Kraton Extends Asian Packaging Presence

The group expects the site will allow further tailoring of its products, which include block copolymers used within flexible and barrier food packaging, to the specific demands of processors in the country.

22/06/07 Kraton has completed the second phase of its Asian expansion plans with the opening of a technical service centre for its products in Shanghai.

The group expects the site will allow further tailoring of its products, which include block copolymers used within flexible and barrier food packaging, to the specific demands of processors in the country.

Kraton is one of a growing number of packagers who are attempting to follow their processor clients and others as they expand into emerging markets, shortening supply chains.

Asia is becoming an increasingly significant market for packaging products, as increasing consumer spending drives demand for greater convenience and innovation in the food industry. To drive this innovation, the company claims that the technical centre will offer its clients product testing and quality assurance alongside packaging production.

The opening has been welcomed as a key step for boosting the company's operations within the region, by Micel Evans, vice president of Kraton's Asia Pacific operations.

"We continue to demonstrate our commitment to the Asia Pacific region and with the completion of this new centre we've taken a major step in building the necessary infrastructure to support our customers' growing needs," he stated. "The addition of this multi-functional customer service centre is a significant milestone in Kraton's overall Asia strategy to be the innovation leader in the region.

"Flexible packaging demand in the Asia Pacific region will have a total market value of €43bn by 2010, according to IPC, a market consultancy.  The market in China alone is expected to grow at a year-on-year rate of 15 per cent.