Speciality films capacity expansions in Germany and the US

As part of the latest step in its strategy to focus on engineered release films, process films and speciality films, Infiana (Forchheim / Germany; www.infiana.com) in early June announced a EUR 20m investment in its speciality films solutions activities in Germany and the USA. For its main plant at group headquarters, the company recently purchased a new thermal coating line, while its site in Malvern, Pennsylvania / USA is set to receive new printing and coating technology. Both investments are due to be brought on stream in H1 2017.

Peter Wahsner, the chief executive of Infiana – which emerged from an MBO of Huhtamaki’s (Espoo / Finland; www.huhtamaki.com) Films unit in early 2015 (see Plasteurope.com of 16.01.2015) – said the investment “marks a strategically significant step in the implementation of our global growth plans.” As part of its strategic realignment, the group in February sold its Brazilian operation to Packing Group (Valinhos / Brazil; www.packinggroup.com) – see Plasteurope.com of 09.02.2016.

The decision to invest in Malvern reflects Infiana’s hopes for the country, and the positive developments in this region to date. Wahsner said the new equipment at the site will allow it to produce locally, thereby forgoing the need to import products from its German plant. The investment will allow Infiana to meet the demand of US personal care and healthcare customers from a local production site. By contrast, the new thermal coating line in Forchheim will serve to meet rising demand for silicone-coated speciality films, used in the pressure-sensitive as well as the building and construction markets.

Infiana claims to be one of the leading global providers of thermal coated films solutions. The company operates three sites – aside from Forchheim and Malvern, it also runs a plant in Samutsakorn / Thailand. Infiana’s roughly 800 employees posted sales of EUR 205m in 2015.