QazAlPack, Kazakhstan's first aluminium beverage cans plant, gears up for a significant expansion

Kazakhstan's first beverage can plant, located in the Ontustik industrial zone of Shymkent, is gearing up for a significant expansion later this year. QazAlPack (QAP) specializes in manufacturing 450ml aluminium beverage cans tailored for drinks and compatible with 202-diameter CDL ends. It is the sole can-making facility in Central Asia.

Andrew Ushakov, the project manager at QazAlPack (QAP), has confirmed plans to double the plant's production capacity, aiming to reach up to 1 billion aluminium cans per year. Furthermore, the plant also focuses on lightweighting its cans. Through enhancements in production processes, they have managed to reduce the starting gauge of the aluminium coil from 0.265mm to a thinner 0.245mm, ensuring greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness in production.

About the plant

Construction of the plant, spanning over 22,000 square meters, commenced in October 2020, with production kicking off in early 2022. Currently, the facility can produce 500 million aluminium cans annually. However, with the installation of new equipment and machinery, the output is set to undergo a substantial increase.

Ushakov revealed that the company has already completed the installation of four additional Standun SC1880 bodymakers and one Concord 24MRT decorator, all supplied by Stolle Machinery. These additions will ramp up the line's speed from 1,600 to an impressive 2,500 cans per minute.

The plant once boasted two distinct production lines—one dedicated to crafting caps and the other to manufacturing cans. The majority of the equipment hails from Stolle Machinery, with machines sourced and assembled from various Stolle facilities across the United States, China, Brazil, and Europe.

QAP – an important component of the domestic market

With a primary focus on servicing local producers of beer, energy drinks, and spirits, QAP has been a vital contributor to the domestic market. However, the impending doubling of the plant's capacity signifies a pivotal juncture. This expansion opens avenues for QAP to significantly broaden its customer base, extending beyond the confines of the domestic market and venturing into wider geographical territories.

QAP has outlined strategic plans to prioritize supplying markets across Central Asia, particularly within the post-Soviet region. Originally, exports were slated to constitute approximately 10% of the plant's total output. However, with the forthcoming expansion in production capacity, there's a strong likelihood that this percentage will see a substantial increase.

The investment in this expansion, estimated at KZT23 billion (US$52 million), has created approximately 170 new jobs. With its current dominance, capturing over 75% of the domestic market share in aluminium cans, QAP has significantly curtailed imports of cans into Kazakhstan. The Kazakh market itself is estimated to demand around 700 million cans annually.

To facilitate this ambitious project, an investment contract was inked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Moreover, funding was secured through lending under the 'Economy of Simple Things' program.

In a bid to ensure a stable supply of canstock, QAP is exploring the possibility of establishing an adjacent facility dedicated to producing rolled aluminum. This move aligns with their intention to utilize domestically sourced metal, thereby enhancing self-sufficiency and promoting local industry growth.