German packaging firm Klöckner Pentaplast's pharmaceutical & medical device films division (KP Pharma) has announced a 5 million euro ($5.9 million) investment in its Cotia, Brazil, facility to support the growing market.
In a May 8 release, the Montabaur, Germany-based company said capacity expansion in Brazil will also support the manufacturing of new products in the region.
“We are seeing substantial growth in our high barrier product segments in South America in response to the increased temperature, moisture and oxygen sensitivity of new drugs,” explained Tracey Peacock, president, pharmaceutical and medical device films at KP.
The "significant" capacity and technology expansion, she noted, will support that trend.
The investment follows another expansion two years ago, which saw the addition of the fourth slitting line in Cotia, adding to the site's slitting capacity by 4.000 tonnes per annum.
The company expects the new capability to be operational from July 2019 with the “simple aim of improving service to our customers wherever they are located in the South American region.”