PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- To respond to growing demand for beverage cans in China, Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) (Crown) (www.crowncork.com) today announced plans to build a new two-piece beverage can plant in Nanning, the capital of Guangxi Province in Southern China. With a population of 6.6 million, this prefectural city is strategically located, bordering Guangdong to the East and Yunnan to the West.
The new plant is expected to be operational by the end of Q2 2013 and have an initial annual production capacity of 750 million two-piece 33cl aluminum beverage cans. The plant will also have the ability to produce 50cl beverage cans.
"We are seeing the shift to metal packaging increase as brand owners seek to expand the reach of what used to be 'local' products across different provinces," said Jozef Salaerts, President of CROWN Asia-Pacific. "The addition of the Nanning facility effectively expands our geographic footprint and allows us to better serve our customers."
Crown currently has five beverage can plants operating in China. The company expects to begin production in Putian (Fujian Province), Ziyang (Sichuan Province) and Heshan (Guangdong Province) in 2012. By mid-2013, plants in Changchun (Jilin Province), XinXiang (Henan Province) and Nanning will begin production, giving Crown eleven plants across China.
About Crown Holdings, Inc.
Crown Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading supplier of packaging products to consumer marketing companies around the world. World headquarters are located in Philadelphia, PA. For more information, visit www.crowncork.com.
For more information, contact:
For editorial inquiries: Thomas T. Fischer, Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs; Tel: (215) 698-5266; Email: thomas.fischer@crowncork.com.
For investors: Thomas A. Kelly, Senior Vice President Finance, Tel: (215) 698-5341, or Ed Bisno, Bisno Communications, Tel: (212) 717-7578.
SOURCE Crown Holdings, Inc.