Coca-Cola plant expands in Christchurch
Date: 18 Jan 2012
Coca-Cola Amatil New Zealand today announced it is investing $5 million in an automated distribution centre at its Woolston plant in Christchurch.
The company officially opened its new $15m bottle production line at its Woolston plant today.
The new blow-fill technology enables the company to design and self-manufacture its own PET plastic beverage bottles, rather than purchasing them from a supplier.
The company has invested an additional $9m into infrastructure repair and re-establishing of operations at the Woolston site after it suffered significant damage in both the September 2010 and February 2011 earthquakes.
Coca-Cola New Zealand managing director George Adams said the company remained committed to Christchurch.
''Across our site rebuild, new blow-fill technology and redevelopment of the warehouse, we have invested close to $30m into the local business community.
''This sort of investment is crucial for Christchurch as it continues to re-establish itself as a major business hub in the South Island.''
The Christchurch facility is part of a Coca-Cola Amatil Group-wide A$450m ($583m) investment in blow-fill manufacturing - the largest infrastructure investment for the company in a decade.
The technology is being installed across CCA's production facilities in New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji from 2010-2015.
The Woolston site in Christchurch has one of three New Zealand blow-fill lines, the other two in Auckland.
Blow-fill technology allows the food and beverage manufacturer to redesign its small PET bottle range, delivering significant cost savings, production efficiency gains, increased product shelf life and stacking ability.
Speaking at today's event Coca-Cola Amatil Group managing director Terry Davis said that blow-fill technology would provide a ''quantum lift'' in the company's manufacturing capability in New Zealand. The new blow-fill line will produce approximately 16,000 bottles per hour.
Coca-Cola Amatil employs approximately 140 staff in Christchurch as part of 1100 strong workforce nationwide.
More at www.stuff.co.nz.
