Linpac to Produce rPET Packs in the UK After £3m Investment

The company said the investment would make it one of the largest producers of rPET packaging in the UK.

22/07/08 Linpac Packaging is able to produce recycled PET (rPET) packaging in the UK following a £3m investment in thermoforming and extrusion equipment at its plant in West Yorkshire.

Linpac said the investment in equipment at Featherstone would support the production of the new Rfresh rPET trays, which keep meat, fish and poultry fresh for up to 10 days in a conventional chilled distribution system.

Rfresh has been tested for performance and retains the traditional PET qualities of clarity and thermal stability, the firm added.

The range can be processed on automatic tray denester machinery and used for both manual and automatic lid sealing.

The company said the investment would make it one of the largest producers of rPET packaging in the UK, but marketing manager Barbara Laing would not give any details of the volume of rPET material produced.

"The new equipment allows Linpac to combine post-consumer waste with its own post-industrial waste and gives it more control over the quality of rPET produced," she added.

Previously the firm manufactured rPET in Spain and Italy.

The company has also announced that it has acquired all of the shares in Portuguese packaging distributor Ovarpack Embalagens to strengthen its position in Portugal.

Linpac Packaging said its acquisition of Ovarpack was designed to achieve "profitable growth" for the business.

Managing director and president Ralf Wunderlich said: "Our experience as a global packaging provider with a solid manufacturing base, quality staff and customer focus will provide Ovarpack with the products and customer service to reinforce its status as market leader in Portugal."

Ovarpack sells and distributes packaging products to the food industry and retailers. The product range includes trays, rigid containers and paper packs.