NEWS


Amcor sales increase by 3% as profits rise by 8%


Packaging specialist Amcor has reported a rise of 3% in full-year sales. The company reported


revenue of more than US$12.8 billion to the end of June 2020. In addition, profitability – in the form of EBIT – rose 8% to exceed US$1.6bn. “We delivered record


full-year earnings in 2021, and increased EBIT mar- gins,” said Ron Delia, CEO of Amcor. “We ended the


year with good momentum and expect another strong year in fiscal 2022.” Sales in flexible packag- ing – which accounts for about 80% of the company – exceeded US$10bn, while rigid packaging sales rose by around 4% to more than US$2.8bn. Volumes were 1% higher


in flexible packaging – with strong growth in India and China – and 5% in rigid packaging, with broad


growth across the Americas. The company says its ongoing integration of Bemis – which it bought in June 2019 – has been successful, with around US$75m of “incremental cost synergies” realised this year. “The integration is


essentially complete and we will exceed our original US$180m cost synergy target,” said Delia. � www.amcor.com


RKW adds five- layer line in Echte


RKW is investing “a seven-figure sum” at its Echte site in Germany, boosting production in industrial packaging – and using more recyclate. The company is installing a new five-layer


extrusion line, which makes its FFS and ProVent sacks, valve box sacks, transport packaging and garbage bags. The line will be used for industrial packaging. “We want to offer more sustainable industrial packaging with new formulations,” said Markus Brinkmann, site director at Echte. “This includes using a growing proportion of recycled plastics.” � www.rkw-group.com


Thai PLA plant to


go ahead NatureWorks has received final authorisa- tion from its parent companies to build a new PLA manufacturing complex in Thailand. The company plans to invest more than US$600m to build the complex, which will include production of lactic acid, lactide and polymer. NatureWorks says it will be the first fully integrated PLA facility. Work on the new manufacturing complex – at the Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex – will begin in the second quarter of 2022. It is expected to open in 2024, and have an annual capacity of 75,000 tonnes – produc- ing the full portfolio of Ingeo PLA grades. “Thanks to the ongoing support of our parent companies, our plans for a second Ingeo PLA manufacturing location continue to progress,” said Rich Altice, president and CEO of NatureWorks. � www.natureworksllc.com


ProAmpac expands with buy in Ireland


US-based packaging manufacturer Pro- Ampac has acquired Euroflex, a flexible film producer based in Ireland. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.


ProAmpac says the acquisition expands its capabilities in printed film, lamina- tion and pouching solutions in Ireland. “Euroflex is an exciting addition to the ProAmpac family in Europe,” said


www.filmandsheet.com


Greg Tucker, CEO of ProAmpac. Euroflex makes a range of flexible printed film, lamination and pouching packaging with a focus on protein packaging – for products such as meat, cheese and dairy products. It also supplies markets such as coffee, pet food and nutrition supplements. Derek Richardson, CEO of Euroflex,


added: “Our expertise in high-barrier applications will complement ProAm- pac’s broad offering of high-quality flexible packaging products.” With the addition of Euroflex – and its plant in County Donegal – ProAm- pac now has 44 sites globally, and nearly 5,800 employees. � www.proampac.com


September 2021 | FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION 7


IMAGE: RKW


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