Asahi opens $60m canning line at Yatala brewery

Asahi Beverages has unveiled a new $60 million canning line at its brewery in Yatala, Queensland to meet the growing demand for cans over stubbies.

KHS Group is the main equipment supplier for the new line and has also conducted its integration. In addition, Foodmach and Visy Automation also provided some equipment and supported with integration.

Up to 400 million cans of Australia’s best beers will roll off the new line each year, including Great Northern, Victoria Bitter and Carlton Dry.

The state-of-the-art line can produce more than two million cans every 24 hours and has created more than 200 jobs during its construction, plus an additional 27 new full-time jobs on site at the brewery.

Beer lovers’ growing preference for cans over bottles also delivers sustainability benefits, as less energy is used to produce aluminium cans, while their lighter weight means they can be transported more efficiently than glass bottles.

“Aussie beer lovers’ increasing thirst for cans over stubbies is creating more great brewery jobs for Queenslanders and some useful sustainability benefits too,” said Melanie Hignett, head of manufacturing at the Yatala Brewery.

“This new canning line is a major investment in south-east Queensland manufacturing. It’s a big win for beer lovers too because it helps ensure we can meet growing demand for beer cans in Queensland and beyond for many years to come.”

Five years ago, just 46 per cent of the packaged beer Asahi brewed in Australia was sold in cans and the remainder in stubbies. However, cans recently surpassed bottles and now sit at 52 per cent, a number expected to grow significantly in coming years.

“We think the trend is inspired by their versatility, their affordability and their prevalence within craft beer,” Hignett added.

“The new line underscores Asahi’s long-term commitment to Australian jobs and manufacturing.”

While the new canning line significantly boosts Yatala’s can capacity, the brewery will also still produce millions of stubbies each year.