Crown Holdings expands Mexican footprint with fourth beverage can plant in Monterrey

US-based metal packaging products supplier Crown Holdings will build a new beverage can plant in Monterrey, Mexico, its fourth in the country, to address the growing demand.

Crown will construct the new plant at the site which was a part of assets recently purchased by the company, previously belonging to Empaque.

Crown president of the American division Djalma Novaes said: "In addition to completing the acquisition of Empaque, the leading beverage can producer in Mexico, we are excited to further expand in this key strategic region of the country and meet our customers' increasing demand."

Capable of producing two billion cans every year, the facility's design will enable further expansion and will be equipped to produce two-piece aluminum cans in multiple sizes.

Production of beverage cans will begin in May 2016, with the company to contract customers in Monterrey and the surrounding region.

Crown Beverage Mexico president Abel Coello Quintanilla said: "Mexico is the world's fourth largest per capita beer market and its second largest per capita soft drink market, and the new plant in Monterrey has been a key element of our strategic plan. The management of Empaque is very pleased that Crown has endorsed our recommendation to proceed immediately with its construction."

With the acquisition of Empaque, Crown's Mexico operations would include three beverage can plants, a food and aerosol can plant, a plant that manufactures beverage can ends, aluminum closures and bottle caps, a glass bottle plant and a glass service facility.