CHICAGO — TC Transcontinental Packaging, the packaging division of TC Transcontinental, announced Aug. 22 a $60 million investment to develop cutting-edge, mono-material, recyclable flexible plastic-based packaging solutions that offer more heat resistance. To develop these premium packaging offerings, the company plans to expand its facility in Spartanburg, SC, by 120,000 square feet.

The facility expansion will include an investment in a new film line that will produce biaxially oriented polyethylene (BOPE), as well as ancillary equipment. According to TC Transcontinental Packaging, the BOPE line will be the first in North America.

Brückner Group has manufactured TC Transcontinental Packaging's new BOPE line

The BOPE line has been manufactured by Brückner Group and is a 6.6m wide tenter frame extrusion line. It will be installed in TC Transcontinental Packaging’s Spartanburg facility.

 | Source: TC Transcontinental Inc.

“This new offering will be a game changer in TC Transcontinental’s recyclability journey, demonstrating our commitment to distinguish ourselves and gain market share with innovative sustainable solutions for our customers,” said Thomas Morin, president and chief executive officer of TC Transcontinental. “Our offering aligns with our customers’ desire to accelerate speed to market with recyclable products that also protect and preserve their contents throughout their lifecycle, in addition to creating a more circular economy for plastic.”

The BOPE line will enable TC Transcontinental Packaging to provide its customers, which span various industries including pet food, with high-performance polyethylene films with high heat resistance without sacrificing environmental benefits.

“Our investment in BOPE is a strategic decision that positions us to address sustainability shortcomings in existing offerings,” said Alex Hayden, senior vice president of R&D, innovation, sustainability and ESG at TC Transcontinental. “This new equipment will advance the commercialization of recyclable film solutions to meet the challenging requirements of our different applications without sacrificing fill speed or performance.”

The company has chosen Brückner, a global provider of film production technologies, to supply the equipment to create the BOPE line. The investment is currently underway and is expected to be completed in 2024.

Read more news from pet food and treat industry suppliers.