Leading global BOPP and BOPET producer Jindal Poly Films (Gulaothi / India; www.jindalpoly.com) has started work on innovation capacity additions at its sites in Virton / Belgium and La Grange, Georgia / USA. Investment costs were not disclosed. The company said the new state-of-the-art testing laboratories for film characterisation are due to be commissioned in July next year. Each site will be capable of simulating customer conditions on packaging, printing and labelling machines.

In addition, Jindal will install a new highly flexible orientation pilot line in Virton, which it says will allow it to better serve its global developments, enable quicker access to new prototypes and accelerate new films to the market. “This new global footprint will give us access to breakthrough technology and support our aggressive growth plans,” said Jindal’s global technology director Pascale Wautelet. Scott Van Winter, executive vice president Americas, added, “Our focus is on leveraging our global scale to deliver local advantages for our customers.”

The decisions testify to the ongoing integration by the Indian group of what was once ExxonMobil Chemical Films. Both sites used to be part of the latter, until Jindal acquired the erstwhile world market leader in 2013 (see Plasteurope.com of 30.10.2012). The news also fits unconfirmed Italian reports, according to which the group’s plant in Brindisi is set to be modernised.