Hulamin invests R500 million to enhance its aluminium can capacity

Pietermaritzburg – In 2022, Hulamin initiated a strategic reset, committing approximately R500 million in capital investment to enhance its canbody stream capacity and capability. This investment aimed to capitalise on the growing demand for locally produced cans by reducing reliance on imports and enabling local can makers to improve production efficiencies.

The core of this strategy was to upgrade the plant’s capacity and capability to produce wide width canbody coils, which are currently imported. The investment was structured into three phases, with Phases 1 and 2 successfully completed in 2024.

The final and most critical phase, being the widening of the cold rolling mill, was scheduled during a 25-day integrated plant shutdown during July. Hulamin reports that this phase was successfully completed, resulting in the mill processing trial wide-width coils, following plant commissioning.

Its immediate focus for the remainder of H2 2025 is to complete product qualification with key customers and achieve commercial readiness by the end of Q1 2026.

This milestone marks a significant step forward in Hulamin’s long-term sustainability and competitiveness in the local and regional can market.