Guala Closures invests £11m in new plant

Guala Closures Group, the world’s largest producer of non-refillable closures for the international spirits, wines and beverages sectors, has acquired an aluminium printing and cutting facility - a Metalprint division located in Magenta, Italy.

Following the acquisition in May of this year of Bulgarian company, Danik, this latest investment, which includes an €11m expenditure in machinery, represents 3% of Guala Closures Group’s turnover. The Magenta facility will become the centre of operations of aluminium processing for all plants across the company.

With investment in two new production lines, the Magenta plant near Milan will become the world’s fastest and most modern painting and lithography centre by 2012, with technology that will last at least 25 years. It will be among the first in Europe to use a green production line, with a chromium-free aluminium treatment process and an eco-painting system that does not use solvent-based paints. It is also set to reduce waste and optimise production efficiency.
 
Guala Closures’ aluminium printing plant in Basaluzzo will be closed but jobs from this plant will be transferred to company headquarters in Spinetta Marengo, Alessandria and specific training programmes organised to ensure employees acquire the skills required. The 56 jobs at the newly acquired Magenta plant are also secure.
 
Guala Closures CEO, Marco Giovannini says: “The acquisition of Metalprint and investment in new, ultra-modern and environmentally friendly technology will allow us to strengthen our position in the market and ensure we are at the forefront of industry trends on behalf of our customers. Since 1954, when the Guala family created the first plant that produced plastic components and through significant subsequent acquisitions, Guala has adopted a policy of business development and technological innovation.”
 
Guala Closures distributes 8 billion closures in 60 countries across four continents.

1 November 2010 - Felicity Murray