Crown Holdings Inc. (Crown), a leading supplier of metal packaging products worldwide, celebrated the opening of its new beverage can manufacturing plant in Nichols, New York, with a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 9. The state-of-the-art plant, which marks the industry’s first greenfield facility in the United States in more than 20 years, will support the country’s growing demand for specialty beverage cans. Specialty cans, defined as sizes other than the standard diameter for 12 oz. beverages, have become a popular format for a variety of categories including soft drinks, beer, ready-to-drink teas, coffee, sparkling waters, wine and spirits, juices and other functional beverages.

“Beverage cans remain a valued, trusted format with consumers around the world due to their portability, durability and sustainability. In the United States, demand for specialty can sizes is flourishing as brand owners seek to refresh their packaging mix and increase appeal to different demographics,” said Timothy J. Donahue, President and Chief Executive Officer of Crown. “This new facility reflects Crown’s commitment to support its customers with capacity when and where they need it and underscores our philosophy of delivering innovative metal packaging that responds to demands of modern consumers. On behalf of Crown, I would like to thank our many partners that supported this initiative, including New York’s Empire State Development, Tioga County, the Town of Nichols and New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG).”

Situated in the Tioga County Industrial Park in the Town of Nichols, the facility produces two-piece aluminum cans in a range of sizes and is set to create more than 160 new jobs by 2018. Crown’s presence in New York also provides the potential for further development in the Southern Tier Region, where efforts to grow the advanced manufacturing sector are underway.

"Through innovative and strategic investments in advanced manufacturing, New York is driving economic growth in the Southern Tier and across the state," said Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. "Crown Holdings' new facility will create good-paying jobs in Tioga County, advance the state's growing manufacturing industry, and support a stronger, more viable economy for years to come."

Construction on the 533,853 square foot building began in December 2015 and commercial shipments began in late January 2017. The plant’s second manufacturing line was completed in April 2017. Crown currently operates fifteen beverage can plants in North America, manufacturing aluminum cans ranging in size from 7.5 oz. to 16 oz., as well as a variety of beverage can ends.

The opening of the new facility coincides with Crown’s 125th anniversary year. The Company was founded in 1892 when William Painter changed the trajectory of the beverage industry with the invention of the bottle cap (also known as the crown cork). Today, Crown operates 146 facilities in 36 countries and has a diversified metal packaging technology portfolio that serves the beverage, food, personal care, household and luxury markets.