Klockner Pentaplast expands three facilities with $52-million investment
By Canadian Packaging Staff
General Expansion Klöckner Pentaplast Group plastic filmPlastic films producer announces global capacity expansions for China, Portugal and Brazil.
Montabaur, Germany—The Klöckner Pentaplast Group has announced it is adding to its global production capacity in Asia, the Americas, and Europe with a $51.8-million investment in facilities in Suzhou, China; Cotia, Brazil; and Santo Tirso, Portugal and will add 137 employees worldwide. Klöckner Pentaplast is the only rigid films producer with manufacturing sites located in the Americas, Asia, and Europe.
Cotia (São Paulo), Brazil, manufacturing facility
The company will invest in 1,200 metric tons of additional coating and laminating capacity suitable for the production of Pentapharm alfoil PVdC-coated and Pentapharm ACLAR-laminated packaging films to service the Latin American pharmaceutical industry. In addition, PVC calendering capacity will be increased by 12,000 metric tons to service the pharmaceutical, food, print, card, and general-purpose thermoforming markets.
The $15.1 million investment will add 36 employees. Start-up of the coating and laminating capacity will be Fall 2013 with calendering capacity coming online in Spring 2014 followed by matte calendering capacity in Fall 2014. The new capacity further complements the Group’s existing film production capacity at two facilities in Latin America, Villa del Totoral, Argentina, and Cotia, Brazil.
Santo Tirso, Portugal, production site
Klockner Pentaplast will add to its European production capacity for polyester films. Primarily used for food and consumer packaging applications, the new capacity will be located at the company’s Santo Tirso, Portugal, manufacturing facility. The start up of the state-of-the-art extrusion line is targeted for Winter 2013 and will add 25 employees. The $7.2 million investment will add 8,000 metric tons of capacity.
Suzhou manufacturing facility
As previously announced, Klockner will open its first Chinese production site in the Suzhou Industrial Park in Suzhou, China. The new site is scheduled to open Spring 2013 and will produce packaging films for the growing domestic Chinese market. The first phase of operations will focus on transverse-direction oriented shrink-label films and house state-of-the-art production equipment, high-tech production control systems, and a research and development laboratory. The site will increase the company’s global shrink-films capacity by 6,000 metric tons. The $29.5 million investment will employ 76 people.
“Klöckner Pentaplast’s 2013 expansion plans reflect our dedication to servicing customers’ needs now and in the future,” comments Klockner chief executive officer Christian Holtmann. “With our new shareholder’s support and partnership, we remain focused on our key strengths and delivering the high- quality and superior technical expertise for which we are known.”
For more information, visit www.kpfilms.com.
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