ALPLA, a specialist in packaging solutions and plastics recycling, has opened its new facility in Chachoengsao, Thailand, expanding its operations in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

The 24,000m² site, situated near Bangkok, is set to serve as a hub for production, administration, and technicality dedicated to product development.

The site also houses the first STUDIOa in the region, dedicated to collaborating with customers on innovative packaging solutions.

The establishment of the Chachoengsao facility represents a strategic move by ALPLA to enhance its production capacity within Thailand.

ALPLA CEO Philipp Lehner said: “Our involvement in Thailand more than 20 years ago represented the start of our activities in Southeast Asia and is still central to our growth today.

“The flagship plant in Chachoengsao covers all the needs of our customers and unlocks new opportunities in the market.”

ALPLA’s new facility will also focus on delivering sustainable full-system plastic solutions across various industries and markets.

The plant has been fully operational since the beginning of the year, with more than 190 workers contributing to the production of plastic bottles, preforms, matching closures, and injection-moulded (IM) parts.

Notably, the site will also incorporate one-step injection stretch blow moulding (ISBM) technologies.

The Chachoengsao site is set to become the company’s new regional headquarters, taking over from the company’s first plant in Prachinburi, which will now focus entirely on extrusion blow moulding processes.

This development follows ALPLA’s 2022 consolidation of its Southeast Asia and China businesses into a single APAC region.

ALPLA APAC region managing director Roland Wallner said: “The all-in-one concept strengthens our leading role as a system provider for safe, affordable and sustainable plastic packaging from a single source.

“Chachoengsao combines technological diversity, the highest quality and customer service under one roof. In this way, we wish to expand our market share and unlock new segments.”

Last month, ALPLA’s recycling arm acquired a majority stake in Clean Bottle, a Brazilian high-density polyethylene recycling company.