EUROPE – British multinational packaging company, DS Smith has announced a £100 million (about US$139 million) investment in two new packaging sites in Europe to meet increased customer demand.
One of the planned facilities will be located in Belchatov, Poland while the other will be situated in Castelfranco Emilia, Italy.
Construction works at the sites are expected to begin in earnest with operations anticipated to start within the next two or three years.
The facilities will be dedicated towards to the production of sustainable paper-based packaging.
DS Smith projects that the market for these products is expected to grow significantly due to increased adoption of e-commerce and continued expansion in traditional food and drink markets.
The new facilities will therefore provide “much-needed” capacity, according to the company.
The sites will incorporate new manufacturing technology, as well as a focus on sustainable performance, and are expected to provide a boost to the local economy.
DS Smith has in recent years turned its focus on sustainable packaging solutions and last year, it sold its plastic packaging division to Olympus Partners portfolio company Liqui-Box in a transaction valued at approximately £400 million (about US$556 million).
Belvac boosts capabilities with new two-piece can pilot line
“Increased consumer demand for more environmentally friendly aluminium beverage cans and bottles, which better meet environmental standards and regulatory conditions, is driving growth throughout the can-making industry,”
David Mammolenti, executive vice president at Belvac
Meanwhile, US packaging machinery manufacturing company Belvac, invested in a two-piece can pilot line to give customers the opportunity to develop speciality-shaped two-piece aluminium beverage and aerosol containers.
The new pilot line will also allow container makers to test coatings and inks, along with material light-weighting.
Belvac says that it expects to offer low-volume manufacturing of finished containers for market tests ‘in the near future’.
The company is also adding 40,000 square feet of manufacturing and assembly capacity in Bedford County, Virginia, to meet demand for Belvac equipment such as trimmers, neckers and decorators.
“Increased consumer demand for more environmentally friendly aluminum beverage cans and bottles, which better meet environmental standards and regulatory conditions, is driving growth throughout the can-making industry,” said David Mammolenti, executive vice president at Belvac.
“Belvac anticipated this increased demand for our products and services and has been investing to expand our manufacturing capabilities, product offering and support services,” Maammolenti added.
Belvac says that it will increase its global workforce by 15% this year to meet the growing demand for its equipment and support the expansion of its services and footprint.
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