German packaging giant KHS Group has broken ground on a new manufacturing centre in Hamburg, in order to cater to the increasing demand for machine and bottle testing of PET products.
Expansion of the existing site is expected to cost the filling and packaging systems manufacturer €3.5m and is likely to ensure shorter delivery time-to-market for the products.
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The project will add 2,500m² of surplus space at the site, allowing the group companies KHS Corpoplast and KHS Plasmax to expand their manufacturing capacity.
The new development will feature two floors for production and offices, wherein the firm will carry out the commissioning and acceptance testing for stretch blow moulders, blow moulder/filler blocks and PET coating machines built by KHS Plasmax.
KHS Plasmax managing director Joachim Konrad said: "We’re recording a significant increase in sales of our FreshSafe PET bottle coating process."
KHS expects the outer structure or shell of the building to be constructed by this year, with the interiors planned for 2016.
The proposed construction marks the second phase of the development at the site, the first being initiated in 2012 to boost its production efficiency with the construction of a new 2,300m² commissioning shop.
KHS Corpoplast managing director Thomas Karell said: "We’re driving growth at our headquarters for stretch blow moulders in Hamburg with the new building.
"With this increase in capacity, we’re also cementing our chances of realising our vision of technological and service leadership in the PET segment for the future."
Image: Outer construction of the planned KHS production unit will be set up later this year. Photo: courtesy of KHS Group.
