UFlex’s US$52M Mexico WPP packaging plant targets North American pet food market

MEXICO – UFlex has commissioned its first overseas woven polypropylene bags plant in Altamira, Mexico, with a US$52 million investment and an 80 million annual bag capacity, targeting the growing North and South American pet food packaging sectors.

The 10-acre facility, equipped with advanced European machinery, features sustainable water-based inks and operates at speeds of up to 300 metres per minute. 

Jeevaraj Gopal Pillai, President of Flexible Packaging at UFlex, stated that the North American pet food packaging market, valued at over US$12 billion in 2026, is projected to witness sustained growth, while Latin America continues to emerge as a high-potential market driven by urbanization and rising disposable incomes.

Laser Venting and Zero Waste Manufacturing for Pet Food Packaging

The WPP bags produced at the site incorporate mite-preventive laser venting technology that allows air to escape while preventing the ingress of mites, and feature precision hot-air sealing technology adaptable to various bag sizes for durability and product safety. 

The plant features an in-house recycling unit and a zero solid waste discharge facility that maximises material recovery and minimises waste generation. 

A UFlex spokesperson stated that demand for high-performance pet food packaging continues to grow across North and South America, creating the need for durable, reliable, and high-quality packaging solutions. 

The company’s WPP bags are engineered to deliver superior strength, durability, and product protection while meeting the evolving performance requirements of the pet food packaging sector. 

The facility also produces high-quality WPP fabric for manufacturing woven polypropylene bags, enabling vertical integration in the manufacturing process.

Sustainability and In-House Recycling Integration

The plant houses an integrated converting facility that uses water-based inks, which the company describes as more sustainable than conventional inks, and includes an integrated quality and environmental control laboratory for consistent product quality. 

The plant has been designed to meet the highest international standards of engineering, efficiency, and sustainability, operating through clean, low-noise, and emission-free processes in line with UFlex’s global ESG commitments. 

The Mexico plant represents UFlex’s first overseas WPP bags manufacturing facility and significantly strengthens its presence in the Americas, following the company’s existing manufacturing footprint that includes operations in India, the UAE, the USA, Mexico, Poland, Egypt, Hungary, Nigeria, and Russia. 

The investment reinforces UFlex’s long-term vision of delivering innovative, sustainable packaging solutions closer to its customers while strengthening its globally integrated manufacturing network.

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