Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) Fiji has installed a new bottling line at its Laucala Beach Estate manufacturing facility.

With a $6.5m investment, the installation of blow-fill technology is expected to triple the plant’s production capacity to 21,000 bottles per hour.

Manufactured and installed by German firm Krones, the technology brings CCA’s Fiji plant on par with its New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia facilities.

CCA Fiji’s managing director Roger Hare said: “This has been a few years in the planning and I’m ecstatic that we are now up and running.

“The new line has triple the capacity of the current line will support future growth for the next ten years.”

“The installation of the Krones equipment began in September 2016 and our people have worked tirelessly to ensure we would be ready to launch today, I’m very proud and grateful for all their efforts.

“The new line has triple the capacity of the current line and not only supports future growth for the next ten years but enables CCA Fiji business to embark on a significant export-led growth strategy over the next five to eight years.

“We realised further investment into the Amatil Fiji business was necessary and I have to thank the Amatil Group Leadership Team (GLT) for their incredible support.”

The carbonated and non-carbonated beverage products produced at the facility will range from 500ml to 2.25l in size.

Last month, CCA re-opened a A$165m ($116m) bottling facility in Richlands, Queensland, to produce a wide range of sparkling and still beverages.