New Belgium Brewing announced Tuesday its new 16,000-square-foot canning line is up and running, boosting its canning volume capacity six-fold.

The system also has the capability to package 12-ounce and 16-ounce cans.

“People are loving craft beer in a can so we decided to increase production to keep up with demand,” said Bryan Simpson, New Belgium spokesman.

The company introduced it canned offerings in 2008 as "an outdoor-friendly, light for transport and readily recyclable vessel."

The new system features a 40-head filler capable of filling 360 cans per minute; the previous canning line filled 60 cans per minute.

Fat Tire and Ranger IPA are now available in 16-ounce can four-packs.  New Belgium’s latest beer, Shift Pale Lager, debuts April 2 and will be available only in 16-ounce cans.

The canning line is located just east of New Belgium’s bottling facility on the brewery’s 50-acre campus in Fort Collins. New Belgium contracted Neenan Co. of Fort Collins for construction. The canning line and facility cost nearly $8 million to build.