New Amcor Rigid Plastics' program for start-ups

Amcor Rigid Plastics launched a major new business platform to facilitate small-volume production for emerging beverage companies who aim to reach the market more cost effectively and established high-volume suppliers who want to explore niche markets. Amcor’s UpStart program works closely with growing start-ups like Alkaline Water Co., Scottsdale, Ariz., by providing a flexible and cost-effective system to launch niche products and conduct test marketing.

 

Amcor targets to assist regional and emerging brands with launching their new, custom products and then scale them up to larger equipment platforms, according to Frank Lin, director of marketing for Amcor Rigid Plastics’ Beverage Unit. In addition, customers are able to experience Amcor's full range of services such as  design, engineering and development, laboratory, and other technical services.

 

In the past, tooling costs to outfit large-cavity injection tools and large-scale blow molding equipment could approach more than $1 million. This made it cost prohibitive for some customers to conduct market testing and perform small-volume manufacturing before introducing new products.

 

UpStart targets the emerging beverage producer who needs lower volume but wants access to the resources of a leading supplier and the established high-volume player who wants to explore niche markets, target regional products with lower demand, or test new products. Among the key benefits of UpStart are the ability to launch products at lower volumes with regional production and a nationwide manufacturing network to support simultaneous regional launches.

 

Also, UpStart offers significant savings in capital investment versus the standard high-volume production scenario, reducing tooling cost by to 75% and affording bottle production with a wide range of technologies, finishes, and shapes. Both established and emerging beverage companies gain access to Amcor’s  design, engineering, and production resources, as well as advanced technologies. UpStart is designed for a smooth transition to medium- and large-volume production platforms when demand grows.