New $30m investment in US metal packaging plant
The 91,000-square feet plant will produce a range of metal packaging products for both human and pet food. The eco-friendly building will have space for additional equipment which will be used to allow a second phase of expansion.
The company broke ground for the new building this month and start up is slated for next year.
The plant will initially employ about 75 people but that could double with later expansion.
Growth opportunities
Francis Labbé, chief executive officer of Impress said: “North America has been a good region for us to do business and we continue to see good growth opportunities. We are excited at this next step in our development. The effort and support offered by New YorkState has been a major factor in our decision to locate to Conklin.”
Dennis Kester, president of Impress North America, added: “We chose Conklin and Broome County, New York, because the local and state governments are very supportive and helpful. We were also impressed with the availability of a good work force, educational institutions and ease of transportation.”
Impress, based in Deventer, Netherlands, is a leading manufacturer in the seafood can market and the second largest supplier of heat processed food cans in Europe and Australasia. It also manufactures cans for infant formulas and nutritional powders together with cans paints and coatings.
Meanwhile, last month Impress formed a strategic alliance with Japanese beverage metal can producer Daiwa Can to develop and commercialize novel types of metal packaging.
Re-sealable bottle cans
As a first step the agreement will give Impress exclusive rights to market Daiwa's range of re-sealable bottle cans in Europe. In a second phase, the agreement provides for production of bottle cans in Europe in a jointly owned company.
Speaking at the launch of the venture in August, Hisakazu Yamaguchi, president of Daiwa Can said: 'Impress and Daiwa share the belief that metal packaging must be developed to meet the changing needs of consumers, while continuously reducing environmental impacts. We expect this to be a first step in a broader alliance covering other areas of mutually beneficial development.”
