SIG Combibloc Begins Phase II of Packaging Plant Expansion in Brazil
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SIG Combibloc, Brazil, reports that it has begun work on the second stage of a packaging expansion at its plant in Campo Largo, near Curitiba in Brazil's Paraná state. The company's first South American plant, the Campo Largo operation started up in 2011. The current expansion involves an investment of more than EUR 36 million (100 million Brazilian reais) and includes the installation of an extrusion line that will make it possible to laminate unprocessed packaging board for the aseptic carton packs from SIG Combibloc on-site.
The extrusion line will laminate the unprocessed packaging board for the carton packs with a polymer and aluminium coating. The inner polymer layers build a liquid barrier for the product, and the outer layer keeps moisture out. The "razor-thin" aluminum layer protects the food packaged in the carton pack from light, oxygen, and external odors. After the coating has been applied, the packaging material is printed, cut to size, stamped, and sealed.
According to Ricardo Rodriguez, director and GM South America at SIG Combibloc, the company had a 2012 growth rate of 60% over the previous year. "For this reason, we have stepped up a gear on the factory expansion works with a further investment of 100 million Brazilian reais. This means SIG Combibloc has now fully completed the project in the originally announced total amount of 270 million reais."
Brazil is South America's biggest market for long-life foods packaged in carton packs. According to estimates, sales of aseptic carton packs totaled more than 13 billion units in Brazil in 2012. Sales are forecast to continue increasing at a rate of 8% annually up to 2015.
SIG Combibloc, part of the New Zealand-based Rank Group, is one of the world's leading system suppliers of carton packaging and filling machines for beverages and food. In 2011 the company achieved a turnover of EUR 1,450 million. It has some 4,870 employees in 40 countries.
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