Graphic Packaging International and City Brewing Co. Partner to Provide Fast and Flexible Packaging Options for Beverage Brands

7d1072c1-0289-4eca-9cf8-e12a6f8b1ddc

Memphis, TN — City Brewing Company and Graphic Packaging International are working closely together to bring automation to variety packing in the beverage industry. City Brewing Company’s packing site in Memphis, TN, will soon be operating a QuikFlex 2100 beverage cartoning machine from GPI.

The QuikFlex2100 is the fastest beverage folding carton machine in GPI’s portfolio and an industry-proven packaging system. The QuikFlex2100 provides versatility over a wide range of pack styles and configurations, offering the flexibility to work with multi-diameter/multi- height cans. This machine features GPI’s latest technology and innovation, allowing it to meet the highest speed requirements on new or existing product lines.

The Variety Pack Line will add 9.5 million cases a year to the current Memphis plant capacity of 50 million cases at City Brewing Company. This organic, kosher, and gluten-free facility currently fills 12oz, 16oz, and 24oz standard cans and the 8oz and 12oz sleek specialty cans. The plant also has the ability to fill glass bottles and kegs.

These capabilities are available for all types of beverage manufacturers, and City Brewing Company is able to handle nearly any type of beverage product, including beer, spirits, tea, energy drinks, natural soda, cider, wine and sparkling waters amongst others.

The Variety Line will be capable of packing the entire range of cans it currently handles in formats from 4-packs to 30-packs and mix up to six flavors.

By adding the variety packing in-line as an automated process, customers will have many benefits as compared to manual packing. The new process will be much cleaner and more organized, diminishing the risk of having the wrong mix. The cans and cartons will experience less wear and tear, as the cans will be handled consistently along with the cartons, thereby providing higher quality outcome. The new line will be faster and more efficient, as brands can now convert variety packs for national roll-outs in a couple of days instead of weeks or months of pre-building.

About Graphic Packaging International
We’re a leader in the packaging industry, serving hundreds of the world’s most recognized brands. Our focus on customer service has made us one of the world’s largest manufacturers of folding cartons, unbleached paperboard, coated recycled board, microwave packaging and machinery. We continue to set new standards for our industry, always looking ahead to help our customers meet changing consumer demands and their business goals. We combine market-specific expertise and innovative thinking to create inspired packaging. We design smart and attractive packaging that stands out in the highly competitive retail marketplace.

Our global capabilities, systems expertise and packaging solutions deliver value to our customers on many levels: Optimizing the supply chain; securing product supply; improving sustainability metrics; stretching marketing dollars; boosting sales; and building brand loyalty. That’s what we expect our packaging solutions to deliver. And that’s why we continue to raise the bar.

About City Brewing Company
City Brewing Company is the premier contract beverage producer in the country. Between our three production facilities, we have the capacity to package over 130 million cases annually. All our facilities have the capability to produce beer, flavored malt beverages, teas and energy drinks in a variety of bottle and can sizes and configurations. We pride ourselves in quality and reliability for our customers, which include some of the largest beverage companies in the country. Our facilities, coupled with the experience and dedication of our skilled employees, enable our customers to meet the demands of an ever changing marketplace.