The new facility is used for the PET solid-state polymerisation, sheet extrusion, thermoforming, automated labelling application, warehousing and distribution services

Direct pack

Direct Pack has opened a new 200,000ft² facility in Mexicali, Mexico. (Credit: The Direct Pack)

Direct Pack, a provider of sustainable thermoformed plastic packaging solutions, has opened a new 200,000ft² facility in Mexicali, Mexico.

The new facility, dubbed Direct Pack Baja, is developed for PET solid-state polymerisation, sheet extrusion, thermoforming, automated labelling application, warehousing and distribution services.

In September, the company commenced production of thermoformed food packaging for supermarket, foodservice, growers and processor customers.

The new facility is expected to employ 80 people during the full rollout of the production equipment, which will be carried out over the next five months.

The new facility will enable the company to further enhance its full circular business model.

Direct Pack works with material recovery facilities (MRFs) for the collection of PET plastic clamshells and other packaging from its own and other suppliers. The collected material will be recycled and used to produce new packaging.

The new facility will receive the majority of the raw material from the company’s own reclaiming and reprocessing plant called Direct Pack Recycling.

Direct Pack president Craig Snedden said: “As we continue to grow our operations, we remain focused and deeply committed to sustainability and innovation with full emphasis of “Circularity” and an ultimate goal of making PET plastic an infinite resource.

“In the last 24 months, DPI has recycled and reused 36 million pounds of post-consumer recycled PET plastic thanks to the continuous operations across our manufacturing facilities.”

Direct Pack Recycling converts both post-consumer recycled PET bottles and clamshells into PCR PET raw material again.

The PCR flakes will feature the same performance characteristics as new material via high heat and vacuum in the solid-state polymerisation process.

Direct Pack also operates manufacturing facilities in Sun Valley of California, Rockingham of North Carolina and Guadalajara of Mexico.

In July this year, Direct Pack announced the expansion of its manufacturing capabilities at its facility in Rockingham, North Carolina.