Flexible packaging converter Pregis is to invest $32 million in blown film extrusion technology at its Grand Rapids, Michigan (USA) manufacturing site.
The latest investment is being used to expand the current Grand Rapids facility by adding an additional 55,000 sq ft for manufacturing, warehousing and office space. In total, the facility will now have 205,000 sq ft to meet increasing demand for high quality films and support services.
Initially, the new structure will house additional custom Windmöller & Hölscher (W&H) blown film extrusion lines, with room to add equipment to meet future demands. The dedicated multilayer PE lines are expected to be operational by the end of September. The investment is in addition to the previous $37m capital expenditure put into that location between 2016 and 2020.
The facility will also include additional material handling for expanded resin storage to meet market requirements. Further, existing laboratory facilities will be upgraded with new equipment and capabilities for improved analytical capabilities. An onsite research and development team works collaboratively with customers to optimise film structures and blends for specific applications.
“We are seeing increased demand for higher quality films. This is being driven by our customers’ needs to meet more challenging flexible packaging applications. This latest investment will enable us to use more advanced resins in the production of films to offer enhanced strength, puncture and flex crack resistance attributes. This will also create opportunities for downgauging without sacrificing performance,” explained David Timm, president of Pregis’ performance flexibles operations.
Continued focus on light-weighting and increasing recycled content in the company’s film structures are in keeping with the Pregis 2K30 sustainability goals.
