The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) said it is continuing to invest in a “Packaging[Packaging?:DCP-H series packaging sample cutter plotter] Center of Excellence” in Horgen, Switzerland to better serve the needs of the packaging industry across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Dow is doubling the staff of its packaging center to a total of approximately 20-25 people, and significantly expanding its capabilities for testing and prototyping adhesive laminating and film[film?:film cutting machine] structures for food and beverage packaging needs.
The packaging center combines the extensive scientific and technical expertise of Dow’s people, along with equipment and collaboration space for specialty adhesives, resins and formulated films in one place. It will also enhance customers’ ability to test materials and formulations for new package functionality and design. The Center also will hold seminars and forums that will allow package makers and brand owners and others to occasionally share insights about the future needs of the packaging industry.
The Horgen center is also fully linked to Dow’s other packaging centers of excellence around the world, including the Sensory Science facility in The Netherlands, and Films Application Development Centers in Tarragona, Spain; Freeport, Texas; Singapore, and Jundiai, Brazil.
“This is the next step in a journey all of us in the packaging industry must take,” said Anton van Beek, regional General Manager for Packaging and Converting for Dow in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “The global population continues to grow, while the amount of arable land for food production remains essentially unchanged. There is an increasing need to bring more of the food we harvest to the global dinner table – more efficiently and with a lighter environmental footprint along the way. Smarter packaging design and better packaging materials are just one important way to reduce wastage and improve the success of the food supply.”
Dow will continue to provide expert technical applications support for its existing product lines. Horgen will remain a place where customers can check and adjust formulations to get the best results on their own package machinery. “Our converters play an essential role in the future of the packaging industry,” said Julien Damen, Associate Director for Technical Services and Development for Packaging and Converting in Europe. “That won’t change. They continue to be in the best position to create the physical packages that reflect the best new materials innovations.
