Klöckner Pentaplast (kp), a global supplier of recycled content products and high-barrier protective packaging, has chosen its production facility in Beaver, WV, USA, for its multi-million dollar production expansion, adding post-consumer recycled content (PCR) PET capacity in North America.

This expansion will further grow kp’s sustainable innovation offering in consumer health, pharmaceutical, and food packaging markets through the addition of an extrusion line and two thermoformers, delivering a total of 15,000 metric tons of new rPET/PET capacity. kp currently leads the industry with over 20% of its volumes made from PCR material, the company states.

Scott Tracey, kp’s CEO, says, “The expansion responds to continued demand for sustainable options from our food packaging, pharmaceutical, consumer and label film customers. The extrusion line will support production of important sustainable product lines such as kpNext recyclable pharmaceutical blister films, and Smartcycle recyclable label and consumer packaging films. The thermoformers will produce award-winning kp Elite mono-material protein trays, which are made using up to 100% recycled PET and are easily recycled creating a circular economy.”

The addition is part of kp’s continued North America expansion plans. The state has committed to local grants and incentives for the placement. The installation will add 60 jobs to the West Virginia facility, with commercialization beginning at the end of 2022 for the first thermoform line.

The extrusion addition will be completed in mid-2023. The completion of the second thermoform line and new production hall, which will be capable of additional capacity expansions in the future, is scheduled for the end of Q4 2023.