Glass bottle manufacturer and filler Encirc has announced its plans to build a "next-generation" national distribution hub for the UK and European drinks industry.
Credit: Encirc
Part of Vidrala Group, Encirc is based across three sites in England, Northern Ireland and Italy. Each year the company produces more than 4 billion glass containers for leading global brands, filling many of them for retail across the UK and Europe.
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The company plans to build the automated ‘mega hub’ within the next three years, subject to planning permission. Encirc’s parent company, Vidrala, is planning to invest around £75 million in the hub, which will feature state-of-the-art robotic case picking, with the prepared pallets able to be delivered directly to retailers across the UK and Europe.
By going straight to retail and reducing the reliance on regional distribution centres, the hub is set to significantly reduce lorry movements nationwide and achieve notable carbon savings across supply chains in the UK.
Adrian Curry, Managing Director at Encirc, said: “Our new national distribution hub will represent the evolution of drink supply chains in the UK and Europe. This will be a huge leap forward for how the UK drinks industry imports and distributes key brands, and another milestone moment in Encirc’s story of growth and evolution, as well as the carbon reduction strategy for the wider industry.”
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The news of the new mega-hub comes following Encirc announcing it will increase its wine filling capacity by more than 75 million litres per year, while also stating its intention to decarbonise its furnaces by beginning to use sustainable fuels, such as hydrogen, in its melting process.
These plans form an integral part of innovative developments which will create more than 200 new jobs at Encirc over a number of years.
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