MOROCCO – Global plastic packaging manufacturer ALPLA Group has announced acquiring a majority stake in Moroccan company Atlantic Packaging.
ALPLA has also established a joint venture (JV) company, ALPLA Morocco, with Atlantic Packaging’s previous sole owner Diana Holding.
This expansion move positions ALPLA to leverage its expertise in producing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) preforms for the Maghreb and Western African markets.
Beyond PET preforms, the new joint venture company manufactures plastic pallets through injection molding and packaging films via extrusion.
All these manufacturing activities occur at ALPLA Morocco’s contemporary 12,000m² facility situated in the Tangier free trade zone, presently employing around 32 individuals.
Since its inception, ALPLA Morocco has substantially ramped up preform production, nearly tripling output through investments in new machinery and two extra preform production lines.
The plant’s capacity has surged from 100 million preforms annually to approximately 300 million units per year.
Christian Fessler, ALPLA Middle East and North Africa managing director, expressed, “In partnership with Diana Holding, we aim to tap into regional market potential, explore new segments, and contribute our expertise as a global provider for preforms, bottles, and closures.”
The establishment of the JV company was formalized on August 31, 2023, with local antitrust authorities granting their approval. Financial specifics and terms of the deal remain undisclosed.
ALPLA’s recent initiatives align with its strategy to broaden presence in North Africa, charting a growth trajectory in the Maghreb region. Their aim is to deliver cost-effective and sustainable plastic packaging solutions to the regional industry.
The company plans further expansion of the Tangier plant by adding approximately 20,000m² of operational space in the upcoming years.
Rita Maria Zniber, CEO of Diana Holding, shared their joint vision: “We aspire to become one of the foremost suppliers of high-quality plastic packaging in Morocco and Western Africa, offering innovative solutions.”
The Moroccan expansion follows a US$65.59 million investment in a new polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling plant in Ballito, KwaZulu Natal in June.
According to ALPLA, the Ballito plant will be constructed on a 90,000m² site. The construction is expected to start in the summer of 2023 and completion is planned for autumn next year.
The plant will mark ALPLA’s entry into the African recycling market and is said to be the first investment in a food-grade PET recycling facility in KwaZulu Natal province.
Initially, the plant will have an output of 35,000 tonnes of recycled PET material. In future, it will recycle around 60,000 tonnes of PET bottles annually to produce 35,000 tonnes of mechanically recycled rPET flakes and pellets.
For all the latest packaging and printing industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
