Silgan Plastics and Kortec Enter into Exclusive Agreement to Market Proprietary Thin-Wall Co-Injected Containers
CHESTERFIELD, MO, February 10, 2010 - Silgan Plastics LLC, a leading North American supplier of rigid plastic bottles, closures and tubes, and Kortec, Inc., the industry's leading co-injection molding systems supplier, announce their decision to enter into a long-term exclusive commercial partnership. Effective immediately, Silgan will have exclusive rights to manufacture and sell plastic containers utilizing Kortec’s patented thin-wall polypropylene injection molding technology in specific North American markets including wet pet food, fruit cups, and microwaveable bowls for ready-to-eat soups, stews, and meals.
Kortec’s proprietary multi-layer, injection molding technology produces plastic, shelf-stable containers which can be used in a variety of food processing applications including retort, aseptic, or hot-fill processes. The Kortec thin-wall, tri-layer technology offers advantages over alternative packages such as reduced weight, less breakage and higher quality aesthetics. In addition, when compared with thermoformed plastic containers, the Kortec injection-molding technology offers lower scrap, less part weight variation and significantly better control of critical dimensions thus allowing better part-to-part consistency, faster fill line speeds, longer product shelf life and higher quality aesthetics.
Alan Koblin, President of Silgan Plastics, states “We are extremely pleased to be entering into this exclusive partnership with Kortec. Their breakthrough patented technology in thin wall food packaging will allow us to provide emerging innovative solutions to the food market, a core strategic focus for Silgan."
Paul Swenson, Kortec President and CEO, states “We’re very excited about entering into this relationship with Silgan. They are a packaging industry leader and this agreement shows their confidence in the market potential of Kortec’s new multi-layer thin-wall technology."
Ross Bushnell, Silgan Plastics Senior Vice President and Food Plastics General Manager, adds “Kortec provides innovative solutions that offer competitive advantages to our customers as compared to alternative packages and thermoformed parts.”
About the Companies:
Silgan Plastics is a leader in the design and manufacture of plastic bottles and jars, tubes, caps and fitments for the food, pharmaceutical, personal care and household markets. Headquartered in Chesterfield, Missouri, the company operates 22 production centers throughout North America. Silgan maintains a Commercial Development Center in Norcross, Georgia, that integrates creative and functional design with technical know-how to assist customers in allowing their brands to literally take shape through innovative package design. Silgan Plastics is an operating company of Silgan Holdings, a leading manufacturer of consumer goods packaging products with annual net sales of $3.1 billion in 2009. The company operates 66 manufacturing facilities in North and South America, Europe and Asia.
Kortec, based in Ipswich, Massachusetts, is the world’s largest supplier of turnkey co-injection systems to the plastics and packaging industries. The company’s systems are used throughout the world to produce high-barrier multi-layer containers featuring three-layer construction that optimizes clarity and strength while maximizing the shelf life of the end-use products. Kortec offers their customers a full range of products, from lab-size and small market introduction systems to ultra high volume production, along with the expertise to maximize the return on investment in every Kortec solution.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ross Bushnell, Sr. Vice President and General Manager, Food Plastics, Silgan Plastics Corp., (314) 469-4642; ross.bushnell@silganplastics.com
Tony Marceau, National Sales Director, Food & Specialty, Silgan Plastics Corp., (304) 547-9100 ext 4112; T.Marceau@silganplastics.com
Russell Bennett, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Kortec Inc., +1-978-238-7167; rbennett@kortec.com