PETpla.net Insider 11+12 / 2017

PET planet Insider Vol. 18 No. 11+12/17 www.petpla.net 43 TRADE SHOW REVIEW Green light in South East Asia by Kay Barton “A major part of our production is foreseen to be supplied to custom- ers in the ASEAN region; closures for food products, especially. This is a field in which we are able to fulfil some highly sensitive product require- ments,” Henckes said. “We currently have definite plans for South East Asia with four major brand manu- facturers with whom we are already working in Europe. We will further seek to develop new products and markets.” Mr Henckes maintains that competition is quite scarce, so the company plans to gradually develop its customers in Southeast Asia. It is worth noting that, currently, approxi- mately 25% of nutritional products in South East Asia are sold online. Four fully electric Engel injection moulding machines will be used at the new plant. When the company expands into beverages, it is to be assumed that the company would opt for a solution with focus on fast cycle times. Closure solutions United Caps showed some of its standard closure solutions for the bev- erages industry at Drinktec, including two newly revised 29/25 caps: the 1.3g Progrip; and the 3g Prospring one- piece sports closure, which is designed on the same basis. Both are to feature an improved finger-grip and easier opening. The new 28-1881 Prospring, weighing 3g, is set for launch in 2018, along with the company’s CC Flex 28-1881, weighing 1.9g. These two closures are designed for applications on the PCO 1881 neckfinish. Cur- rently undergoing testing is the slightly shortened 26/22 Flat Premium closure, weighing 1.8g; United Caps is currently awaiting customer feedback on this new development. www.unitedcaps.com Luxembourg-based closure manufacturer United Caps will soon officially launch its new plant in Malaysia. The company currently has seven plants in Europe; the new facility will be its first to be established outside the borders of the EU. We met CEO Benoit Henckes at Drinktec and discussed with him why the markets of South East Asia are looking so exciting for the company, today and in the future, as well as its new product inno- vations that were presented at the trade show. “We have managed projects in the nutritional segment in Singa- pore from Europe in the past and we have already gained considerable experience with the local markets. It was on the basis of this work that the idea of having our own plant in the region emerged,” Mr Henckes explained. “We looked in detail into various possibilities and finally decided to build a plant in the Kulim district in northern Malaysia. This will provide us with an adequate start- ing point for our activities at every level, in terms of potential custom- ers, demand, transport infrastruc- ture, skilled staff and governmen- tal support. The proximity of other injection moulders in the north also contributed to our decision. The port of Penang, which is an important shipping hub, is nearby, as well.” At the launch of its production operations, the company will initially be serving the nutrition and chemicals only. An expansion into the beverages sector is quite possible over the long term and makes sense in the light of the growing markets. There is a widespread and considerable require- ment for food safety in the region, a requirement that United Caps wants to tap into. In discussions with CEO Benoit Henckes United Caps meeting with (f.l.t.r.) CEO Benoit Henckes, Astrid Hoffmann-Leist (Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer) and Kay Barton, PETplanet Insider