Klöckner Pentaplast (kp), a global leader inrecycled content products and high-barrier protective packaging, has chosen itsproduction facility in Beaver, West Virginia for its multi-million dollarproduction expansion, adding post-consumer recycled content (PCR) PET capacityin North America.
This expansion will furthergrow kp’s sustainable innovation offering in consumer health, pharmaceutical,and food packaging markets through the addition of an extrusion line and twothermoformers, delivering a total of 15,000 metric tonnes of new rPET/PETcapacity. kp currently leads the industry with over 20% of its volumes madefrom PCR material.
Scott Tracey, kp’s ChiefExecutive Officer states, “The expansion responds to continued demand forsustainable options from our food packaging, pharmaceutical, consumer and labelfilm customers. The extrusion line will support production of importantsustainable product lines such as kpNext™ recyclable pharmaceutical blisterfilms, and Smartcycle® recyclable label and consumer packaging films. Thethermoformers will produce award winning kp Elite® mono-material protein trayswhich are made using up to 100% recycled PET and are easily recycled creating acircular economy.”
Theaddition is part of kp’s continued North America expansion plans. The state hascommitted to local grants and incentives for the placement. The installation willadd 60 jobs to the West Virginia facility with commercialization beginning atthe end of 2022 for thefirst thermoform line. The extrusion addition will be completed in mid-2023.The completion of the second thermoform line and new production hall, which will be capable of additional capacity expansions in the future, is scheduled for the end of Q4 2023.
