Diageo, a premium spirits, wine and beer company with brands that include Jose Cuervo, Captain Morgan and Seagram's, invested more than $50 million to open a manufacturing, blending and packaging facility in Relay, Maryland.

Major renovations of the 60 acre site began in March 2012 and were completed on time and on budget with an exemplary safety record, the company said. The plant is geared to be one of Diageo's most efficient processing facilities globally, producing approximately 11 million cases per year. The blending and packaging facility employs 140 people.

"The grand opening of Relay is part of Diageo's continuing investment in our North America manufacturing network," said David Cutter, President, Diageo Americas Supply. "We are creating best-in-class operations that are more efficient, cost effective and environmentally sustainable. Since 2010, Diageo North America has invested more than $250 million in its production network. This facility is a testament to our dedicated workforce here in Maryland a prime example of Diageo's continued commitment to local manufacturing."

Diageo installed three new high speed bottling lines and upgrades to key production areas, the company said. The company also invested in highly effective training and capability building for its employees. With these recent improvements, Relay now has further capacity and capability to carry Diageo's other market-leading brands in the future. In the early Spring, the site will start to bottle Smirnoff vodka, the world's largest premium spirits brand by volume.

Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz said, "Diageo's investment in its Baltimore County plant and workers confirms a solid principle: manufacturing products near your customers makes business sense." Information on whether incentives were provided the firm was not immediately available.