Wood lands US$40M contract for packaging plant construction in Singapore

SINGAPORE – Wood, a consulting and engineering group, has secured a US$40 million contract with Japanese plastic manufacturer Kuraray to establish a new sustainable packaging production facility in Singapore.

This plant will produce Kuraray’s EVAL, an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, a recyclable material used in food packaging to extend shelf life by preventing oxygen spoilage.

Following a successful front-end engineering and design (FEED) study, Wood will now provide the project’s engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) services.

The new facility will be located on Jurong Island. Additionally, Wood will enhance an existing polyvinyl alcohol plant to optimize the production and recovery of acetic acid, which is essential for the new EVAL plant.

Wood Process & Chemicals President Giuseppe Zuccaro commented, “Wood is committed to supporting the energy transition and building a circular economy is a fundamental part of this process.

This project will reduce food waste and increase the lifespan of more sustainable plastics, ensuring materials are in use longer and reducing their environmental impact.

We are delighted to be awarded the EPCM phase of this project. The expertise and dedication of the team have ensured the successful completion of the FEED study, giving us a solid foundation to move through to execution seamlessly.”

Wood will deliver the contract by leveraging its global expertise in large industrial and complex engineering projects. The company’s teams will operate from Thailand and Singapore.

Kuraray’s Director and Managing Executive Officer, Tomoyuki Watanabe, said, “Based on the successful FEED phase collaboration between Wood and Kuraray, we have decided to award Wood the EPC stage of the next expansion of global EVAL production capacity.”

This project follows Kuraray’s recent establishment of a new subsidiary, Kuraray Europe Spain S.L. (KES), in Málaga, Spain, through its subsidiary Kuraray Europe GmbH (KEG).

Antonio Velardo, General Manager of the newly established Kuraray Europe Spain S.L., stated, “The opening of the KES office in Málaga is a strategic step to strengthen our presence in one of the most dynamic regions in Europe. The office’s location near the airport and the city of Málaga ensures optimal accessibility for our customers and partners.”

The new office in Málaga will primarily function as an administrative center, supporting local employees and coordinating activities in the region.

Carsten Simon, Vice President of KEG, concluded, “We are excited to further expand Kuraray’s strong presence in Europe with the newly established subsidiary in Spain, and we look forward to the start of operations at the beginning of January.”

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