Extrusion International 6-2022

16 Extrusion International 6/2022 INDUSTRY NEWS New Headquarters for Sub-Saharan Africa  In the presence of the South Afri- can Environment Minister, the ALPLA Group opened a state-of-the-art pro- duction site in Lanseria near Johan- nesburg. In the new headquarters for Sub-Saharan Africa, the internation- ally active plastic packaging special- ist is merging five previous locations in South Africa under one roof. All ALPLA technologies, processes and materials are combined in the Lanse- ria plant and the first apprenticeship programme of ALPLA in Africa will start at the beginning of 2023. 35,000 square metres of covered production, administration and stor- age space, another 12,500 for future expansion, and 30,000 square metres of roof area equipped with solar pan- els: with the new plant in Lanseria, ALPLA is setting the course for further growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. “All of Sub-Saharan Africa is on the upswing, the markets have enormous potential. Our investment in South Africa is a clear commitment to the continent. In this way, we are increas- ing our competitiveness and guaran- teeing the long-term regional supply of safe, affordable and sustainable packaging solutions,” explains ALPLA CEO Philipp Lehner. “Here in Lanseria we concentrate our exper- tise, optimise production processes, use state-of-the-art equipment and create energy-efficient operations,” adds Mike Resnicek, Managing Direc- tor Sub-Saharan Africa at ALPLA. The plant has one of the largest solar in- stallations on a privately owned man- ufacturing building in South Africa. The new location in the industrial area north of Johannesburg com- bines and builds on the five previous plants in Harrismith, Denver, Isando, Kempton Park and Samrand. The de- partments, employees and machines were relocated step by step. Around 350 employees will start working in Lanseria and their number is subject to further growth. The new plant will produce bottles, closures and special packaging for the food, personal and home care, chemical, cleaning agent and pharmaceutical industries – a total of around 3.5 billion pieces per year. ALPLA uses six different technolo- gies, including injection and compres- sion moulding, injection stretch blow moulding and extrusion blow mould- ing. In addition to international cor- porations, ALPLA also supplies smaller local companies with plastic packaging solutions. “The new plant with its mod- ern equipment meets all international quality standards, is operated efficient - ly and increases flexibility. Our custom - ers in the region will benefit from this service in the long term,” says Javier Delgado, ALPLA Regional Managing Director Africa, Middle East and Turkey. With the new plant in Lanseria, ALPLA is also promoting its own train- ing of specialists and has established a dual education and apprenticeship programme. This dual system of prac- tical and theoretical training based on the Austrian model is already in opera- tionat theALPLA locations inGermany, Mexico, India, Poland and China. From 2023, the first 12 South African ap - prentices are to begin their training in the plastics technology and machin- ing technology trades in the ‘Future Corner’ training centre in Lanseria. ALPLA www.alpla.com At the new plant in Lanseria, ALPLA uses state-of-the-art technology and machinery to produce high-quality bottles, closures and special packaging – around 3.5 billion units per year in total (Pictures, Copyright: ALPLA) Important visitors at the opening of ALPLA’s new headquarters for Sub-Saharan Africa in Lanseria on 12 October: ALPLA CEO Philipp Lehner welcomed the South African Environment Minister Barbara Creecy and the Premier of Gauteng Panyaza Lesufi