Amcor Launches Alternative High-Performance Films
- Published: December 10, 2014, By Claudia Hine
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND | On October 29, Amcor was informed that INEOS Barex had decided to shut down its only production facility in Lima, OH, in early 2015.
Amcor Procurement and Technical teams are working closely with the film converters to secure sufficient volumes of INEOS Barex resin prior to their shutdown. A commitment to build three years' worth of stock is already in place. This stock was subject to binding customer commitments given by the end of November, with commercial conditions still to be established.
Additionally, Amcor is working with the film converters to identify alternative or new sources of resin to enable a long-term supply of equivalent film.
Colin Reed, global pharma marketing director at Amcor Flexibles Europe and Americas, explains: “Ensuring global security of supply for our customers is Amcor’s key priority. Due to the critical nature of pharmaceutical and medical applications, it is our responsibility to make sure that business continuity is maintained. Our customers can be reassured that, under these exceptional circumstances, we will support them to secure a sustainable supply chain now and into the future.”
Amcor is sensitive to the critical nature of the applications that use Barex 210 film, in particular, the complexity of any requalification process. For this reason, since 2012 Amcor has invested heavily to develop an alternative film targeted to have the same inert properties as Barex, improved extractable and sealing properties, and which supports a more sustainable manufacturing process.
The industrialization and customer trial process for this film has commenced, and Amcor can inform its customers that, in addition to securing the current technical solution, it can offer an alternative that removes the dependency on a single manufacturing site. This film has already undergone favorable initial trials, and Amcor will provide samples of both the film and laminates within the coming weeks. Amcor recommends that customers commence the qualification process with this film, in addition to securing a supply of the Barex film. Amcor will contact its customers directly to support them with both activities, to ensure with them the future sustainable supply of the optimum high-performance film for their applications.
