Leading packaging manufacturer Coveris has today completed the installation of two new extrusion lines at it’s Cheshire based facility in Winsford. As the UK’s largest extruder of blown PE films, the investment supports the business’ sustainable growth strategy, Pack Positive™, which is focused on providing smarter plastics to reduce waste and improve recyclability.
Supporting continued growth in the technical films sector, Coveris’ latest installation of two additional five-layer co-extrusion lines marks a positive step in supporting the business’ advancement into more sustainable and functional film alternatives. The £4m investment, combined with continued innovation of EVOH-based, shelf-life enhancing products, positions Coveris as one of the film industry’s leading sustainability partners for the future.
Responsible for the manufacture of more than 40,000t of polythene (PE) films annually, the new machines will create an additional capacity of 5,000t of recycle-ready mono polymer films for the food and manufacturing sector.
Over recent years Coveris’ Winsford site has been focused on developing smarter, PE alternatives to less recyclable films or tray solutions. Last year the business made headlines by working with Co-op to develop an innovative multi-layer polyester (PET) barrier solution which enables lidding film to be directly heat-sealed to a mono plastic tray. Removing a polythene (PE) bonding layer from the tray through integration in the film now means that around 80% of the pack weight can be recycled.
Gary Rehwinkel, Coveris UK president commented: “given the current focus on plastics packaging and the need to offer more recyclable solutions, our new investment strategically positions Coveris to further support this transition into more sustainable plastics. As the UK market’s leading manufacturer of recycle-ready films, no other co-extrusion plant in the country has the flexibility and capacity Coveris has.”
Aligning the additional capacity with Coveris’ wider flexible films offer, the investment will also create downstream opportunities for its print, lamination and conversion businesses.
The news comes weeks after Coveris Global announced the sale of its US packaging arm to Transcontinental, allowing for the remaining Coveris businesses to focus on its flexible and rigid business in Europe.
