HARTSVILLE, SC. — Global packaging provider Sonoco Products Company announced the grand-opening of its new multi-million-dollar, state-of-the-art technical and engineering center for metal packaging on May 30. According to Sonoco, the center will provide design support, advanced technical services, process development, engineering and training to its customers. 

Located in Columbus, Ohio, the new Sonoco Metal Packaging Technical & Engineering Center spans 11,000 square feet and includes modern laboratories, prototyping equipment, training rooms and collaborative spaces. 

“We are excited to unveil our new state-of-the-art center which supports another milestone in our pursuit of excellence and our unwavering commitment to high-quality, precision manufactured metal packaging,” said Ernest Haynes, president of Sonoco’s metal packaging business. “Our new center will foster even greater collaboration and productivity in a unified workspace where Sonoco will bring together can makers, brand owners, industry suppliers and scientific partners to harness the latest advances in technology and deliver greater value to our customers.”

Sonoco offers sustainable metal packaging for food and beverage products, as well as for wet pet food formats. The company produces two-piece and three-piece steel cans that provide protection from light, moisture and air to help ensure quality and freshness. Sonoco currently has 12 manufacturing operations throughout the United States. 

According to Sonoco, technical support for shelf-life testing and packaging performance is in high demand. To keep up with this demand, the company has ramped up its offerings with the new Metal Packaging Technical & Engineering Center, providing package performance and integrity testing, real-time shelf-life testing, electrochemical corrosion testing and others. 

In addition to its testing capabilities, Sonoco offers customized training opportunities and education to accelerate production, increase throughput and improve quality. 

“We continue to invest in our packaging portfolio to leverage new technologies and innovations and provide our customers with the most modern and efficient solutions in the industry,” said Howard Coker, president and chief executive officer of Sonoco. “The opening of our new Steel Can Technology Institute stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to provide superior solutions in leading-edge technology, design and manufacturing for our customers.”

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