Luxembourg-headquartered caps and closures manufacturer, United Caps, is on the expansion trail, as it makes significant progress on its growth initiatives.
The company announced 25 June that as part of its “close to you” strategy, it was investing €20m in a new production facility in the UK.
The plant, which will be built in Dinnington, Sheffield, will initially span 5,000 square metres, with an option to expand to 20,000 square metres as business growth demands.
Production is expected to begin at the end of 2019 and will initially focus on beverage and dairy closures. There will be options to add new segments as needed.
The project, said the company, is expected to increase group turnover by 15% in phase one.
Additionally, the company is also opening a new manufacturing plant in Asia at the end of this year.
The company statement did not provide further details on the Asian plant, but said 2018 would be a “banner year” for United Caps.
The Wiltz-based firm also announced that it had completed an extension of its R&D facility in Messia, France, to increase time-to-market deliveries.
The “state-of-the-art” R&D centre now spans 600 square metres, with a 30% increase in both staff and floor space. The unit, with a new structure and modern facility, now includes a 3D printer for rapid prototyping.
The centre is designed to facilitate the United Caps strategy to maintain a mix of 50% bespoke and 50% standard closures.
The new lab, according to Benoit Henckes, CEO of United Caps, allows for simulation of “all types of different conditions”.
“When we arrive at the customer for final line trials, we have a fully developed solution that needs only minor modifications, saving significant implementation time and getting them up and running quickly,” Henckes added.
The company also acquired Spanish closures company Embalatap in April, a company specialised in closures for the edible oils typically used in the Southern European market. The company produces in excess of a half billion caps and closures annually. Embalatap, based in Sopelana, Spain, was founded in 1973 and had a turnover €5.6m last year.
Elsewhere, United Caps said it had collaborated with Brazilian materials supplier Braskem on the production of eco-friendly “greener” caps and closures sourced from bioplastics.
“We already have added bioplastics-based products to our portfolio: such as the Victoria Closure, a 30/25 screw closure designed for still drinks; and the Proflat Seal, ideal for dairy products and still drinks,” Henckes added - solutions that have been “warmly received” by customers, he said. The company expects to win new customers with the products.
Another area of investment in United Caps has been the development of anti-counterfeiting solutions, as part of its smarter closures initiatives.
To that end, United Caps said it had developed a closure system using a combination of a QR code and secure fingerprint that helps brands enhance consumer confidence.
The technologies are especially effective when printed onto a non-removable in-mould label.
United Caps said it had partnered with Verstraete In Mould Labels (IML) in developing the unique approach to anti-counterfeiting.
Another anti-counterfeiting solution developed by United Caps is holographic engraving integrated into a closure, forming an intrinsic and irremovable security feature.