James Cain said that investment was 'essential', given the rise in demand for Harrogate's products.
Bottled water brand Harrogate will invest £6.5 million in its bottling facility in North Yorkshire, UK.
The cash injection will be used to pay for a combination line, which can handle both glass and PET plastic production, to replace the company’s original glass bottle filling line.
It complements an £8 million investment in PET production three years ago, which has driven the business’ growth of more than 60% in the last two financial years. Part of this success included an increase in exports, which were boosted last year by the release of an anti-roll bottle for the in-flight retail market.
Harrogate managing director James Cain said: “Continuing strong demand in both home and export markets makes further investment essential to remain ahead of the curve. The new production line will provide us with the capacity and flexibility to meet customer needs and compete more effectively in high-volume markets.
“Overall, the business has grown by more than 20% in the last year, vastly out-performing market growth of around 8%.”
The new combination line is being installed by German manufacturer Krones, which has previously worked with Harrogate on the installation of other machines in the factory.
Harrogate’s production facility is one of the most modern and environmentally efficient anywhere in Europe, the company added.
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