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Welsh soft drinks manufacturer Radnor Hills has completed a £5 million investment at its Knighton, Powys site, installing the UK’s first Tetra Pak speed portion pack line with the latest technology upgrade.

The new line will increase Radnor Hills’ carton capacity by 150%, from 60 million to 150 million packs annually. It will also create over 20 new jobs and enable the company to expand into new markets, including the NHS, schools and the travel sector.

Founded in 1990, Radnor Hills produces still and sparkling Radnor Spring Water, Heartsease Farm premium presses and Radnor Splash, which sells at a rate of three units per second. All products are made using natural Welsh spring water sourced from the company’s own boreholes near its production site.

The investment coincides with Radnor Hills’ 35th anniversary and forms part of wider infrastructure upgrades, including extended warehousing, a new canning line box packer, a new ERP system and increased site automation.

The new filling machine – a Tetra Pak A3 Speed 0500 – can produce 24,000 cartons per hour, offering an annual capacity of 90 million cartons.

Radnor Hills founder and CEO William Watkins said the investment builds on the success of its first Tetra Pak line, opened in 2018. “It’s a very exciting time for the business, and I’m incredibly proud of our people, who are vital to our continued success and growth,” he said.

Chris Sanders, sales and marketing director at Radnor Hills, added that the upgrade makes the site “one of the most versatile soft drinks manufacturing facilities in Europe,” supporting growth across schools, foodservice, exports and travel, while opening opportunities in healthcare and convenience channels.

The company recently launched its Radnor Fruits Disney Stitch range in partnership with Morrisons, packaged in 200ml Tetra Pak cartons featuring pull-tab technology. It also plans to introduce Radnor Hydrate in early 2026.

Tetra Pak North Europe managing director Katrin Andersson highlighted: “Radnor Hills are a key partner for Tetra Pak, and their strong brand presence and focus on innovation make them an ideal collaborator on pioneering projects such as this”.