Canpack commences production at greenfield facility in Stribo

Canpack has commenced commercial production of aluminum beverage cans at its greenfield investment in Stribro, Czech Republic. Only 10 months after the investment project announcement, the first batch of aluminum beverage cans reached the customer – the Plzeňský Prazdroj brewery. Soon all brands of Plzeňský Prazdroj will be available on shelves in cans delivered by Canpack Czechia.

“This facility is a landmark in Canpack’s continued strategic partnership with Asahi and Plzeňský Prazdroj. Yet another step to becoming the global partner of choice for impactful, experience-enhancing and sustainable packaging solutions” said Stephen McAneny, group commercial officer at Canpack.

Canpack’s new aluminum beverage can factory is located in the town of Stříbro – in the region of Pilsen, western Czech Republic. The production line serves the production capacity of Plzeňský Prazdroj, a prominent Czech brewery and a member of the Asahi Group. The annual capacity of the plant will reach approximately 1 billion cans, with a potential for further growth in the future. Ultimately the investment, with a total value of over €100m, will mark the further development of the Czech packaging industry, while also supporting the local employment market. The new production plant brought over 140 direct job positions into the region.

The brand new factory was built near to Plzeň as a result of the mutual agreement between Canpack and Plzeňský Prazdroj. Both companies have a purpose to reduce CO2 emissions by transport of cans.

“The new factory in close proximity of the brewery will contribute to decrease the impact on the environment, when reducing the carbon footprint. We will save a distance of 1.75 million kilometers a year, which corresponds to a reduction in CO2 emissions of 1.4 thousand tons per year, an amount that would have to absorb a forest of the size of four Velký Bolevec lakes in Pilsen,” said Grant Liversage, CEO of Plzeňský Prazdroj.

“We are delighted to commence production at our brand-new Czechia facility. The plant was built in a record time of 10 months, in what are unprecedented circumstances relating to Covid-19. This is thanks to the dedication and expertise of our unique workforce” said Attila Szabo, general manager Canpack Czechia. “With this modern facility we will be able to offer Plzeňský Prazdroj and our European customer base innovative and sustainable packaging whilst strengthening the Canpack footprint in Central Europe.”