2 minute read
Clearly Drinks to invest in new canning facility
Soft drinks manufacturer, Clearly Drinks, is investing in a new canning line at its Sunderland-based headquarters, which is expected to be operational from March 2021.
Capable of producing 500 cans per minute and 30,000 cans per hour, the new line is expected to manufacture 160 million cans per year.
Its premium soft drink Upstream, a new brand of flavoured sparkling water aimed at adults, will be the first brand to be made using the new canning line, with additional new products set to be announced later this year. The firm produces its range of soft drinks using spring water drawn directly from on-site boreholes at its North East headquarters.
Clearly Drinks is to invest in a new canning line that will manufacture 160 million cans per year / Picture: Clearly Drinks
The new canning line will enable the company to expand its brand portfolio offering high flexibility for both product and packaging, whilst enabling the reach of a wider customer base opening up opportunities with customers such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Booker and One Stop.
The substantial investment to install the line at Clearly Drinks builds upon growth and progress over the last 18 months and enables the company to continue to innovate and grow, despite the current economic climate. The investment is supported by private equity firm NorthEdge, who invested in the business in 2017.
Mick Howard, chief executive officer at Clearly Drinks, said: “Securing this investment with NorthEdge for our new can facility here at our Clearly Drinks factory in Sunderland allows us to diversify our offering and develop our product lines. We’ll start production with our popular consumer brand Upstream immediately and the machinery’s speed and efficiency will allow us to manufacturer other contract pack products and develop further opportunities with other brands which we’ll announce in due course.”
Established in 1885, Clearly Drinks offers a range of its own branded flavoured water including Perfectly Clear, Northumbria Spring and Revolution Waves, alongside a contract bottling service including customers such as Hartridges, Get More Drinks and Sainsbury’s private label.
The new soft drinks canning facility will be supplied by BW Integrated Systems, a specialist in the design and manufacture of integrated packaging lines and robotic solutions.