coveris factory

Packaging specialist Coveris has bolstered its co-extrusion capabilities by investing in a range of equipment.

The company announced that it has reached agreement with KPMG, the administrators of Gelpack Excelsior, to purchase the equipment located at Gelpack’s site in Madley, Herefordshire, including its two five-layer Hosokawa Alpine co-extrusion lines with additional manufacturing assets.

Coveris is working on plans tointegrate the new co-extrusion lines into its existing operations. The company has built up extensive research and development technology in extrusion and co-extrusion manufacturing, with a centre of excellence in Winsford, Cheshire and further capabilities in Louth, Lincolnshire.

The Winsford site is already the largest extrusion facility in the UK and Coveris said the new investment will further strengthen its position as the leading provider of high-quality functional and barrier films.

Coveris UK food and consumer president Gary Rehwinkel said: “Coveris has seen significant growth in the demand for multi-layer co-extruded PE films and it has been part of our strategic plan to meet growing demand and support future growth through investment. The introduction of this machinery provides Coveris with additional 5,000 tonnes of five-layer co-extrusion capacity, enabling us to better serve our customers”.

Earlier this year Coveris announced a £3 million investment plan for its cartonboard division. The division, with three sites located in Cambridgeshire, manufactures cartonboard and hybrid packaging formats for the food industry. The investment plan included the purchase of aKomori GLX 640C lithographic press and site refurbishment.