Ball completes acquisition of China can plant

BALL Corporation has acquired its partners' 60% interest in a former joint venture metal beverage can plant in Qingdao, China, and construction on the new Qingdao plant is underway to meet customer demand.The equipment from the existing facility, 40% owned by Ball since 1993, will be relocated to another Ball location in China.

"Our volumes in China in the first half of 2011 experienced strong growth compared to the same period last year due to increased market demand and the acquisition of our Foshan joint venture beverage can plant in June 2010," said Raymond J. Seabrook, executive vice president and chief operating officer, global packaging. "The relocation of the existing Qingdao plant offers an opportunity for us to build a larger, high-speed plant to supply our customers' growing demand for beverage cans in north-eastern China.

"The new plant will supply both 330ml and 500ml cans – an increasingly popular size for beer. It is on schedule to start up by the end of 2011.