Finland-based consumer and specialty packaging manufacturer Huhtamaki is expanding manufacturing capacity at its molded fiber packaging plant in Lurgan, Northern Ireland to better serve the growing egg market in the UK and Ireland.
Work under the £5m expansion includes installation of new machinery which is expected to be completed early next year.
In addition to increasing the plant's manufacturing capacity, the new equipment will allow Huhtamaki to expand its product range within the molded fiber sector.
Huhtamaki molded fiber interim executive vice president Petr Domin said: "We have expanded our product range and improved our operational efficiency in the UK during the past years.
"More importantly, we've been able to differentiate ourselves from our competitors, offering real value and service to our customers. With this new, state-of-the-art machinery we invest in the future growth, and in serving our customers better."
The Lurgan unit has been manufacturing molded fiber packaging such as egg cartons, egg trays and cup carriers for the past 80 years.
In November this year, Huhtamaki announced plans to invest £7m in the expansion of its foodservice packaging manufacturing unit in Gosport, UK.
The new manufacturing and warehouse area expansion at Gosport facility will allow optimization of production layout as well as room for further growth, the company said.
The Gosport expansion is expected to be completed by March 2017.
Huhtamaki has already installed insulated paper cup forming machines and a new PET tumbler manufacturing line with capabilities to process both regular and recycled PET in the Gosport unit earlier this year.
