenting with packaging format and size in an attempt to engage consumers. Brands can also choose from a number of different beverage can sizes and leverage format’s large surface area as a billboard for promotion.”

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