Rexam to Build Beverage Can Plant in Finland

The consumer packaging company Rexam PLC, headquartered in London, has announced plans to build a new aluminum beverage can plant in Mantsala, Finland. The project is expected to cost nearly £68 million (US$106 million) and will include two lines that will have the capacity to produce 1.35 billion aluminum cans per year. The first line is expected to be operational by 2013, and the second line is expected to be operational by January 2014.

Rexam notes the Nordic market has demonstrated good growth in recent years, and Finland has experienced a steady transition from glass bottles to cans. In the last five years, Rexam says the beverage can’s share of the market for beer in Finland has grown from slightly more than 10 percent to more than 60 percent.

In total, Rexam PLC operates close to 100 manufacturing facilities in more than 20 countries in Europe, North and South America and the Pacific Rim. Roughly 80 percent of the company’s sales come from the beverage can packaging sector.