GIZEH expands in North America

The internationally operating plastic packaging specialist GIZEH is establishing a production unit overseas. From its new Canadian works in Brantford, Ontario, the company will supply its customers in North America and continue to expand its business there. The unit is due to start production later this year.

“A branch of our own in North America is a logical step for GIZEH,” says GIZEH CEO Ralf Jung. GIZEH has been steadily growing for years and, since 2011, has supplied an increasing number of customers in Canada and the USA. “With a local presence, we want to be closer to our customers and, in the medium term, become a major player in the North American market.”

The new company is called “GIZEH Packaging NA Inc.” and will initially offer the technologies deep drawing, injection molding and labeling. The first contracts with customers have already been signed. Later this year, the first plastic packaging will roll off the belt and be labeled. “North America is an extremely interesting market, particularly for our technologically advanced packaging and decoration solutions for milk and dairy products,” says Jung. Installation of the first sleeve system is planned for the beginning of 2014.

The decisive factor for the new branch was its strategically favorable location. Brantford is located south of Toronto in the heart of the Canadian foodstuffs industry. “This is an optimal location for serving our existing and potential customers in Canada and, at the same time, it is a good springboard for our further development of the US market,” points out Jung. The US border is only 150 km away. The metropolitan region of Detroit, where there are also many foodstuffs firms, is only three hours away.

Altogether, Brantford is the sixth production location for GIZEH, one of the largest European manufacturers of rigid plastic packaging. In addition to its two works in Germany, at its headquarters in Bergneustadt and in Elsterwerda, Brandenburg, the company also has branches in France (Angers), Poland (Tarnowo) and Switzerland (Schlatt). In Brantford, GIZEH is aiming at a turnover of more than 10 million Euros within the next three years.

Among the leading specialties from GIZEH are technologically advanced, made-to-measure packaging and decoration solutions such as in-mould labeling (IML), sleeving, conventional labeling and containers with barrier properties. Later this year, GIZEH will be one of the first manufacturers in this branch to start operating a digital printing machine.