BERICAP
Capacity expansions in France and Hungary / Plastic closures hardly affected by global crisis
Bericap France, a subsidiary of plastic closure producer Bericap (Budenheim / Germany; www.bericap.com), is investing around EUR 4m in ten new production lines according to French media reports. The additional capacity will be used for new types of closures with weights varying according to application. Dominique-Paul Vallée, managing director of Bericap France, reports that the company can manufacture closures weighing just 2 g for mineral water and 3 g for edible oils, resulting in a massive reduction in material requirements and thus cost savings.
The Longvic production unit in Burgundy / France occupies a 17,600 m² site and can produce 3.5 bn closures a year. Bericap France also has a facility in Vittel with capacity for 3 bn units. Bericap’s French subsidiary has around 300 employees and sales of roughly EUR 70m.
Similarly, Hungarian media report that Bericap Hungary is planning to invest EUR 2m in additional production lines for beverage closures in Székesfehérvár / Hungary. The new machinery is expected to come into service in November 2009 and will mainly produce closures for the Danish, Swedish and Norwegian markets.
The Bericap group reported consolidated global sales of EUR 495m in 2008. While the first six months were in line with expectations, high raw material prices, low volume sales and adverse exchange rates affected the performance of many of Bericap’s production sites and markets. Despite the global market situation, the group ended 2008 with a profit, although it was lower than in 2007.
Bericap also says that sales and volumes have been satisfactory so far this year. Since plastic closures are part of supply chain for daily food and beverage consumption, the company stresses that it is less influenced by the crisis than companies in other product sectors. Having expanded production in the US and Romania in 2008, future expansion will focus on Asia, partly to increase its presence close to customers in this region. Product developments are concentrating on reducing weight, which will lead to a considerable shift in the range of closures in 2009 and 2010.
The Longvic production unit in Burgundy / France occupies a 17,600 m² site and can produce 3.5 bn closures a year. Bericap France also has a facility in Vittel with capacity for 3 bn units. Bericap’s French subsidiary has around 300 employees and sales of roughly EUR 70m.
Similarly, Hungarian media report that Bericap Hungary is planning to invest EUR 2m in additional production lines for beverage closures in Székesfehérvár / Hungary. The new machinery is expected to come into service in November 2009 and will mainly produce closures for the Danish, Swedish and Norwegian markets.
The Bericap group reported consolidated global sales of EUR 495m in 2008. While the first six months were in line with expectations, high raw material prices, low volume sales and adverse exchange rates affected the performance of many of Bericap’s production sites and markets. Despite the global market situation, the group ended 2008 with a profit, although it was lower than in 2007.
Bericap also says that sales and volumes have been satisfactory so far this year. Since plastic closures are part of supply chain for daily food and beverage consumption, the company stresses that it is less influenced by the crisis than companies in other product sectors. Having expanded production in the US and Romania in 2008, future expansion will focus on Asia, partly to increase its presence close to customers in this region. Product developments are concentrating on reducing weight, which will lead to a considerable shift in the range of closures in 2009 and 2010.
30.06.2009 Plasteurope.com 787 [213700]
Published on 30.06.2009
German version of this article...