The new factory is based in Tychy, near Katowice in the South of Poland. The site was selected for its proximity to Polish fillers as well as its capacity for expansion in line with growth forecasts.
The company's five-year growth plan forecasts it operating a 1bn unit production facility in Poland, with three Husky injection molding machines installed initially to satisfy three major contracts already in place.
A DeepGrip blow molding machine will be installed in 2013, and the plant will offer the full range of APPE technologies including injection moulding, blow moulding and single stage.
A team of 15 operators has been employed in the manufacturing plant, headed by Plant Manager Wojciech Brzegowy and supported by Sales Manager Sylwester Klimek. The workforce is expected to grow rapidly in line with planned production increases.
Plant manager Wojciech Brzegowy said: “Establishing this state-of-the-art production facility from the ground up has enabled us to install equipment to take advantage of all the very latest technologies in PET manufacturing.
“This means we will not only be able to supply the best quality products but also produce them with the lowest carbon footprint.”
The APPE Polska build form part of APPE’s wider expansion European expansion plans, which will also include the building of a new plant in Italy in 2013.
MD Martin Hargreaves said: “These are very exciting times for APPE as we seek to maximise opportunities in all areas of our business.”
“APPE Polska will serve as an excellent base to expand in Eastern Europe, offering our full range including new technologies and products such as DeepGrip, ActivSeal and our brand-new hot-fill, pasteurisable jars.”
The packaging division of La Seda de Barcelona said that discussions were in an "advanced stage with a number of other leading brand owners" and that APPE Polska expected to double capacity in the near future.
