Nashua aluminum can plant hailed as meeting need of region’s beverage makers
Facility to meet growing demand for craft brewers, other smaller producers shut out by large manufacturers
Among the victims of ongoing supply chain issues is the beverage industry, which has been dealing with a shortage of aluminum cans, just as they have become more popular than ever. But a new plant is being built in Nashua to help address that problem.
The plant, which is under construction on Burke Street, is being built by KJ Can USA, a subsidiary of the Korea-based KJ Co. Ltd. When completed, the plant is expected to produce hundreds of millions of cans a year.
The can shortage has only gotten worse during the pandemic, particularly for smaller craft brewers and beverage producers, as many larger can manufacturers drastically raised the size of minimum orders and others simply stopped working with smaller accounts.
The KJ Can plant is being built to meet the needs regional craft brewers “for years to come,” said Alvin Widitora, general manager of KJ Can USA.
“Our new modern plant is well-positioned, both with its location and timing, to satisfy the aluminum needs of brewers throughout New England and the Northeast region,” said Widitora.
Construction of the new plant was announced in a press release by G3 Enterprises of Modesto, Calif., a logistics and supply company for the nation’s beverage industry, which will be working to supply cans to customers.
Richard Armstrong, senior director of G3’s Can Division, said the firm will be making available a “stable supply of aluminum cans … to impacted brewers and beverage companies with lower-order minimum quantities, competitive prices and shorter lead times.”
“The continued challenge of maintaining a consistent aluminum can supply in the market has made business very difficult for many mid-size and small customers,” said Armstrong. He said his firm has “the expertise and experience to deliver a stable supply of high-quality aluminum cans, and we are thrilled to have this new domestic supply source that we can offer to our customers.”
Armstrong added that plans are already in the works to add additional capacity at the Nashua plant even after construction.
