Amcor Rigid Plastics, one of the world’s leading producers of rigid plastic packaging, held a grand opening today for its new on-site bottle manufacturing operation at PepsiCo’s Gatorade production facility in Mountain Top, Pa. The new in-line operation is expected to produce approximately 650 million hot fillable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles annually. Fifty state and local officials, other dignitaries, and company officials attended today’s celebration which included a ribbon-cutting ceremony and lunch. Attendees included Harry Forbes, Northeast Regional Director for Gov. Tom Corbett, Steve Yokimishyn from the Governor’s Action team, Amcor CEO Ken MacKenzie, and Michael Schmitt, President of Amcor Rigid Plastics.
“We’re excited about establishing this on-site operation because it expands our relationship with PepsiCo and gives us an opportunity to better serve a key strategic customer,” said Larry Weber, Vice President and General Manager of Amcor Rigid Plastics’ North American Beverage Group. Previously, the Mountain Top Gatorade facility had purchased hot fill PET containers from merchant suppliers.
On-site bottle manufacturing is a highly efficient and sustainable business model for beverage makers, according to Weber. Beverage companies like PepsiCo can gain major sustainability benefits and eliminate expenses associated with shipping, including unnecessary handling, secondary packaging, and freight costs. Amcor has strong expertise in running on-site manufacturing operations with seven similar hot fill facilities located at beverage filling plants throughout the U.S.
Amcor received strong backing and financial support from state and local agencies including approximately $100,000 in grants for site development
and employee training.
