Reinforcing its commitment to the global pharmaceutical and medical industries, Klöckner Pentaplast (kp, Montabaur / Germany; www.kpfilms.com) has announced plans to expand its high-barrier film lamination and coatings output in Montabaur / Germany and Bern / Switzerland. Financial details were not disclosed.

Under the plans, kp intends to start using a new state-of-the-art line to manufacture “Aclar” laminated pharmaceutical films in Montabaur in early 2017. By the end of that year, the new lamination plant will be capable of producing the group’s entire Aclar and “Pentapharm” product range. Aclar is part of Honeywell’s (Morris Township, New Jersey / USA; www.honeywell.com) portfolio of barrier films for pharmaceutical applications.

As a result of the investment in Montabaur, kp also intends to lift output of PVdC-coated high-barrier pharmaceutical films at its facility in Bern / Switzerland. The latter plant will continue to serve as a backup site for Aclar lamination, thereby ensuring security of supply.

The German films producer marked 50 years of operations last year. The company’s operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) rose by 14% year-on-year to EUR 209m in the financial year ended 30 September 2015 (see Plasteurope.com of 23.12.2015).