Amcor has completed construction of its advanced coating facility in Selangor, Malaysia, less than a year after it opened a new innovation center in Europe and announced a merger with Berry Global Group Inc.

The advanced coating facility marks a significant milestone for the company and the region, as the company noted it is the first in Asia to feature state-of-the-art air knife coating technology dedicated to healthcare packaging.

The facility is an expansion of Amcor’s existing healthcare packaging plant in Selangor, creating an integrated manufacturing campus. With the addition, Amcor said it becomes the first company in Asia capable of producing both top and bottom substrates for medical device packaging at a single site.

Company officials say the development enhances supply chain resilience and shortens lead times for customers across the region, while also setting a new benchmark for production standards.

Outfitted with advanced systems including water-based coating, online inspection, and the new air knife technology, the facility is designed for precision and efficiency. The air knife system uses high-speed air streams to apply coatings evenly, improving product consistency and reducing material waste.

Commitment to customers

Chris Kenneally, president of Amcor Flexibles Asia Pacific, said the company’s investment in this new facility reflects its unwavering commitment to support customers across the Asia Pacific region.

“By introducing advanced coating technology and boosting local production capacity, we are better positioned to meet the growing regional demand for sterile, reliable packaging and to offer our customers greater flexibility and security,” he said.

Virginie Maes, vice president of global healthcare for Amcor, pointed out that by producing its industry-leading global product platform locally, it brings the company closer to its customers, enhancing supply security and flexibility.

“By investing in advanced coating technologies and expanding our regional capabilities, we are not only addressing the growing demand for high-performance healthcare packaging but also reinforcing our promise to deliver a consistent and innovative value proposition to our customers worldwide,” she said. 

This new facility is part of Amcor's broader commitment to expanding its healthcare capabilities in the Asia Pacific region, according to the company, which noted recent initiatives include the acquisition of healthcare packaging company MDK in China, the establishment of a grid lacquer paper unit in India, and the construction of a co-extrusion blown film and printing plant in Singapore.

European innovation center open

Amcor in 2024 opened a new Amcor Innovation Center Europe in Ghent, Belgium, which joins existing centers in the US, South America, and Asia Pacific markets. The facility adds approximately 6,000 square meters to the Amcor Ghent campus to include meeting space, offices, an R&D laboratory/development area, and warehousing space.

The facility includes a material science center, consumer engagement center, eCommerce lab, and packaging and recycling test center. 

Amcor has pledged to develop all its packaging to be recyclable, compostable, or reusable by 2025 and to increase its use of recycled materials significantly. In line with that commitment, the new facility is designed and built according to BREEAM sustainability certification standards.

The new facility represents a "significant investment toward more sustainable, circular, and innovative packaging," according to Michael Zacka, president of Amcor Flexibles Europe, Middle East, and Africa. It includes multiple technologies and equipment spanning R&D, film extrusion processes, and packaging/filling operations, and services that follow the company's collaborative approach, called Catalyst, encompassing broader market, consumer, and sustainability needs.

Merger nears close

Amcor continues to move forward with its merger with Berry Global. 

Last month, the companies received US antitrust clearance for the combination. As a result, the $8.4 million deal remains on track to close in the middle of calendar year 2025.

The all-stock acquisition of Berry by Amcor is expected to bring $650 million in annual cost benefits and other synergies in three years.

The new business will leverage more than 400 production facilities to serve customers in more than 140 countries.