Another feature on RCMC by The Canmaker

We’re excited to share that The Canmaker has once again highlighted Royal Can Making Company in their latest article! This time, they explore the construction of our new plant in more detail, recognizing our ongoing contributions to the field.

Read the full article below to see what The Canmaker had to say:

Aluminium beverage canmaker Royal Can Making Company is installing two new lines at the second plant it is building in the city of Sulaymaniyah, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

With an investment in excess of USD100 million for both lines, the company will be running seven production lines in total across its three plants: two in Sulaymaniyah and one at the company’s Middle East Packaging Materials Company (MEPAC), based in Baghdad. 

RCMC’s Sherine Hmaied, world class performance (WCP) and training manager assistant told The Canmaker: “With all seven lines, the total aluminium can production capacity will exceed seven billion cans, while ends production capacity surpasses five billion ends.” 

The new lines will run 450ml and 500ml cans, in addition to 250ml, 330ml, and 355ml. The machinery is future-proofed to handle diameters including the 204, as well as 202 and 211, and the slim, sleek and standard cans sizes. The seventh line is being designed to manufacture aluminium bottles.

Hmaied said the company had “cemented its position as a leader in the canmaking industry” in the region with the new plant set to begin production in the third quarter of 2025, and the seventh production line expected to be operational “at the beginning of 2026”.

Company owner Saad Kolak was commended for his leadership of the company during its expansion in just over a decade. She said: “Under his guidance, RCMC has established itself as a leader in aluminium beverage packaging, continuously expanding and innovating to meet the demands of the market.” 

US-based can equipment specialist Stolle Machinery is installing all the equipment for the new lines including: Stolle Dach 165 cupping presses, Standun B724 bodymakers and the Concord Decorator. Coil handling, trackwork and associated equipment is from Perfecto. Unist will provide the coil lubricator. Henkel will supply the washer chemical control system and the camera inspection system is supplied by Pressco.

Fleetwood are providing the palletisers, and OMS the strappers and stretch wrappers. Scrap handling and pollution control will be supplied by Delta NEU, and Atlas Copco is providing the compressed air system and air dryer package. The vacuum system will be from Sullair. The control system will be from Rockwell Automation, and Stolle will provide all other equipment and specifications for pipework and electrics.