UK-based cider producer Thatchers has installed canning line at its Myrtle Farm facility in Somerset.
The company invested £8.3m and commissioned its first canning line at its production facility to press and package all of its ciders.
Thatchers managing director Martin Thatcher said was quoted by FoodBev Media as saying: “It has always been our intention to install a canning line and bring all our packaging, including bottling and kegging, under one roof.
“With the growing demand for premium cider in cans, this is an increasingly important part of our business, and so by bringing the facility in-house this is an significant development for us.”
Designed to fill 30,000 cans per hour, the KHS-built canning line features advanced automation, robotics, inspection and orientation system along with a bespoke packaging machine.
Thatcher added: “Having our very own technical and engineering teams installing, operating and maintaining the advanced packaging equipment is a very important part of this process.
“We have kegged and bottled our ciders here at Myrtle Farm for many years, and we’re delighted to be completing our packaging capability by bringing canning back home to Myrtle Farm.”
Thatchers also own bottling line, which has capacity to fill, cap and label 20,000 bottles an hour, as well as a keg line capable of producing 600 pints per minute, reported Insider Media.
