Coca-Cola Europacific Partners expands production capacity with new high-speed canning line in Australia 

AUSTRALIA – Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) Australia has announced the successful completion of a new high-speed canning line at its Brisbane manufacturing facility in Richlands, Queensland.  

The installation is part of a US$75 million investment aimed at significantly enhancing the production capacity for key beverage brands, including Monster Energy, Coca-Cola, Sprite, and Fanta. 

The new canning line, which is capable of processing up to 120,000 cans per hour, is designed to meet increasing consumer demand while supporting CCEP’s long-term sustainability and efficiency goals.  

This expansion project engaged over 250 local contractors during its 18-month construction period and has created 18 new full-time positions to support operations. CCEP currently employs over 700 staff in Queensland and more than 3,000 nationally. 

Orlando Rodriguez, Managing Director of CCEP Australia, highlighted the broader economic and environmental benefits of the project. “Richlands is our largest manufacturing site in Australia, and now it’s home to our most efficient and largest canning line globally,” Rodriguez said.  

“By leveraging cutting-edge technology and world-class equipment, the new line will increase production efficiency, enabling faster and more sustainable delivery of our beverages for Australians to enjoy.” 

The upgrade aligns with CCEP’s commitment to sustainable manufacturing practices. A reverse osmosis system incorporated into the new line allows cans to be filled at room temperature, eliminating the need for energy-intensive cooling processes.  

As a result, the company expects to achieve a 23% reduction in annual energy consumption compared to other CCEP lines. 

Rodriguez emphasized the environmental impact of producing closer to the end-consumer. “Our manufacturing philosophy is centred on making it where we sell it. This limits the distance our products travel, minimising emissions and enhancing supply chain efficiency,” he said. 

Concurrently, CCEP France has unveiled a major upgrade at its Grigny bottling facility, following a €146 million investment.  

Central to the project is a new returnable glass bottle (RGB) production line with the capacity to produce 60,000 bottles per hour.  

The new line, which can handle various bottle sizes and both carbonated and aseptic beverages, is the fastest and most flexible in France.  

It is expected to boost the site’s annual output by 60%, increasing production from 108 million to 175-million-unit cases. 

These developments reflect CCEP’s strategic focus on scaling production capacity, driving local employment, and delivering environmental efficiencies across its international operations. 

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