The collaborative effort that brought a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant and more than 300 new jobs to Muncie, Indiana, illustrates the power of patience.
“The CANPACK plant showed us that the long game works,” said Traci Lutton, vice president of Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance. “This was a project more than 10 years in the making. What we have now would not be possible in Muncie without the long-term support of Indiana Michigan Power and the AEP family.”
Situated on 139 acres, the 862,000-square-foot beverage can manufacturing facility is the result of a $380 million investment. The plant began producing beverage cans in 2023.
It’s CANPACK’s second U.S. operation. In 2020, it opened a similar plant in Olyphant, Pennsylvania. Both support major consumer brands in virtually all beverage categories.
“This plant allows us to expand the company’s business more strategically in the Midwest, locating closer to our customers’ filler operations,” said CANPACK Muncie Plant Manager Josh Ballard, who noted his facility’s flexibility, product line breadth, and ability to accommodate a production line expansion form a significant advantage. “We think this operation gives us a strong competitive edge in the market.”
For years, AEP’s economic development team worked to ensure Industria Centre Park was ready for development.
As part of AEP’s Quality Site Program, risks had been assessed or mitigated, studies completed, and a laundry list of items addressed, all to alleviate potential investors’ concerns and instill confidence in the site.
“AEP provided support and advisory services and worked closely with professional site selection firms throughout the years we showed companies this site, which had been proposed for dozens of projects. Having the Quality Site certification in place prepared us for the opportunity to compete for the CANPACK investment,” Lutton said. “Throughout the process, the team at Indiana Michigan Power has been responsive and willing to assist with questions about electric infrastructure, capacity, rate estimates and service plans.
“At every turn, AEP had the right people at the table.”
And the right people on the ground. AEP provided temporary power, while a dual high-voltage substation was built adjacent to the facility, which was a needed on-site addition due to CANPACK’s high power demands.
“The relationship between a manufacturing facility and an energy supplier is critical, from the start of the build to running production,” Ballard said. “AEP was extremely instrumental in helping us get this plant started. They were there every step of the way.”
With CANPACK anchoring the Industria Centre Park, Lutton calls it a milestone moment in the city's ongoing transformation.
“With CANPACK, we’ve been able to diversify what manufacturing is in Muncie,” Lutton said. “I think we’ve seen a turnaround here. CANPACK’s decision to locate in Muncie signals that we’re moving in the right direction.
“I feel very proud that the team of people from the economic development office to AEP and our local elected officials were able to bring this project home.”
