£93.5m Coca-Cola Lisburn facility is officially opened
PLANT SETS NEW STANDARDS IN SUSTAINABLE MANUFACTURING
The official opening was performed by First Minister Rt Hon Peter
Robinson MLA and Deputy First Mlnister Martin McGuinness MP MLA. First
Minister Robinson and Deputy First Minister McGuinness are joined by
Alderman Paul Porter, Mayor of Lisburn, General Manager of Coca Cola
Hellenic for the island of lreland, Marcel Martin, CEO of Coca Cola HBC,
Doras Constantinou, Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster and MP for Lagan
Valley, Jeffrey Donaldson.
John Harrison/Harrison Photography
LISBURN'S £93.5m state-of-the art Coca-Cola manufacturing facility has been officially opened.
Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland opened its doors on Wednesday to celebrate the official launch of its new facility at Knockmore Hill.
The company's investment in new production capacity for the island of
Ireland is designed to enhance its competitive position and enable it to
respond rapidly to changing consumer needs.
The investment, which sets new standards in sustainable manufacturing, was
supported by Invest Northern Ireland.
The official launch of the 50,000 square metre manufacturing, bottling and warehousing facility was performed by First Minister Rt Hon Peter Robinson MLA and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MP MLA in the presence of the CEO of the Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, Doros Constantinou, and the new General Manager of Coca-Cola Hellenic for the island of Ireland, Marcel Martin.
They were joined by Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster; Jeffrey Donaldson, MP for Lagan Valley; Alderman Paul Porter, the Mayor of Lisburn; and Alastair Hamilton, CEO of Invest Northern Ireland.
Speaking about the new state of the art facility, Mr Porter said: "It is excellent news that Coca-Cola chose to remain in Lisburn with it's all-Ireland bottling plant to replace the existing facilities both north and south of the border.
"The company's investment of £50 million will contribute significantly to both the local and regional economies and to the local employment level.
"As part of the construction, Coca-Cola's investment included infrastructure works to improve the transportation linkages to this new state of the art facility.
"I look forward to seeing Coca-Cola continue to successfully serve the Northern Ireland community in the same manner which it has done so for 70 years."
The Knockmore Hill facility, which employs 600 people, has the capacity to produce 1.5 million litres of Coca-Cola beverages each day.
"It includes an energy-efficient Combined Heat and Power plant, a new high-tech warehousing system and a visitors centre which will open for public tours from November.
At the official opening was Doros Constantinou, CEO of Coca-Cola Hellenic said: "On behalf of the Coca-Cola Hellenic group, it gives me great pleasure to see this state of the art facility declared officially open.
"This plant represents a significant investment by Coca-Cola Hellenic in our business in Ireland and underlines our commitment to this market and to our 1,100 employees on the island."
Knockmore Hill's Combined Heat and Power plant was developed by ContourGlobal, a leading international company specialising in the development of efficient energy installations.
It supplies the highly efficient, clean electricity, heat, CO2 and chilled water needed for the company's soft drink production facilities and is currently the only 'quad-generation' plant in the UK and Ireland. The opening celebrations were attended by 180 guests including many Coca-Cola customers, partners, suppliers and employees as well as representatives from the community, charitable and environmental groups supported by Coca-Cola Hellenic throughout the island.
Coke is it!
- £93.5m state-of-the art manufacturing, facility at Knockmore Hill in Lisburn
- 50,000 square metre manufacturing, bottling and warehousing facility Employs 600 people
- Has the capacity to produce 1.5 million litres of Coca-Cola beverages each day.
- It includes an energy-efficient Combined Heat and Power plant and a new high-tech warehousing system and a visitors' centre which will open for public tours from November.
Ulster Star
10/09/2010
