Linpac (Featherstone / UK; www.linpac.com) has released some more details on its plans to invest EUR 14.3m in its operations in Spain (for previous coverage, see Plasteurope.com of 13.11.2015). Pointing to rising demand for PET and rPET, the company said EUR 8m of the money will go towards new extrusion and thermoforming capacity at its plant in Pravia, located in northern Spain near the country’s coastline. Specifically, the installation of a fourth extruder will raise the site’s output by 25%, while the new thermoforming capacity will lift its annual tray production by 80m to a total of 630m units.

The investments, due to be completed this year, will help European retailers and packers in their transition from EPS and PP to PET packaging, Linpac said, adding that the latter – including its recycled version – is characterised by high versatility, light weight, barrier and food safety properties as well as recyclability.

The UK packaging producer plans to invest another EUR 3.8m in Spain next year, with the remaining EUR 2.5m earmarked for 2018. It was not disclosed where the money will go to then.