Japan-based Toppan Printing has unveiled plans to build a new transparent barrier film production facility in Georgia, US, with an investment of about JPY10bn ($98m).
Said to be the first one for the company outside Japan, the new facility will commence mass production in March 2016.
Toppan will supply transparent barrier films, including GL film, produced at the new facility to packaging manufacturers in North America and Europe.
The proposed plant will have a site area of 145,667m2 and building area of 10,555m2.
In addition, the company plans to expand its business by taking advantage of the new plant's location.
Anticipating further expansion of demand for barrier films in the global packaging market, specifically in North America, the company planned for establishing the new facility.
Structural shifts such as a need for longer shelf lives and a switch from glass bottles and metal cans to flexible packaging are taking place in the region's food packaging industry, the company noted.
Toppan is targeting total sales of about JPY100bn ($982m) in fiscal year 2018 for its transparent barrier film-related business.
GL Film, which also has demand in overseas markets such as Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia, is a collective term for original transparent barrier films developed by Toppan.
As of December 2013, the film is used for around 15,000 products in around 45 countries and regions.
