GERMANY – Swiss-based packaging supplier SIG is investing €12 million (US$14.19m) in a pilot plant at its new Tech Center Europe, which will be located close to SIG’s packaging plants in Linnich, Germany.
According to SIG, the new pilot plant will help the Tech Center expedite new product and packaging development, to meet the ever-increasing demand for more sustainable packaging solutions.
The pilot plant will be particularly important in boosting the tech center’s capabilities to get the development and validation of new packaging solutions and innovative materials even faster and in a more reliable and efficient manner.
Marcel Schopen, Department Manager Test Field, Prototype & Pilot Plant at SIG, said: “Our new Tech Center Europe will make us even faster and more efficient in bringing new products and packaging solutions to market.”
“It will help our customers to keep one step ahead of trends and changing consumer demands. In the pilot plant and test field of our Tech Center we support all processes from start to finish, including sleeve production, filling products and pallet packing.”
To achieve its purpose, the pilot plant will be equipped with state-of-the-art extrusion and finishing technology as well as advanced quality measurement systems and testing equipment.
These facilities are expected to compliment Tech Center Europe’s existing R&D Test Field & Prototype and combiLab facilities.
The synergies achieved will significantly increase serial production processability, system validation and future digital technology capacities.
With the new pilot plant, SIG expects to increase the co-development of products with SIG customers, speeding up innovation cycles by carrying out short-run test fillings.
The pilot plant will also serve as a showcase plant and modern location for project interaction with customers and stakeholder meetings.
“Our new Tech Center will create capacities for packaging innovation that will shape SIG’s future growth in Europe,” said José Matthijsse, President & General Manager Europe at SIG.
“It will enable us to co-develop with our customers and better meet their needs, further strengthening our partnerships and expanding the service we provide to our customers in Europe.”
Built according to the latest and most effective energy standards and food hygiene regulations, the pilot plant is scheduled to be operational by end of 2022, SIG said in a statement.
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