Six Figure Funding for Eco Friendly Keg Maker

EcoKeg, a Bridgend-based manufacturer of recyclable beer kegs, has secured a £170,000 funding package to support its expansion plans.

The investment has been provided by the Welsh Government, Tata Steel subsidiary UK Steel Enterprise and Finance Wales.

EcoKeg supplies high-tech plastic kegs to brewers both in the UK and internationally. Its products are designed to eliminate the cost of return transportation and cleaning associated with traditional steel kegs; they can be recycled after use, are lighter to handle and cheaper to buy.

It will use the funding to invest in reducing outsourcing costs by manufacturing specialist components onsite as well as developing new slim-line kegs to supply beer, cider, wine, cocktails and mineral water. Two new jobs will also be created.

The company has more than 150 customers across the UK and has recently secured major contracts with World Wide Drinks of Cowbridge and SA Brain to export SA Brain’s beer to India.

Director Gavin Rees said: “One-way-keg technology is increasingly popular and a wealth of potential new export opportunities is opening up. EcoKeg has a strong market position and with the funding we’ve received from the Welsh Government, UK Steel Enterprise and Finance Wales we can implement our growth plan.

“We have ambitious plans to develop our technology, expand our product range and move into new markets. We also plan to drive down costs in our supply chain and to recruit a number of new employees as we expand.”

Pictured (L-R): Leanna Davies, Finance Wales; Gavin Rees, Ecokeg; Andy Morris, UK Steel; Steve Tipples, Ecokeg