Amcor to invest “approximately $35m” in two new innovation centres in Belgium and China

Packaging company Amcor has announced plans to invest around $35 million in two new “state-of-art” innovation centres to expand its global network.

The firm will build the facilities in Ghent, Belgium and Jiangyin, China, which are scheduled to open next year, with the full expansion phase to be completed in 2023.

Amcor’s new centres will feature customer experience facilities; advanced analytical and material science laboratories; pilot manufacturing equipment; and packaging machinery that replicates customer operations that helps to run tests without disrupting customer production.

The expansion will enable customers worldwide to access Amcor’s “material science expertise and packaging development capabilities”, said the business.

Amcor Flexibles business’ chief technology officer, William Jackson, said: “Our innovation and design centres offer customers a unique space to test new ideas and technologies across a variety of materials and formats without disrupting commercial operations”.

“Our customers will be able to access our innovation capabilities wherever they are in the world and benefit from a seamless transfer of expertise and knowledge across the network.”

Amcor’s new buildings will join the organisation existing flagship sites in Neenah, Wisconsin; and Manchester, Michigan, United States; as well as other smaller sites worldwide.

In April, Amcor announced an investment in ePac Flexible Packaging, a custom flexible packaging solutions provider.