Linpac Pakaging opens its first production plant in China

LINPAC Packaging, a division of leading UK-based packaging and supply chain specialist LINPAC Group Limited, has opened its first factory in China. The new facility complements the three existing LINPAC Viscount factories in the People's Republic.

LINPAC has invested substantially in a modern production plant at Changzhou in Jiangsu province, about 150km from Shanghai, where it will be manufacturing high quality PVC stretch wrap film for food packaging. Employing 60 permanent staff, the facility has been purpose-built on a 20 000 sq metre site, with the capacity for extension to 50 000 sq metres if required. It was officially opened on 12 June 2008.

The new Chinese factory reinforces LINPAC's global presence and continues the company's rapid development in the Asia Pacific region. It is LINPAC Packaging's first manufacturing site in Asia and means the division now has production facilities on five continents.

Another LINPAC Group division, LINPAC Viscount, has manufacturing operations for plastic pails and containers at Changzhou, Guangzhou and Langfang in China, as well as at locations in Malaysia and Thailand.

The latest facility contains two extrusion lines for the large-scale production of PVC stretch wrap. This material is used by food manufacturers, suppliers and retailers in the manual and automatic wrapping of fresh foodstuffs – in particular for the protection and preservation of meat, poultry, fruit and vegetables.

In the lead-up to the opening of the plant, two Chinese teams spent time at LINPAC's manufacturing facility in Pontivy, France – benefitting from its 25 years' experience in the protective food packaging sector. LINPAC Pontivy is the European market leader in the field of stretch film for food.

Divisional President and Managing Director, Ralf Wunderlich, said: “LINPAC Packaging is committed to serving its customers worldwide. I'm excited to add a Chinese plant – which will be fully supported by our global best practice sharing teams – to our strong Latin American, American, European, Central European and African manufacturing portfolio. I am proud that we now have a divisional presence on five continents.”

LINPAC Group CEO, Mike Arrowsmith, added: “The new Changzhou plant will allow us to accelerate our development in China and throughout the Asia Pacific area. LINPAC's aim is to deliver the same high quality packaging materials and efficient service to our customers in Asia that we provide elsewhere in the world, while developing our regional customer base. As always, our focus is on providing creative, tailored packaging solutions that add value for our customers.”

ABOUT LINPAC
LINPAC Group is a £1.1 billion global business offering customised packaging and supply chain products and services. Based in Birmingham, United Kingdom, it has 9,000 employees at more than 90 locations in 21 countries.

LINPAC's activities include the manufacture of plastic packaging, the manufacture and management of returnable transit equipment, the production of containers for distribution and on-shelf display, as well as asset management and RFID services. It is also the UK's leading recycler of post-use rigid plastics – recycling 34,000 tonnes each year – more than the total production of its Packaging division. Markets served range from retail and food manufacture to general industry and automotive.

Packaging is an integral part of everyday life – preserving products and protecting them from damage, getting goods to consumers efficiently and cost effectively, and enhancing the appearance of merchandise at its point of sale. LINPAC is committed to providing sustainable solutions to help minimise the impact of packaging on the environment – including the provision of returnable transit packaging which can dramatically improve the productivity and sustainability of supply chains.

LINPAC Group is a privately owned business, backed by Montagu Private Equity. It was ranked 26th in The Times Top Track 100 list of private UK companies (June 2007). For more information please visit www.linpac.com.