Page 22 - Packaging News May-June 2021

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CONVERTING UPDATE www.packagingnews.com.au | May-June 2021
Jamestrong Taree marks 30 years and 2.7bn cans
Jamestrong has confirmed its commitment to preserving regional manufacturing as it marks its 30-year milestone in
state-of-the-art German/Swiss can manufacturing line that is still in operation today.
Noting that Taree is no longer the manufacturing powerhouse it once was, Commins said, “If there’s any good that’s come out of the pandemic, it is Australia realising just how pre- cious local supply of manufactured goods are.”
According to Commins, the Jamestrong management team last year made a submission to Scott Morrison’s Manufacturing Covid Commission to assist the government to understand where the roadblocks and challenges are for all stakeholders in the supply chain.
“We are passionate about the preservation and growth of manu- facturing in our great country and in great regional towns like Taree. We are hopeful that the Australian government can redouble its efforts to revive manufacturing and regenerate the vital contribu- tion the sector makes to our GDP and way of life,” Commins said.
He thanked the employees for their dedication to the business as well as major customers like Unilever, PAX Ensign and Moorebank, which he said have been long and loyal sup- porters of the Taree operation.
“We remain vigilant to continue to provide you with innovation, and a great product with first class service. We look forward to collaborating more on recycling, and focusing on incorporating post consumer recy- cled waste in our cans, so together we can jointly reduce our global car- bon footprints.” ■
PTaree. Lindy Hughson reports. RECISION metal packaging manu-
facturer Jamestrong celebrated 30 years of making aerosol cans and a 2.7 billion can production milestone at its Taree, NSW site in March.
The Jamestrong Taree plant, originally known as Containers Packaging, was first commissioned in 1991 and today employs 75 people and produces 100 million aerosol cans per year at the site.
Jamestrong CEO Alex Commins put some numbers behind the com- pany’s significant contribution to regional NSW in his address to guests gathered at the staff and family event to mark the anniversary in Kolondong Industrial Park.
“Since commissioning the plant in March 1991, the operation has pro- cessed 75,000 tons of aluminium, pro- duced approximately 2.7 billion cans, paid $248 million in wages, spent $208 million in local expenses, spent $65
million on utilities, and employed 489 people,” Commins said.
Commins related how in March 1991 Containers Packaging (now Jamestrong) spent $10 million relo- cating its aluminium aerosol manu- facturing operations from Penrith to Taree to the site where it continues to operate.
Included in that $10 million set-up was a $3 million investment in a
ABOVE: QA inspector Pina Reynolds checks a batch of aerosol cans produced at the Jamestrong Taree facility.
If there’s any good that’s come out of the pandemic, it is Australia realising just how precious local supply of manufactured goods are.”
— Alex Commins, CEO, Jamestrong