Klöckner Pentaplast invests in new production capacity in Asia and Americas

Primarily used for full- or partial-body shrink-sleeve applications, the new shrink film capacity will be located at the company's Rayong, Thailand, and Rural Retreat, USA, manufacturing facilities. In addition, kp announced that it will be adding PVC production capacity to its Rayong, Thailand site. The company is investing $37 Mio USD (€27.4 Mio) for this expansion which includes two tentering lines and PVC production machinery. 64 employees will be added worldwide. Klöckner Pentaplast is the only shrink-label films and PVC producer with manufacturing sites located in the Americas, Asia, and Europe.

Shrink-label films capacity expansion
The new tentering lines will produce high-performance PETG and PVC shrink films and will add 15,000 tons (33 Mio pounds) of shrink-film capacity to the company's existing global production. Startup is targeted for early 2011. Klöckner Pentaplast is the only PETG and PVC producer of shrinklabel films with global manufacturing in the Americas, Asia, and Europe.

Pentalabel® shrink films are available in a complete range of transverse-direction oriented (TDO) and machine-direction oriented (MDO) shrink films specifically designed for full-body or partial sleeve labels, promotion packs/multi-packs, tamper evident closures, capsules (wine caps), roll-fed, and rollsleeve labels. Pentalabel® films offer excellent gauge control, lay-flat properties, ink adhesion, and seaming ability. These films are typically printed for highly decorated labels that provide food and consumer products with 360-degree graphics.

PVC film capacity expansion
Primarily used for pharmaceutical, shrink base film, and general-purpose thermoformed packaging applications, the new capacity will be located at the company's Rayong, Thailand, manufacturing facility. The start up of the production line is targeted for early 2011 and will add 12,500 tons (27.5 Mio pounds) of capacity. The state-of-the-art line is engineered to meet the stringent requirements and regulatory standards of the pharmaceutical industry. Klöckner Pentaplast is the only local producer in the Asian region to meet these strict manufacturing standards.

kp manufactures the industry's most extensive range of pharmaceutical packaging films available in the marketplace today, from mono films to high-performance barrier-enhanced films and laminates. Pentapharm® films include rigid vinyl, polyester, PETG, APET, HIPS, PP, and A/MA/B films, as well as PVDC-coated, COC-laminated and -coated, and ACLAR®-laminated barrier films. kp's Pentapharm® rigid films are formulated specifically for pharmaceutical applications such as clinical, ethical, OTC, physician samples, compliance, and blister display.

kp offers an extensive range of thermoforming films that have provide excellent formability for standard and deep-draw packages. Pentaform® films are available in rigid vinyl, PETG, APET, GPETG, HIPS, PP, HDPE, A/MA/B, and PLA. Due to their excellent forming, cutting, and sealing properties, these films are ideal for clamshells, face-seal blisters, trays, display, and other contoured shapes.

"These expansions will enable us to continue to support our customers' growing global demand for high-quality packaging films. Continuing to supply the global marketplace with a broad film portfolio produced utilizing the most advanced production technology allows international converters and brand companies to source identical high-quality films across all regions and further enhances product development capabilities," notes Tom Goeke, CEO of the Klöckner Pentaplast Group.