Coca-Cola HBC to Invest €31m in Lisburn Plant to Scale Recycled Plastic Bottling

Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland will invest €31 million to expand production at its Knockmore Hill facility in Lisburn, adding a high-speed recycled plastic bottling line as the company deepens its shift toward circular packaging, the company said in an official statement.

The project matters for the regional manufacturing base because it represents the site’s largest single capital outlay since opening in 2008 and reinforces Northern Ireland’s role in Coca-Cola HBC’s long-term supply chain, at a time when beverage producers face rising regulatory and consumer pressure to cut virgin plastic use.

Coca-Cola HBC said the new line is scheduled to begin operations in May 2026 and will manufacture 500 ml bottles at up to 65,000 units per hour and more than 36,000 two-litre bottles per hour. All bottles produced at the facility, excluding labels and caps, will be made from 100% recycled plastic, following the company’s transition in 2024 to using only recycled material in its local bottle portfolio.

Industry observers note that high-capacity rPET lines of this scale are increasingly viewed as strategic assets, allowing bottlers to manage costs and supply risks as demand for recycled plastic outpaces available feedstock. Analysts say in-house investment can also reduce exposure to volatile recycled resin markets.

The Lisburn project builds on a broader investment programme at Knockmore Hill. Coca-Cola HBC said more than €77.6 million has been invested at the site since 2020, including a €3.5 million warehouse completed in 2024 to support a Monster Energy canning line that opened in late 2023. The approach mirrors a wider trend among global beverage groups to consolidate multiple packaging formats at fewer, more automated production hubs.

The company is the strategic bottling partner for The Coca-Cola Company on the island of Ireland, producing the full range of Coca-Cola soft drinks alongside the locally sourced Deep RiverRock water brand. With operations on the island dating back to 1939, Coca-Cola HBC employs more than 960 people across Ireland and Northern Ireland, including about 550 staff at the Lisburn facility.

Economic data underscore the system’s regional footprint. A KPMG study commissioned by The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partner found that Coca-Cola-related activities generated more than €3.66 billion for the Irish economy in 2022, reflecting its role as a major employer and supply-chain anchor.

Simon Fitzpatrick, general manager of Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland, said the new bottling line would enhance manufacturing agility and support the site’s ambition to lead in supply chain performance, while strengthening the company’s long-term commitment to local communities and environmental responsibility.

Looking ahead, analysts expect further capital spending by beverage producers as recycled-content mandates tighten and sustainability targets move from pledges to enforcement. The Lisburn expansion positions Coca-Cola HBC to meet those pressures while maintaining production flexibility and scale.

Source: Coca-Cola HBC

SUNSHINE Spotlight: The €31 million Lisburn investment highlights how major beverage bottlers are pairing recycled plastic commitments with high-speed manufacturing to secure future-ready supply chains.