KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 14): Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd has inaugurated a new state-of-the-art polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottling manufacturing line at its plant in Shah Alam worth RM45 million.

The PET line has been operational since June 2016 and is expected to increase the group’s bottle production by 40% or eight million cases annually, according to the group in a statement today.

The ‘PET Line 12 Combi’, as it is known, is fully automated whereby bottles are blow formed, filled and capped within an integrated system and has an improved efficiency of 12.5%, which improves space utilisation and reduces energy consumption.

“The state-of-the-art line will put us in a stronger position to meet the demand for our beverages especially during the festive seasons.

"The automated line is a huge boost towards improving our production efficiency and significantly reduces the group’s carbon footprint as well as pre-bottling storage as the bottles are blown and formed in-situ,” said F&N’s chief executive officer Lim Yew Hoe, at the inauguration ceremony.​

At 4.13pm, F&N shares were up four sen or 0.17% at RM23.18.