Germany’s Weidenhammer Packaging Group (WPG, Hockenheim; www.weidenhammer.de) is to launch its plastic packaging business in the UK from its existing base in Bradford / England. A new production facility for plastic packaging will be built adjacent to the existing plant for composite cans, which will also be expanded. It will be the third site for Weidenhammer Plastic Packaging (WPP) after its German factories in Hockenheim and Zwenkau.

“We see a huge potential for plastic packaging solutions in the UK,” said chief executive Ralf Weidenhammer. “As the second local manufacturer of packaging with in-mould labelling, we see an emerging demand in a modern market.” With a total planned investment for 2011 of EUR 24m, Weidenhammer is also expanding its plastics packaging operations in Zwenkau with the addition of a new facility incorporating in-mould labelling technology. It will double the production space at the site and support further growth in the plastic moulding business.

In particular, the company reports significant interest by the processed foods industry in “PermaSafe”, WPP’s reinvention of the metal can. PermaSafe provides sturdy packaging for sterilised and pasteurised foods and is much lighter and more convenient then the traditional metal can. “Our plastic packaging business has evolved to become a mainstay in the company,” Weidenhammer explained. “We hope to soon see WPP account for around 15% of total group sales. This figure reached nearly 10% last year.”

WPG unveiled its planned investment strategy when announcing sales of EUR 215m in 2010, up from EUR 192m in 2009. This was the 15th consecutive year of sales growth and ahead of expectations – see Plasteurope.com of 15.10.2010. The group is aiming for sales to reach EUR 223m in 2011. Germany remains the company’s most important market, followed by France, the Netherlands and Belgium.