Canpack marks US expansion with state-of-the-art manufacturing plant
16 Jul 2020 --- Canpack has unveiled plans to construct its first US-based state-of-the-art aluminum beverage can body and ends manufacturing plant. The European metal packaging leader will also build a North American Center of Excellence to demonstrate its R&D and lithographic capabilities. The facility is expected to be functional by Q4 2021 and provide over 400 local jobs. Polish-headquartered Canpack and Canpack-owner Giorgi Global Holdings, based in Blandon, Pennsylvania, US, jointly announced CANPACK’s acquisition of the industrial property in Olyphant, Pennsylvania.
“Since we first invested in Canpack over 30 years ago, it has grown from a single steel food can manufacturing site in Poland to a true multinational packaging manufacturer with nearly 8,000 employees and 28 manufacturing sites located in Europe, South America, India, the Middle East and Africa,” notes Peter Giorgi, President and CEO of Giorgi Global Holdings. 
The US is recognized as the world’s largest aluminum beverage can marketGiorgi Global Holdings recognizes the US as the world’s largest aluminum beverage can market. “Despite many attractive locations, we chose Pennsylvania not only because it’s my home and home for many of Giorgi Global Holdings’ other agricultural and food packaging businesses, but also because of the warm welcome we have received from Governor Wolf and the Governor’s Action Team, the Department of Community and Economic Development, the Department of Environmental Protection, Senator John Blake, Representative Kyle Mullins, the Lackawanna County Commissioners, the Borough of Olyphant and the Mid-Valley School District,” adds Giorgi.
“Canpack is a great company with a phenomenal growth platform and we are absolutely thrilled to be entering the US market where we will be better able to serve our global customers’ beverage can needs,” says Roberto Villaquiran, Canpack CEO. “Our customers are among the largest beverage producers in the world, and to truly be their partner, we need to be here, in the US.”
Villaquiran adds that investing in the conversion of a brownfield site to a state-of-the-art aluminum can manufacturing facility and operations center, which creates local jobs and benefits the community, is consistent with Canpack’s focus on sustainability and responsible corporate citizenship.
The facility is expected to be functional by Q4 2021 and provide over 400 local jobs.“For generations, the site of this development has been a source of income, employment and pride for thousands of Lackawanna County families. I am thrilled that Canpack is bringing hundreds of much-needed and good-paying jobs back to our region and, specifically to this expansive industrial site in Olyphant,” states Senator John Blake. “I applaud the Administration and the Governor’s Action Team for their work to attract Canpack to our region and for again showing the value of public-private partnerships for our region, our residents and our economy.”
Canpack’s operations include aluminum can manufacturing, glass bottle production, the manufacture of food and industrial packaging and the production of crown caps.
The manufacturer recently began using 3D printing to make face shields that will be delivered to local hospitals as the battles against COVID-19 rages on. The project was funded by the Canpack Foundation as part of the employee volunteer program “Time to volunteer.”
Edited by Joshua Poole
