Graphic Packaging invests in beverage packaging innovation

Located at the company’s plant in Bristol, UK, and known as the ‘Hub’, the facility has been established as a nucleus for structural and graphic design excellence. It will coordinate with the existing regional resource base.

As well as introducing advanced communications facilities to improve inter-site collaboration, Graphic Packaging has equipped the center with the latest graphics, 3D design and digital rendering tools to enhance its scope for innovation. Other investments include a large format digital printer, introduced to extend print capabilities and enable the creation of printed product concepts to support interactive customer experiences.

Steve Gould, innovation and development manager at Graphic Packaging, explained: ‘The idea behind the “Hub” is three-fold: to develop a center of excellence, aligned with both packaging machinery and marketing; to act as a central point to support and coordinate our regional resources; and above all to offer a facility where our customers can participate in and inspire new product development.

‘For Graphic Packaging, the key to success is promoting an integrated approach which combines all disciplines. From graphics and constructional design to marketing and engineering, everyone makes a valuable contribution to beverage packaging development and the new Bristol center will help to nurture these synergies.’

Gould continued: ‘Our aim is to offer customers the opportunity to discuss and develop new concepts and ideas from a structural and graphical perspective. We will guide the developments using our experience and knowledge and help ensure concepts and ideas are turned into cost effective and technically viable solutions.’