Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) has unveiled a state-of-the-art high-speed bottling line at its Midrand plant in South Africa, significantly increasing production capacity to meet growing consumer demand. The new Line 6, a R565-million investment, is capable of bottling 72,000 units per hour, making it the fastest bottling line in CCBA’s entire African portfolio and positioning the company among the largest and most efficient beverage bottlers globally.
The fully automated production line is dedicated to manufacturing popular beverage products, including Bonaqua Pump 750 ml, Bonaqua 300 ml and 500 ml, as well as Powerade 500 ml. It also produces the newly launched Powerade Springboks edition, reinforcing the group’s market responsiveness and brand alignment with major sporting events.
The installation of Line 6 not only enhances Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa’s (CCBSA) production capability from a previous 19,000 bottles per hour to a staggering 72,000 but also brings substantial improvements in energy efficiency, automation, and operational friendliness. According to CCBSA’s manufacturing and technical director, Moses Lubisi, the new technology introduces greater sustainability and productivity while reducing the environmental footprint of the manufacturing process.
To support the expansion, an additional R80 million was invested in upgrading the plant’s warehouse infrastructure, improving logistics and storage capacity to handle increased output. Importantly, employees operating Line 6 have received specialized training to operate, maintain, and clean the advanced machinery, a move that not only ensures consistent quality and equipment longevity but also enhances workers’ skillsets for employment in world-class factories worldwide.
CCBSA, part of the larger CCBA group, now operates 13 manufacturing plants across six provinces in South Africa, servicing over 197,500 customer outlets. Across the continent, CCBA reaches more than 735,000 customers with a wide portfolio of global and local beverage brands. Its operations span key African markets including Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Tanzania, Ghana, Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho, Eswatini, and the islands of Comoros and Mayotte.
This latest investment underscores CCBA’s long-term commitment to innovation, local economic development, and sustainability in Africa’s beverage industry, while strengthening its supply chain resilience and ability to serve the evolving tastes and demands of African consumers.
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