Fresh food packaging manufacturer Linpac is planning to invest €8m in new extrusion and thermoforming capacity in Pravia, Spain, to meet growing demand for PET and rPET.
In order to deliver a greater range of lighter, more cost-effective and sustainable products, the firm plans to install a fourth extruder at its Pravia, Spain site, to increase food packaging manufacturing capacity by 25%.
The investment is expected to meet demand from retailers and packers across Europe for PET and rPET which are used as food packaging material due to its versatility, lightweight nature, barrier and food safe properties, as well as its recyclability.
Linpac Southern Europe managing director Ricardo Cabeza said: "The new extruder will extend our capabilities and enable us to offer a wider variety of products to customers, ensuring they receive the best packaging for their application."
With the installation thermoforming capacity, the site is expected to increase annual production to 630m trays, representing an increase of 80m trays.
Cabeza added: "This investment will help to increase capacity, quality assurance and delivery of innovation, as well as greater flexibility in meeting customer needs for high quality products which address their environmental concerns.
"This investment will secure our future in the region as a leading innovator in the European fresh food packaging market."
The investment is part of the firm's three-year plan to invest a total of €14.3m in Linpac Spain through 2018.
In February 2016, Linpac launched new trays with a variety of label panel designs to help retailers maximize shelf appeal and display key product information.
The addition to the firm's Rfresh Evolve rigid vacuum skin packaging range, the new trays allow pack information to be displayed separately to the product - something traditional vacuum skinned packs do not allow.
Image: Linpac's food packaging manufacturing site located in Pravia, Spain. Photo: courtesy of LINPAC Senior Holdings Limited.
