Amcor Flexibles invests in laser scoring facility, which provides packaging features that facilitates easy opening on a range of substrates giving consumers quicker access to products inside, at its Evesham, England, plant

Mathew Kearney

June 19, 2014 (press release) – Amcor Flexibles in the UK is proud to reveal a diverse range of consumer driven packaging solutions including gravure, Flexo (High Definition), lamination, extrusion and laser perforation for the food and beverage market.

The Amcor Flexibles Evesham plant is leading the pack with their latest investment of a cutting edge laser scoring facility. This unique capability provides incredible packaging features that facilitates easy opening on a range of substrates giving consumers quicker access to the delicious products inside.

Industry trends all point to features, and in particular easy opening, as essential to successful consumer packaging. Recent references in various publications reinforce this trend:
Euromonitor writes: "Easy open, easy close packaging is growing in importance among the senior age group and everyone leading a busy lifestyle looking for food on-the-go."

Mintel says that the most important aspect of packaging for consumers is that it provides a functional benefit; not packaging that is pretty to look at. 80% of consumers consider easy opening as the most advantageous packaging feature.

Datamonitor writes: "Convenience needs pervade all aspects of life, forcing dependence on highly efficient and effective products that better facilitate busy lifestyles and maximize leisure time."

In 2013, Amcor Flexibles Cumbria invested in gravure coating capability which runs with our short run 8 colour Flexo printing press. By attaching this unit to our specialist short run High Definition Flexo printing asset, we are now delighting customers with a range of benefits including colourful choices in coatings, lacquers and cold seals; applied 100% or pattern to deliver great performance and appearance. Packaging experts are amazed with the increased capability to deliver engaging and fantastic designs with even greater functionality than ever before. This builds on Cumbria's unique capability to provide in line gravure applied coating to both high definition flexo printing and gravure printing from one location.

Amcor Flexibles Cumbria has also significantly invested in its state-of-the-art extrusion facility for HDPE (High Density PolyEthylene) products. They’ve partnered with cereal providers to meet the increasing focus on protecting products packed with an internal barrier such as Amcor Vodex from mineral oil residuals. This ultimate co-extruded packaging solution provides increased customer satisfaction, enhanced consumer experience when opening the pack and, most importantly, safe consumption.

The close working relationship and common business systems across the two sites enables Amcor to offer improved speed to market, reduced lead times and the ability to balance capacity during peak periods of demand.

Amcor Flexibles Cumbria Plant General Manager Martin Davis: "Thanks to Amcor's long heritage and proven experience in the food and beverage market in the UK, we can offer an unparalleled portfolio of packaging solutions which continue to delight our customers. Our ongoing commitment to investing in cutting edge capability will ensure we are providing products which meet consumer’s needs now and in the future".

About Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas
With 68 plants in 21 countries, Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas, a division of Amcor, is a market leader and the world's largest supplier of flexible packaging. We deliver innovative packaging solutions and provide enhanced quality products for the food, beverage, pharma, personal care, medical and industrial markets. Its award winning approach towards sustainability makes Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas the preferred partner for customers looking for responsible packaging solutions. For more information visit www.amcor.com

About Amcor
Amcor (ASX: AMC) applies art and science to create responsible packaging solutions that enhance the products people use in everyday life. With global leadership positions in flexibles and rigid plastics packaging, Amcor continually innovates to find new and better ways to protect essential products such as food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, personal and household goods. Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, Amcor employs 27,000 people worldwide and has operations across 43 countries. For more information, visit www.amcor.com.

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