ALPLA unleashes Philippine packaging hub as 206th global site powers APAC growth

PHILIPPINES – ALPLA has commenced operations at its first standalone manufacturing facility in Calamba City, Philippines, expanding its Asia-Pacific footprint with a 4,800-square-metre plant capable of housing up to nine production lines serving multinational beverage and FMCG customers.

The Calamba facility, which began production in mid-2025 and held its official opening on March 19, 2026, represents a strategic leap from the company’s previous in-house operations. Since 2014, ALPLA had produced preforms and bottles directly at client filling sites.

Now, with its own base plant, the global packaging and recycling specialist offers a versatile portfolio of containers, bottles, and closures using three core technologies: injection stretch blow moulding, extrusion blow moulding, and compression moulding.

By the Numbers: A Milestone Site

When production began last summer, Calamba City marked ALPLA’s 200th global facility.

Today, the Austrian-headquartered group operates 206 sites across 45 countries, employing approximately 25,500 people worldwide.

The Philippine plant launched with four production lines and has capacity for five additional lines to accommodate future growth.

Currently, around 40 employees staff the facility, with the team strengthened through early 2025 recruitment efforts.

Leadership Voices: Strategy in Action

Walter Ritzer, ALPLA’s Chief Operating Officer, emphasized that this strategically important investment strengthens the company’s presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

With its experience and technology, the company will establish itself in the country as an important partner for all local and international customers.

Ronald Tichelaar, Managing Director for APAC, noted that the company sees great potential in the Philippine market and aims to differentiate itself with complete system solutions.

With all three key technologies already installed, the company can offer customers a high level of vertical integration, global quality standards, and efficient, reliable production from day one.

Built for Growth and Innovation

The facility occupies 4,800 square metres in the Filinvest Technology Park Ciudad de Calamba, combining production, administration, and logistics under one roof.

Christian Kotschy, General Manager for ALPLA Philippines, reflected that establishing a new plant always presents challenges.

In Calamba City, new technologies and the search for skilled workers added complexity, but the team has strengthened and is now ready for more.

The four-year innovation project, conducted in collaboration with the independent National Test Centre Circular Plastics in Heerenveen, aims to scale up to industrial production by 2030, aligning with the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation mandate for minimum recycled content.

Michael Heyde, Head of ALPLA’s Recycling Division, described the technology as a potential game-changer for closing the plastics value chain.

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