The multimillion-dollar expansion will allow the company to deliver sustainable innovation offerings for the customers in consumer health, pharmaceutical, and food packaging markets
The extrusion line will be used to produce kpNext recyclable pharmaceutical blister films. (Credit: Ulrike Leone from Pixabay)
Klöckner Pentaplast (kp) has unveiled plans to expand its post-consumer recycled content (PCR) PET capacity in North America.
The multimillion-dollar expansion will help the company to deliver sustainable innovation offerings for the customers in consumer health, pharmaceutical, and food packaging markets.
With a capacity to deliver a total of 15,000 metric tonnes of new rPET/PET, the expansion will include the installation of a new extrusion line and two thermoformers.
The company will use the extrusion line to produce kpNext recyclable pharmaceutical blister films, and Smartcycle recyclable label and consumer packaging films.
The thermoformers will be used for the production of kp Elite mono-material protein trays, which feature 100% recycled PET and support the circular economy.
Klӧckner Pentaplast stated that the location for expansion is currently under determination and will be next to one of its six North American plants that is suitable to serve its customers.
The facility is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2024.
Klöckner Pentaplast CEO Scott Tracey said: “This investment supports our growth strategy and is a result of our strong commitment to sustainable innovation. The expansion responds to continued demand for sustainable options from our food packaging, pharmaceutical, consumer and label film customers.
“Working in conjunction with our customers, we will continue to develop solutions that reduce the requirement for virgin raw materials which is essential for our industry’s sustainability targets in the future.”
In March last year, Klӧckner Pentaplast announced the completion of a major pharma capacity expansion at its Cotia facility in Brazil.
Klӧckner Pentaplast delivers rigid and flexible packaging, as well as speciality film solutions for the pharmaceutical, medical device, protein markets.