SIG invests EUR 12 million in a new tech center Europe

SIG is investing EUR 12 million in a pilot plant of its new Tech Center Europe, which will be located close to SIG’s packaging plants in Linnich, Germany.

Bringing further added value to SIG customers, the new Tech Center will help to expedite the new product and packaging development to meet the ever-increasing demand for more sustainable packaging solutions. The Tech Center Europe will be an important lever to develop and validate such new packaging solutions and innovative materials even faster, more reliable, and efficient.

In the new Tech Center Europe, existing R&D Test Field & Prototype and combiLab facilities will be complemented with a new pilot plant, which will host state-of-the-art extrusion and finishing technology and advanced quality measurement systems and testing equipment. This will significantly increase serial production processability, system validation and future digital technology capacities.

Built according to the latest and most effective energy standards and food hygiene regulations, the pilot plant will be operational by the end of 2022. It will increase the co-development of products with SIG customers, speeding up innovation cycles by carrying out short-run test fillings. It will also serve as a showcase plant and modern location for project interaction with customers and stakeholder meetings.

Marcel Schopen, department manager Test Field, Prototype & Pilot Plant at SIG, said, “Our new Tech Center Europe will make us even faster and more efficient in bringing new products and packaging solutions to market. It will help our customers to keep one step ahead of trends and changing consumer demands. In the pilot plant and test field of our Tech Center, we support all processes from start to finish, including sleeve production, filling products and pallet packing.”

The Tech Center Europe will accelerate new product and packaging development, enhancing SIG’s sustainable packaging solutions and supporting customers with complete end-to-end product launches. Working closely with customers, SIG sets the course with the choice of right product and packaging concept to meet consumer demands and boost their own business.

José Matthijsse, president & general manager Europe at SIG, said, “Our new Tech Center will create capacities for packaging innovation that will shape SIG’s future growth in Europe. It will enable us to co-develop with our customers and better meet their needs, further strengthening our partnerships and expanding the service we provide to our customers in Europe.”