A drinks manufacturing plant has expanded in a £5.2 million revamp.

The new production line at the Princes Soft Drinks factory off Tong Street, Bradford, will see the firm improve its efficiency and capacity, as well as making it more versatile.

Princes Soft Drinks, the UK's third largest soft drinks manufacturer, produces its own and other products under licence at the plant, and is now to expand into new areas such as flavoured water, energy drinks and clear carbonates.

Princes produces 144 million bottles of soft drink a year at the factory and is capable of filling 36,000 bottles an hour.

The technology has been introduced in recognition of the huge contribution the site makes to the business as a whole. The Bradford-based soft drinks wing of the business turns over £320 million each year, accounting for nearly half of the entire company turnover.

Factory boss Steve Brooke, said: "As well as expanding capacity and making us more versatile, the new equipment will dramatically cut down on the amount of wastage of air and water which we were experiencing making us a more environmentally aware company.

"It will enable us to compete on a higher level on what is an increasingly competitive sector.

"We are up against major manufacturing brands in the likes of Coca Cola and Pepsi. We have already taken on more people and Princes as a whole is keen to invest in Bradford."

As well as boosting capacity, the new line will allow the company to handle a number of new branded and private label products in smaller, lunch-box sized packaging a popular trend in the drinks industry. Princes will also continue to produce the Jucee Fruit Explosion Drinks, as well as Virgin Cola, Ocean Spray and Cape Fruit Juices.

Princes is based in Liverpool but has plants and factories all over the country.

It employs 460 people at its Bradford factory.

e-mail - mark.casci @bradford.newsquest.co.uk