Twinpak Inc. is spending about C$3.7 million (US$2.65 million) to nearly double thermoforming capacity at its Regina, Saskatche-wan, facility. Twinpak needs more capacity, especially for lighter-weight packaging, and wants to improve the plant's efficiency, according to John Dale, general manager of the firm's dairy and food packaging unit. He expects the project to boost the company's thermoforming sales to about C$20 million (US$14.3 million) per year.
Dale said new equipment in the expansion will be in full operation by May. It includes a new, 41/2-inch Welex extruder, two new Illig thermoforming machines and associated downstream equipment. The Regina plant has operated with one extruder and five older Illig thermoformers.
Dale said in a telephone interview from his unit's Mississauga, Ontario, office that Regina uses solid-phase pressure forming technology developed in Europe mainly to make polypropylene containers and lids for dairy and deli applications. Regina is Twinpak's only thermoforming operation.
Twinpak is leasing an additional 40,000 square feet, boosting total space to 100,000 square feet, to accommodate the extra equipment.
Saskatchewan will give Twinpak a C$200,000 (US$143,000) training assistance grant to help upgrade employees' skills. Dale said the work force of the mainly agricultural province is stable and enthusiastic.
Twinpak of Montreal produces a range of packaging using blow molding, injection molding, extrusion and thermoforming. The subsidiary of Amcor Ltd. of Melbourne, Australia, has 16 manufacturing ad distribution operations across Canada, as well as a U.S. facility.