Metal Container Corp. evaluates expansion of Florida plant - Jacksonville, Florida

Modern Brewery Age, March 4, 1991

Metal Container Corp. evaluates expansion of Florida plant

Metal Container Corp., the can and lid manufacturing subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc., is evaluating the feasibility of a major expansion of its can plant in Jacksonville, FL, according to company officials.

"Florida is a very important state for Metal Container Corporation," said Barry Beracha, president and chief executive officer at Metal Container Corp. "The southeastern United States is a high-growth region and our goal is to increase production to meet the demand of Anheuser-Busch and our Florida soft drink container customers in coming years."

The proposed expansion would include the installation of a new production line capable of producing 2,000 cans per minute, or an additional 800 million cans per year. Some older, less efficient equipment will be evaluated for removal after the new production line is operational.

Constructed in 1974, the Jacksonville plant is the oldest in the MCC network. The facility has undergone a number of modernizations and upgrades in recent years.

MCC currently produces nearly 14 billion cans and approximately 16 billion lids annually. In addition to supplying approximately 40 percent of Anheuser-Busch, Inc.'s container requirements, Metal Container is a significant supplier to the soft drink container market.