February 23: Although Rexam spent around $1 billion on aluminium and conversion costs for drinks cans last year it was able to offset this by raising prices to customers and exploiting efficiency improvements.
Commenting on its results for 2005, chief executive Lars Emilson revealed that the world’s leading beverage can manufacturer had been able to keep ahead of aluminium cost rises of $78m in the year by means of a combination of volume rises, changes in the product mix, price increases and operational efficiencies. These totalled $107m, providing a net benefit of $29m. Similar improvements in the plastics and glass packaging operations had been possible.
