PETpla.net Insider 10 / 2020

PET news 6 NEWS PETplanet Insider Vol. 21 No. 10/20 www.petpla.net Firmenich opens new pilot plant in Geneva Firmenich, a privately-owned P e r f ume a n d Taste company, announced the opening of its new biotechnology and naturals pilot plant and laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland. Benefiting from the latest digital technology, the facility opens a new era for the development of ingredients and clean label solutions by providing faster speed-to-market and greater flex- ibility for customer collaboration. Integrated into the Group’s flagship ingredients production site at La Plaine, Geneva, the facility operates to high safety and environmental standards, reducing waste and energy consumption. Operational this month, the pilot plant at La Plaine ena- bling the development of efficient and high-quality produc- tion processes through biotechnology or natural extraction. Harnessing digital technology for increased automation, the pilot plant is able to move from single to continuous batch process, increasing efficiency, speed and reducing the use of raw materials. In keeping with Firmenich’s recognised track record in sustainability, the new pilot plant benefits from effi- cient bioreactors, which minimises both the amount of waste produced and energy consumed. www.firmenich.com Alpla acquires facility of Amcor in India Alpla Group, a global specialist for packaging solutions and r e c y c l i ng , i s acquiring a facility in Western India for the production of preforms for PET bottles from the packaging com- pany Amcor. Alpla Group has taken over a plant for rigid plastics in India from the global packaging specialist Amcor with effect from September 28, 2020. The plant in Alandi, West India, is in the immediate vicinity of the metropolis of Pune. It manu- factures preforms for the production of PET bottles for the beverage industry. Customers include Coca-Cola and the Indian dairy company Amul. With this takeover, Alpla is expanding its core business in the PET area in India. All 50 employees will be taken over by Alpla. Vagish Dixit, Managing Director Alpla India: ‘The newly acquired facility near Pune will primarily help us to better serve the market in the Western Region of India and further expand existing partnerships with customers such as Coca-Cola.’ Alpla Pune is the ninth location of Alpla in India and the second in the west of the country. The contracting parties have agreed not to disclose any details of the contract. www.alpla.com Alpek announces M&G Mexico’s restructuring plan has been approved Alpek, S.A.B. de C.V. announced that the financial restruc- turing agreement between M&G Polímeros México, S.A. de C.V. and the majority of its creditors, including certain Alpek subsidiaries, has been approved on a definitive basis by the Mexican bankruptcy court. This approval would conclude the pre-agreed bankruptcy proceedings (“concurso mercantil preacordado”) initiated by M&G Mexico and its creditors in February 2019. Under the agreement, Alpek will begin recovering US $ 160 million in guaranteed debt, related to its first and second liens, as early as the end of this year. Based on the strong PET demand and margins seen in recent months, as well as the outlook for the global polyester industry, the company expects to recover the full amount of its guaranteed debt plus interest over the next five years. Alpek will also continue supplying the PTA needed by M&G Mexico’s PET facility. This will both ensure stable opera- tions at M&G Mexico as Alpek recovers its debt, as well as a steady offtake for the PTA site in Altamira. “We are very pleased to see this process come to its successful comple- tion under terms that are beneficial to all parties involved,” said José de Jesús Valdez, Alpek’s CEO. “Recovering our guaranteed debt will help Alpek continue pursuing value- generating opportunities while relying on a stronger free cash flow and financial position.” www.alpek.com And&Or Group buys the Madrid company Franco Dolfini Automation And&Or strengthens its position and offer of machinery and solutions for the blow moulding industry with the acquisition of the Madrid company Franco Dolfini Automation (FDA). Franco Dolfini Automation is a Spanish machine manufacturer for the automation of plastic botlles manufacturing processes. This 25 employees company, with a turnover of approximately € 2 million, fortifies And&Or’s offer in the blow moulding sector, and allows the group to establish itself more firmly in its position in the Spanish and international markets, increasing its product portfolio and improving its offer of products and services. FDA will work as a separate entity, and will keep its own brand, management team and strategy. Among other prod- ucts, FDA adds quality control systems for PET bottles using high-voltage equipment to the And&Or portfolio, compact and flexible palletisers for empty bottles handling, tube-type baggers allowing plastic film consumption savings, dynamic weight systems, automatic cartoning machines, among others. The two companies follow a similar approach: offering simple and automatic solutions that improve the industrial processes of their clients. The sector’s demand and a close collabora- tion with its clients made both companies grow in solutions and products. www.andyor.com