Constantia Flexibles has opened its new, state-of-the-art Competence Center for the research and development (R&D) of polymer films and film laminates for flexible packaging. The Center is located at the company’s second largest production plant in Weiden, Germany.
The Center represents a multi-million investment for upgrading equipment and infrastructure of the existing local R&D facilities. It has 15 experts working on close to 100 projects every year. Their focus is on supporting product and sales managers by analyzing and testing the composition of the latest film products; on developing new film formulations with our raw material suppliers in order to obtain the optimal quality and meet stringent food contact legislation in a transparent way; and on developing mock-ups of in-house innovations for our customers to meet long-term trends such as more recycling-friendly packaging.
“Today’s opening is a clear signal that we will support our customers around the globe with innovative film products,” said Gerold Riegler, Board Member for Constantia Flexibles. “In addition, we are currently planning our own lab-scale film production line for 2016 with the installment of an extruder.”
About 50 percent Group sales are made with film-based packaging for food, beverage and home & personal care products. Global demand is being driven by the Asian and African continents and Constantia Flexibles expects its share of sales from film-based products to increase in the future.
„The demand for innovative packaging solutions will increase in all markets, this is why Constantia is on the right path with the opening the competence center!" said Winfried Batzke, Head of the German Packaging Institute.
Film products represent around 80 percent of the global flexible packaging market and nearly half of overall film consumption is polyethylene-based films (PE). Film-based materials offer excellent sealability and impermeability to water, mechanical resistance and good printability.
Constantia Flexibles is at the same time a global leader in foil-based products, such as die-cut lidding, aluminum container systems, confectionery foil and pharmaceutical blister and coldform packaging. The company has a Competence Center for Aluminum and Foil Laminates at its largest plant in Weinburg, Austria.
Constantia Hueck Folien is the company’s second largest plant in Bavaria, Germany, with about 700 employees serving the domestic and global dairy, food and pharma industries. The plant has its own lacquering, laminating, printing and slitting capabilities on site. In the last five years, Hueck Folien has invested roughly 20 million euro in new machinery, making it one of the most important employers in its region.
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