Klöckner Pentaplast, a rigid, thermoform and flexible film producer, has launched a new innovation center facility, kp i.center, in Sant Cugat Spain.
The 1,200m2 kp i.center is intended to provide a collaborative space to support commercial, technical and operational leaders to share ideas to the discovery of innovative packaging solutions.
The firm noted that the center will particularly assist customers within the global food and consumer products (FCP) industry to test and assess their designs in real-time and bring their products to the market more quickly and economically.
Klöckner Pentaplast FCP President Daniel Dayan said: “Our kp i.center stands for interaction, ideas and innovation, the core elements in driving forward-thinking research and development in today’s packaging industry.”
Resourced with marketing, sales and R&D experts, the kp i.center features laboratory, prototyping facilities, a supermarket and an FCP market research center.
Klöckner Pentaplast FCP marketing & innovation director Dr Helene Roberts said: “Our kp i.center enables us to offer them a totally comprehensive range of resources and expertise.”
In addition to featuring customer inspiration area, a supermarket and a kitchen, the high tech laboratory is equipped several instruments for analyzing and creating different packaging solutions.
Roberts added: “This will be a live space that will be constantly evolving. It’s somewhere that we can showcase different category and product innovations to inspire new product developments.
“The idea is to demonstrate how packaging looks on a shelf or counter in store, emulating real consumer experiences for our customers.”
At the laboratory, customers will also have access to the form, fill, seal machine and thermosealers in the trial area.
Additional equipment at the center includes a Multivac Modified Atmosphere Package (MAP), an Erca Dairy Line, and 3D printing and designers.
Image: Klöckner Pentaplast’s kp i.center in Spain. Photo: courtesy of Klöckner Pentaplast.