Ball Corporation has announced that four standout facilities earned top honours as ‘Plant of the Year’ in their respective regions: Ball’s Paraguay and Manaus plants in South America, the Bowling Green facility in North & Central America and the Kettering plant in EMEA.

South America: Paraguay’s Dream Team Wins Third Consecutive Award

Ball Paraguay continues to set the standard, earning the Dream Team Award for the third time. This recognition isn’t just about production—it’s about the people, the passion and the purpose behind every aluminium can made.

Safety is ingrained in the culture, with employees looking out for one another every day. Quality isn’t just a benchmark, it’s a mindset. The team’s commitment to excellence ensures that every can leaving the plant meets the highest standards.

But what truly sets Ball Paraguay apart is its people. Their resilience, teamwork and dedication to doing things the right way (even when it’s tough) are what make this plant exceptional.

Ball’s Manaus plant was also recognised. At the ends plant, safety is prioritised in everything they do so employees can take care of themselves and each other. The plant is diligent about following procedures, respecting PPE and standards in routines – never taking shortcuts.

And, thanks to this culture that has been strengthened over the years, in 2024 the Manaus plant achieved the highest safety score in South America. This achievement is a result of a team that works together, aligned and that, above all, prioritises safety in every action carried out on a daily basis.

North & Central America: Bowling Green Continues Its Reign

For the second year in a row, Bowling Green has been named Ball Operational Excellence NCA Plant of the Year. The award is a testament to this plant’s unwavering commitment to performance and teamwork.

“This recognition is becoming more than just an achievement—it’s a mindset,” said Poncho Verduzco, former Bowling Green plant manager and newly promoted director for the North production group in NCA.

Four years ago, Bowling Green was a newly assembled team. Today, it’s a powerhouse of collaboration, where success is built on trust, empowerment, and a shared commitment to excellence.

“We have a ‘can-do’ attitude—when we face challenges, we find a way to overcome them,” said Chris Eaton, production manager. The team celebrated this achievement with a special event and a visit from Ball’s executive leadership team.

EMEA: Kettering Earns Top Honours in Just Its Second Year

In EMEA, Ball’s newest greenfield site, Kettering, secured the BPEMEA Plant of the Year 2024 award—an incredible achievement in only its second year of operation.

“We were absolutely delighted, not to mention pleasantly surprised, to win the EMEA Plant of the Year cup for 2024 in our second year of operation,” said plant manager Jason Bridger.

Since breaking ground in 2022, Kettering has rapidly expanded production and credits its fuelled success to a diverse workforce, a commitment to continuous improvement and a culture of innovation.

“In a short time, our colleagues at Kettering have steadily built an award-winning performance across key metrics,” said Gerhard Mayer, vice president of manufacturing for EMEA.