Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has completed a $39.7 million manufacturing upgrade at its Kewdale facility in Western Australia, installing a high-speed can production line that increases capacity by more than 40 per cent and lifts production speeds to 1500 cans per minute.
The investment is one of the largest upgrades in the Perth facility’s recent history and forms part of CCEP’s ongoing investment in Australian beverage manufacturing, with a focus on automation, production flexibility and operational efficiency.
The new can line has the capacity to produce 16 million cases annually, equivalent to approximately 384 million cans. It increases production speeds from around 1060 to 1500 cans per minute, while incorporating enhanced automation and technology designed to improve water and energy efficiency.
CCEP says the additional capacity will strengthen its ability to respond to changing consumer demand in Western Australia, particularly during the summer peak when the line will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The upgrade also provides greater production flexibility, enabling the facility to adjust output in response to market requirements while supporting the company's strategy of manufacturing beverages closer to where they are consumed.
Tom Schiebling, director of manufacturing at CCEP, said the investment demonstrated the company's long-term commitment to its Western Australian operations.
“This upgrade is one of the largest investments in Kewdale's recent history and reflects our long-term belief in manufacturing in Western Australia,” Schiebling said.
“As we head into summer, this line will operate around the clock to help ensure Western Australians can continue enjoying the beverages they know and love.
“Beyond increasing production capacity, this investment strengthens local manufacturing, supports skilled jobs and positions Kewdale as a world-class facility for the future.”
Five decades of local manufacturing
The Kewdale facility has operated for more than 50 years and is CCEP's fourth-largest manufacturing site in Australia.
It employs approximately 300 Western Australians, including 125 manufacturing team members, and plays an important role in supplying beverages to the state's market.
The $39.7 million investment strengthens Kewdale's position within CCEP's national manufacturing network, with the company expecting the upgraded facility to remain a key production asset for decades to come.
Beyond the increase in output, the investment is intended to improve operational efficiency and support local supply chains, reducing the need to transport finished beverages over long distances.
CCEP says demand for locally manufactured beverages continues to grow, making investment in domestic production capacity an important part of its broader manufacturing strategy.
New approach to manufacturing careers
Alongside the production line upgrade, CCEP has introduced a workforce initiative at Kewdale aimed at broadening access to manufacturing careers.
The company is piloting a flexible part-time frontline manufacturing model, designed to accommodate people balancing employment with family responsibilities, caring commitments or other circumstances that may prevent them from working traditional full-time manufacturing shifts.
The initiative attracted more than 900 applications for its first intake, with new employees already joining the Kewdale manufacturing team through part-time roles.
CCEP says the response demonstrates the potential for alternative employment models to attract people who may not previously have considered careers in manufacturing.
The pilot also reflects the company's recognition that investment in advanced production equipment needs to be supported by workforce development and new approaches to attracting and retaining skilled employees.
“The future of manufacturing depends on both world-class equipment and a skilled, diverse workforce to operate it,” Schiebling said.
“By rethinking traditional workforce models, we're creating new pathways into manufacturing and opening opportunities for Western Australians that may have not previously considered a career in the industry.”
The Kewdale upgrade combines investment in higher-speed, automated beverage packaging technology with changes to workforce participation, supporting CCEP's plans to expand local manufacturing capability and meet future demand in Western Australia.
