HP Hood announced plans to expand its aseptic processing and filling capacity by installing a new state-of-the-art filler at its Sacramento, Calif., plant. The aseptic capacity at Hood's facility in Winchester, Va., is almost fully committed.

"Installing uncommitted new capacity in the West puts us back into the market promptly and will give us the capability to serve all continental markets as well as the Pacific Rim with this latest investment," said Jim Walsh, HP Hood executive vice president of sales.

The new filler will match the capacity of the Winchester filler, which packs a variety of plastic bottle sizes at the rate of 600 per minute. The manufacturers that produced the Winchester filler, Shibuya Kogyo of Kanazawa, Japan, and Shibuya Hoppman of Elkwood, Va., also will provide the filler for the Sacramento facility.

Hood processes dairy and other low-acid fluid products for its own brands, and provides aseptic, extended-shelf-life and conventional processing and packing for others on a contract basis.