South African packaging giant Nampak (Sandton; www.nampak.co.za) plans to open a new plastic milk bottle manufacturing plant in Stirling / Scotland. The company’s Nampak Plastics Europe (Newport Pagnell / UK; www.eu.nampak.com) subsidiary said the plant was part of a “multi-million pound” investment in Stirling. Nampak, which already has a plant in Bellshill / Scotland, has concluded a lease on the 1,858 m² site, where it will produce a range of plastic milk bottles. The manufacturing plant has led to the creation of 20 new full-time jobs in the area.

The investment decision was driven by business opportunities in Stirlingshire within the food and drink sector and the accessibility to Scottish markets, the company said. In particular, the investment will support the growth of one of Nampak’s key customers, Graham’s The Family Dairy (www.grahamsfamilydairy.com), at a proposed new dairy facility at the Hill of Drip farm in Stirling. Graham’s intends to finance the dairy facility via a proposed housing project.

Eric Collins, managing director of Nampak Plastics Europe, said: “Looking forward, the new dairy project planned for Hill of Drip would enable a step change in our investment in Stirling, allowing us to create 40 further new full-time jobs, in addition to those created by Graham’s The Family Dairy." The company will also work with other partners in the area to expand its manufacturing operation, he added.