Specialty biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) films maker Treofan Germany GmbH & Co. KG has launched a $45 million expansion at its Americas plant in Zacapu, Mexico.
The Raunheim, Germany-based company announced June 20 that it is investing in a new five-layer, 10.4-meter orientation line from Brückner Group at the plant, with operation set for fourth quarter of 2018.
Treofan expects to add 30,000 metric tons per year of capacity to the plant, a 50 percent increase from current production levels.
An existing small line from 1992 will be mothballed, the company added.
Treofan has grown its Americas business consistently over the past 20 years with investments so far totaling $100 million in two lines of 8.5 meters and 8.2 meters.
“The additional asset represents the next phase of the group's reinvestment strategy which was initiated in 2014 at our facility in Neunkirchen,” explained Jon Knight, CEO Treofan Americas.
According to Allan Crighton, chief operating officer Treofan Americas, the company has been working with Brückner to design a line capable of producing current and future specialty BOPP film products at more than 10 meters wide and at speeds of up to 600 meters per minute.
This, he said, will build on the company's experience gained with the 8.2-meter five layer Brückner line which has been running for almost 10 years.