7 NEWS PETplanet Insider Vol. 23 No. 06/22 www.petpla.net Coca-Cola Beverages Africa inaugurates US $100m factory in Ethiopia A new US$100 million Coca-Cola bottling plant at Sebeta in Ethiopia is set to unlock export opportunities, increase local production and ease foreign exchange constraints as it adds 500 employees to the workforce of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) in the country. The inauguration of the Sebeta Dima Coca-Cola factory was attended by government representatives, accompanied by CCBAEthiopia Managing Director Daryl Wilson, CCBA CEO Jacques Vermeulen and Africa President for The Coca-Cola Company Bruno Pietracci. Completion of the bottling plant brings CCBA’s production capacity in Ethiopia to more than 100 million cases a year and will enable the company to integrate the production of inputs such as preforms, closures and other materials, as well as the local production of new products such as Minute Maid Juice, reducing imports and adding to national GDP. The production of these input materials, besides meeting CCBA’s own demand, is planned for the export market to generate foreign exchange and supply the local market to help resolve shortages in the sector. Wilson said the opening of the new plant in Sebeta was another proud milestone in CCBA’s growth in the country and the investment demonstrates confidence in the Ethiopian economy: “The first Coca-Cola bottle was manufactured in 1959 in Addis Ababa in the Abinet Area. Since then, Coca-Cola has built a very strong local business in Ethiopia over more than six-decades of investment, creating shared opportunity for communities and employees as it continues to grow.“We are proud to work with thousands of small businesses throughout the country to serve the millions of Ethiopians who choose to enjoy our products each day. We hire locally, produce and distribute our products locally and are increasingly sourcing locally through local farmers, suppliers and retailers.” Construction of the Sebeta plant began in 2019, following the announcement of a $300 million investment over five years to expand CCBA’s operations in Ethiopia. A sixth plant is planned at Hawassa. PET collection centres CCBA has also set up 17 PET collection centres and trained and empowered more than 14,000 women PET collectors in the country, as well as launching a 20 million-birr women and youth economic inclusion project in partnership with the Job Creation Commission of Ethiopia. Pietracci said: “The Coca-Cola Company believes in Africa’s strong potential as the next growth engine of the global economy: Africa has a growing and rapidly urbanising population which is brand conscious, economically active, highly connected and innovative and will drive the continent’s dynamic growth. Over the past 90 years in Africa, we have built a pervasive and very strong local business, creating shared opportunity in every country on the continent. This has been one of our greatest strengths and we will continue playing a significant role in Africa.” www.ccbagroup.com Husky develops HyPET HPP5e Recycled Melt to Preform (RMTP) system Husky Technologies announced the introduction of its HyPET HPP5e Recycled Melt to Preform (RMTP) system. With one system already running in the field and the second soon to be delivered, this development marks the integration of a preform injection moulding system with melt decontamination unit – enabling the direct conversion of washed flake to preform. “With today’s circular economy driving new package design and more efficient production, we are dedicated to working closely with our customers to ensure their products meet specific regional requirements, particularly around recycling and enabling recycled content in packaging,” said Robert Domodossola, Husky’s President of Rigid Packaging. Next step in sustainable, closed-loop packaging Husky’s RMTP technology is offered as a module of the company’s proven HyPET HPP5e high performance system designed to support the closed-loop conversion of washed flake to preform by accepting food approved grade melt from an upstream provider. By eliminating the drying and melting steps associated with traditional rPET preform manufacturing, this solution facilitates the production of packaging made from 100 per cent rPET material, further supporting the circularity of PET. By streamlining the process to bypass inhouse rPET pellet production and go directly from washed flake to preform, the system is claimed to enable producers to achieve 30 per cent energy savings, helping to further lower production costs. In addition, the system is equipped with Husky’s Advantage+Elite real-time proactive, predictive, transparent monitoring solution as a standard feature. Using the industry’s best processing analytics and service expertise, Advantage+Elite connectivity reduces the variability risk associated with running higher levels of post-consumer-resin (PCR), thereby accelerating the shift to manufacture more circular, sustainable packaging with greater stability and assurance, says Husky. www.husky.co
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