UFlex invests $86.35m in new plants

Total Packaging Papers shipments were up 3.0 percent compared to May 2017 but down 0.2 percent year-to-date. Bag & Sack shipments were essentially flat year-to-date, Multiwall shipments were down 3.3 percent, Converting shipments were down 0.4 percent and Food Wrapping shipments were up 3.5 percent. The operating rate for May increased to 94.5 percent from 92.9 percent in April. Inventories were down 3.6 percent since April.

Amcor has developed a new hot-fill polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle for Colombia’s Nutrea/Frudelca’s breakthrough Frupro protein juice. The new beverage is the latest in a growing category that blends the benefits of natural juice with protein to appeal to health-conscious consumers. “We relied on Amcor as an important partner to deliver an innovative packaging solution that meets the performance test of this new functional beverage,” said Alejandor Gaviria, General Manager of Frudelca. Nutrea/Frudelca is a joint venture between Frudelca, a leading juice supplier, and Nutrea, a food and beverage company. Amcor is a pioneer in the development of PET heat-set technology, which allows beverages to be filled at temperatures up to 185°F (85°C) to ensure product quality and extended shelf life.

O-I Glass, Inc. will build a new greenfield glass plant in Bowling Green, KY. In line with strong consumer trends towards healthy, recyclable, and sustainable food and beverage packaging, the company is adding capacity to support its customers with brand-building premium glass containers. The company plans to invest up to $240 million in multiple expansion waves over time and create approximately 140 new jobs in the region. The new plant will be the first facility purposely-built for O-I’s revolutionary MAGMA technology that is set to redefine the glass production process for the future. MAGMA is expected to further enhance O-I’s capabilities to support multiple product categories and expand in today’s highly differentiated product segments. The production facility is also expected to set new standards in sustainable glass manufacturing. Using renewable electricity, gas-oxy fuel, and other innovative solutions, it will significantly advance O-I’s sustainability roadmap and make glass an even more compelling choice for consumers, customers, and the environment.