American National Can Co. opened a second plastic film plant in Boscobel, Wis., in September.
The plants, located next to each other on a 6-acre parcel, include a total of more than 40,000 square feet of production space. Eventually, they will employ nearly 100. The company would not reveal the number of plastic film and lamination lines operating at the facilities.
The first plant in Boscobel opened in August 1995. Chicago-based ANC has invested more than $17 million in the two operations, according to the firm.
The plants, dubbed Boscobel I and Boscobel II, are ``quick-response, focused facilities'' that make flexible packaging primarily for the dairy and meat industries, respectively, the firm said in a written response to questions.
``Separate operations targeting specific markets is consistent with one of ANC's flexible packaging strategies to meet customer requirements with speed and efficiency. These facilities are geared to suit the priorities of ANC's meat and dairy customers.''
Earlier this fall, the company announced its plans to build side-by-side film plants in Joplin, Mo. The $35 million operations will be running by the second quarter next year. These flexible packaging plants also are expected to serve the food industry with films and laminations.
ANC buys resin and film as raw materials, including polyethylene, PET and PVC. It has equipment that can print up to 10 colors, plus laminating equipment and converting machinery to form and slit products to the desired width for customers' filling lines.
The Boscobel facilities are part of ANC's Plastic Packaging business unit, with plants in six countries and nearly $1 billion in annual sales.
The business supplies flexible packaging and single- and multilayer bottles to food, meat, dairy, health-care and specialty segments.
ANC's estimated North American film and sheet sales for last year were $551 million, placing it ninth in Plastics News' Sept. 15 ranking.
ANC's plastic packaging operation has 18 flexible packaging plants — 12 in the United States. It also manufactures bottles in three U.S. plants and one Canadian plant.
ANC is a subsidiary of Pechiney of Paris.
