Kl?ckner Pentaplast on expansion route

The Kl?ckner Pentaplast Group is the world’s leading producer of films for pharmaceutical, medical device, food, electronics, and general-purpose thermoform packaging, as well as printing and specialty applications. Founded in 1965 in Montabaur, Germany, Kl?ckner Pentaplast has grown from its initial facility to 17 current production operations in 11 countries.

The company is investing $51.8 million (about €39.6 million) for this expansion which includes facilities in Suzhou, China; Cotia, Brazil; and Santo Tirso, Portugal. 137 employees will be added worldwide. Kl?ckner Pentaplast is the only rigid films producer with manufacturing sites located in the Americas, Asia, and Europe.

The company will invest in 1,200 metric tons of additional coating and laminating capacity suitable for the production of Pentapharm? alfoil? PVdC-coated and Pentapharm? ACLAR? packaging films to service the Latin American pharmaceutical industry. In addition, PVC calendaring capacity will be increased by 12,000 metric tons to service the pharmaceutical, food, print, card, and general-purpose thermoforming markets. The $15.1 million (€11.6 million) investment will add 36 employees. Start up of the coating and laminating capacity will be Fall 2013 with calendering capacity coming online in Spring 2014 followed by matte calendering capacity in Fall 2014. The new capacity further complements the Group’s existing film production capacity at two facilities in Latin America, Villa del Totoral, Argentina, and Cotia, Brazil.

In its Portugal site, Kl?ckner Pentaplast will add to its European production capacity for polyester films. Primarily used for food and consumer packaging applications, the new capacity will be located at the company’s Santo Tirso, Portugal, manufacturing facility. The start up of the state-of-the-art extrusion line is targeted for Winter 2013 and will add 25 employees. The $7.2 million (€5.5 million) investment will add 8,000 metric

tons of capacity.

As previously announced, kp will open its first Chinese production site in the Suzhou Industrial Park (Suzhou, China). The new site is scheduled to open Spring 2013 and will produce packaging films forNike Sportswear