Coveris makes co-extrusion investment to deliver capacity growth

Coveris has reached an agreement with KPMG, the appointed administrators of Gelpack Excelsior Ltd, to purchase the equipment located at Gelpack’s site in Madley, Herefordshire, including its two five-layer Hosokawa Alpine co-extrusion lines with additional manufacturing assets.

Coveris has commenced detailed planning to integrate the new co-extrusion lines into its existing operations. The company has built up extensive research and development technology in extrusion and co-extrusion manufacturing, with a center of excellence in Winsford, Cheshire and further capabilities in Louth, Lincolnshire. The Winsford site is already the largest extrusion facility in the UK and Coveris said this investment will further strengthen its position as a provider of high quality functional and barrier films.

Gary Rehwinkel, Coveris UK Food & Consumer president, said: ‘Coveris has seen significant growth in the demand for multilayer co-extruded PE films and it has been part of our strategic plan to meet growing demand and support future growth through investment. The introduction of this machinery provides Coveris with additional 500,000 tonnes of five-layer co-extrusion capacity, enabling us to better serve our customers.’

Earlier this year, Coveris announced a three million GBP (3.9 million USD) investment plan for its cartonboard division. The division, with three sites located in Cambridgeshire, manufactures cartonboard and hybrid packaging formats for the food industry. The investment plan included the purchase of a Komori GLX 640C lithographic press and site refurbishment.