Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMP) is making a significant investment in the expansion of its production facility at La Ciotat, France. The new expenditure, supported by Bpifrance and Sud Attractivité, responds to an increased demand for beverage cans from a diverse mix new and existing customers for long-term partnerships in the regions of Southwestern Europe and Middle East Africa (MEA), and will significantly strengthen AMP’s position in those geographies.

The move to increase production capacity at La Ciotat reflects the strength of AMP’s confidence in French technical and industrial know-how. Expanded distribution of quality French-produced packaging, in both traditional and new market segments in Europe and MEA, will also serve to affirm and promote the unrivalled expertise at La Ciotat.

Created in 1991, AMP’s La Ciotat facility is one of the main employers in the area. The investment will boost the local economy with the creation of approximately 80 new positions at the facility, as well as employing numerous subcontractors during the expansion period and beyond. In turn, the new jobs will positively impact the social budgets of the local Economic and Social Committee, benefiting employees as well as the La Ciotat area.

At the same time, AMP is taking care to prioritise its environmental responsibilities: reducing imports and their associated CO2 emissions and installing state-of-the-art equipment to decrease electricity and gas consumption by manufacturing beverage cans more sustainably. Being infinitely recyclable without loss of quality, aluminium cans are already a sustainable packaging product. The facility also continuously works to limit the consumption of prime aluminium by recycling at all stages of the manufacturing process – and through innovation, producing the lightest possible aluminium can to minimise the use of materials.

Work to extend the facility is due to be completed in 2023 and production is expected to begin in the first half of 2023.This investment forms part of AMP’s expansion plan involving growth Capex investments of well over $2bn.