Page 17 - Plastics News September 2021

CoMPANY NEwS

Saica To Invest $800M In Us Market Over The Spectrum Plastics

Next Five Years Adds Capacity

pain-based packaging company Saica makes this a great time to come to the pectrum Plastics Group, a global
Shas shared plans to invest $800m in US market.” In addition to developing Ssolutions provider for development
the US market over the next five years. infrastructure, Saica’s investment is through scaled manufacturing of
The investment will take the form of expected to create around 500 jobs. The critical polymer-based components
strategic acquisitions and building plants company said that it is ‘still examining and devices for medical and other
demanding markets, has announced a
significant renovation and cleanroom
expansion project at its Minneapolis,
MN facility. The 105,000 sq. ft facility
is increasing the size of the Class 8
cleanroom manufacturing space to
a total of 10,000 sq. ft, investing in
additional moulding machine capacity,
renovating the office and employee
amenity space, and further updating the
facility to reflect the modern state of
the art and highly technical moulding
services. Paul Schmeling, Sr.VP,
in an effort to support its growth. It options’ to finalise specific plans for its Specialty Molding said, "Spectrum
is in line with the company’s ‘Saica growth.Last February, Saica announced has been quietly investing in this market
2025: Building the Future Together’ plans to invest £50m ($69.3m) to create segment by adding 15 new moulding
strategic plan published in June. As a purpose-built production facility in machines over the last 3 years. This
part of the strategic plan, Saica plans to Livingston, UK, as part of its Saica Pack cleanroom expansion furthers that
invest an average of €230m ($273m) in division. The company operates in Spain,
technology advancement a year for the
next five years. Saica Group president France, Italy, Portugal, the UK, Ireland,
Ramón Alejandro said: “The journey Turkey, Luxembourg, the Netherlands
to the US market has not been an easy and the US. It currently employs more
road, but we are convinced that we can than 10,000 people. Saica Group is one
provide products that will differentiate of the leading companies in Europe
us in a crowded market. “We have been in the manufacture of recycled paper
encouraged by the tremendous support for corrugated board, with an annual commitment with the purchase and
we’ve received as we began work on production capacity of 3.3 million tons installation of another 10 moulding
machines over a year and next." Most
our plant in Hamilton, Ohio.” The of recycled paper for corrugated board. of that capacity will be in 110 ton
investment follows Saica’s announcement With more than 10,000 employees and a and less IM machines. The new Class
for its first US corrugated plant in presence in Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, 8 cleanroom will be a purpose-built
Hamilton, Ohio. Scheduled to open early the United Kingdom, Ireland, Turkey, moulding and assembly cleanroom
next year, the Hamilton plant will occupy Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the designed to manage the special
a newly built 300,000 sq ft area. It will United States, Saica Group has four challenges of cleanroom moulding.
feature manufacturing, converting and business lines: manufacture of recycled The drying of materials and all process
production areas, as well as warehouse paper for corrugated board (Saica Paper), utilities reside outside of the cleanroom
and office space. Mr Alejandro said: “We waste management and environmental and enter the cleanroom at the press.
believe our extensive knowledge of low- services (Saica Natur), production of Special utilities high purity nitrogen
weight recycled paper production, along corrugated board packaging (Saica Pack) and oil-free compressed air service the
with the increased demand for cartons, and flexible packaging (Saica Flex). company's medical device moulding.

17 PLASTICS NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021