The plant is expected to start by the end of 2009 with a capacity of 750 million cans a year and will be designed for expansion to meet market needs, the company said. The cost was not disclosed.

The company says it already operates five production plants in Eastern Europe for its food and closures businesses.

"What we're seeing is modern, Western technology replacing older technology that had outlived its lifespan," said Michael F. Dunleavy, vice president of corporate affairs and public relations.

He said that the closed economy of the communist system allowed for few modern products to be easily available to a majority of the people.

"As incomes have risen in those markets, they've quickly adopted more modern and efficient means of packaging," Dunleavy said, adding that recycling programs have long been popular in Europe.