Design

Tetra Pak is to boost capacity at its packaging materials plant in Rubiera, Italy, by up to 30% with a EUR26m (£21m) upgrade of its printing and laminating equipment.

The investment will include the installation of a VT Lam 650/6 WRM laminator and a new Flexopress printing line.

The laminator, which will begin production in March 2009, will be able to laminate all types of Tetra Pak packages. It will boost the laminating capacity by 30%, or by one billion packs a year, to around four billion packs a year.

The Flexopress printing line, which will boost the printing capacity by 25%, will begin production in November.

The line can print on a wide variety of materials, offering increased choice for customers, Tetra Pak said.

Jorge Montero, managing director of Tetra Pak Italy, added: "An investment of this size demonstrates our continued commitment to helping customers grow their businesses."

Tetra Pak said that both pieces of equipment would use less energy and produce less carbon dioxide than previous kit. The company aims to cut overall carbon emissions by 10% by 2010.

The Rubiera plant serves the Italian market, and also exports 15% of its production to 19 different countries.

Tetra Pak is also upgrading its facilities in Russia, China and Singapore.