Packaging is at the heart of Suntory’s bold new chapter in Australia, marked by the opening of its $400 million beverage production facility in Swanbank, Queensland – a site purpose-built to deliver high-speed, high-efficiency bottling, canning and kegging through world-class packaging technology and sustainable design.
Unveiled alongside the official launch of Suntory Oceania – the newly formed $3 billion multi-beverage business combining Frucor Suntory and Beam Suntory – the facility represents a major leap forward in local beverage manufacturing. With cutting-edge lines from Krones and KHS, smart automation, and carbon-neutral operations powered by solar, biomass and waste heat recovery, the site is designed to set new benchmarks in packaging innovation, flexibility and circularity.
For the packaging sector, it represents one of the most significant investments in local capability in the past decade – combining scale, speed, and sustainability to serve a growing market across Australia and New Zealand.
End-to-end packaging capability
Located on a 17-hectare site, the Swanbank facility offers end-to-end manufacturing and packaging for Suntory’s 40-strong brand portfolio. This includes premium spirits, RTD alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, juice, coffee, water, and energy drinks, with brands such as Suntory -196, Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Canadian Club, V Energy, Maximus and Suntory BOSS now produced under one roof.
The site integrates advanced primary and secondary packaging systems that prioritise flexibility, speed, and automation. Two high-speed canning lines and a multi-format glass bottling line from Krones, as well as a kegging line from KHS, provide the operational backbone of the facility’s packaging operations.
From three depalletisers, the system can deliver 90,000 cans per hour to the fillers – a rate that can be doubled with future upgrades. The glass line accommodates five bottle formats and enables a full depalletise-to-dispatch process in just 25 minutes. Case packing occurs every two seconds, and line changeovers have been engineered for speed and automation, supporting up to 60 different SKUs with minimal downtime.
This level of flexibility and responsiveness is critical in a market where consumer preferences shift rapidly and SKU proliferation is the norm. It also positions Suntory to respond quickly to growing demand in the RTD and functional beverage segments.
Smart storage and integrated logistics
Packaging and logistics are tightly integrated at the site through a towering 30-metre-high automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS), described by Suntory’s chief supply chain officer Ian Roberts as “a cathedral of logistics”.
This smart system allows for efficient storage and retrieval of packed product, streamlining the flow from production line to dispatch. It’s an essential element in Suntory’s localised supply chain strategy and supports faster time to market and reduced transportation emissions.
More than 2000 people contributed to the development of the site since its announcement in 2022, and over 400 new staff have joined across commercial, sales, and supply chain operations, reinforcing Suntory’s long-term commitment to the region.
Engineered for sustainability
What sets Swanbank apart is its sustainability profile. From day one, the site has been certified carbon neutral, in line with Suntory’s global “Growing for Good” philosophy. Every element of the facility – including its packaging operations – has been designed with environmental performance in mind.
Key features include:
- 7,000 rooftop solar panels, covering 14 kilometres end to end, supporting base-load operations
- A biomass boiler using local sawmill offcuts to generate heat for processing needs
- A waste heat recovery system using Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology to convert thermal energy into green electricity
- A power purchase agreement with Queensland’s CleanCo to ensure 100% renewable electricity supply
These initiatives support Suntory’s goal of producing 20 million cases per year sustainably, with plans to scale to 50 million as demand grows.
“Sustainability was embedded into every aspect of this build,” said Roberts. “This facility enables us to respond to market demand and deliver locally made beverages in a way that’s better for the planet and more resilient for our business.”
A strategic regional move
The launch of Suntory Oceania marks a key strategic shift, consolidating operations under one business unit and giving Suntory a stronger, more agile platform for growth across the ANZ region.
With the Swanbank facility relieving pressure on the company’s New Zealand operations and enabling local production of more of its global and regional brands, it also lays the groundwork for deeper market penetration. The company plans to formally launch its multi-beverage offering in New Zealand in early 2026.
Mark Hill, managing director of Suntory Global Spirits – Oceania, said: “We’ve achieved a huge amount in just two years – each component of the project could have stood alone as a major achievement. To deliver them all simultaneously, on time, is a testament to the strength of our team and our commitment to the market.”
Dai Minato, CEO of Suntory Beverage & Food Oceania, added, “This is just the beginning. Our people, our brands, and our belief in the Oceania market give us immense confidence in what’s to come.”
Industry impact
For Australia’s packaging and processing machinery sector, the Suntory Oceania launch reinforces the importance of local capability, agility, and sustainable production. It is expected to drive increased collaboration across the packaging value chain – from materials suppliers and label converters to logistics providers and recyclers.
With packaging innovation and carbon-neutral design now central to major FMCG investments, the Swanbank site may well become a blueprint for future large-scale beverage facilities across the region.
In delivering a high-tech, high-capacity packaging operation that’s both smart and sustainable, Suntory has positioned itself not only as a beverage leader, but as a force for shaping the future of local manufacturing.
