Plastic packaging specialist Linpac Packaging (Featherstone, West Yorkshire / UK; www.linpac.com) has entered the second phase of a EUR 9m investment in a new plant and equipment at its German sites at Ritterhude and Beeskow. The company said it aims to increase its presence in the country through food packaging product launches, working closer with its customers and driving a change from PP to PET for food packaging.

The investment includes EUR 3m on PET extrusion and automation facilities at Ritterhude. EUR 6m was invested in the first phase in 2012, with the remainder earmarked for 2013. Linpac Packaging generates EUR 100m turnover, with more than 250 staff employed across the two sites in Germany.

The company said that food producers in Germany have expressed significant interest in a super lightweight mono-material tray for meat and poultry. The “Rfresh” Elite range of rPET trays, launched in autumn 2012, brings opportunities to transition from PP to PET for packaging, a trend already evident in other European markets, the company said.

René Normann Christensen, managing director of Linpac Packaging’s north west Europe region, said: “Since announcing our major investment plans and launch of new products, there has been a wave of positive interest from customers in what we are doing. With our new dedicated sales team, we are re-enforcing our strong commitment growth plans going forward in Germany, which is the biggest market in Europe.”