AMP lodges plans for drinks can factory in Newtownabbey
A new drinks can factory on the outskirts of north Belfast will employ 160 people, the company behind it has said.
AMP, part of the Ardagh Group, lodged a planning application for the development, saying it intends to have the facility, at Global Point in Newtownabbey, operating next year.
Ardagh is based In Luxembourg but the company has Irish roots.
The north Belfast initiative is part of a multi-billion dollar investment by the company, involving the construction of new, recyclable metal packaging capacity in Europe, North America and Brazil.
It is expected that the approximately 430,500 sq ft manufacturing facility will create approximately 160 direct jobs (FTE) on site, alongside a further 30 jobs indirectly through associated suppliers and associated businesses.
The submission of the planning application to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council follows a period of pre-application community consultation, and engagement with the council and Invest NI.
Oliver Graham, chief executive of AMP, said: “We are a high tech, circular economy business. Our products are helping beverage companies improve their own sustainability using our infinitely recyclable packaging.
“Our proposals will help strengthen our relationships with existing customers and consumers across the island of Ireland and Great Britain. We are pleased to have taken a further step forward to delivering this new plant in Northern Ireland as part of our industry leading multi-year growth strategy to supplement our existing production base throughout Europe.”
David Spratt, chief executive of AMP Europe, added: “Our investment will deliver almost 200 new jobs to Northern Ireland and will bring significant long-term skilled employment opportunities to the area.
“We are grateful for the constructive and positive pre-application consultation with local neighbours and elected representatives. AMP look forward to working closely and collaboratively with them in support of employment and education programmes later this year, once planning permission has been granted and construction can begin.”
AMP, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is 75 per cent owned by Ardagh Group the international packaging group which traces its origins back to glass manufacturing in Dublin in the 1930s.
