Resealable-closure company, Zip-Pak, a division of Illinois Tool Works (ITW) based in Manteno, IL, has announced the opening of a new manufacturing facility in Cabreuva, São Paulo, Brazil. The 46,000 sq. ft. (3,502 m2) plant began commercial operations in February 2013. This newest location for Zip-Pak will produce food-grade zippers primarily for food, pet, and household consumer products. Zip-Pak currently supports and supplies resealable products, technology and equipment to a number of leading multinational consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies that market to Brazil, Brazilian-based CPGs, and numerous other leading Brazilian brands. With the growth rate for the adoption of flexible packaging in Brazil being among the highest in the world, the new facility will enable Zip-Pak to expand its products and support services in the region, offering end-to-end flexible packaging closure solutions.
Daniel Richena, Commercial Director for Zip-Pak Brazil, will oversee sales and marketing efforts at the São Paulo site. Supporting him with field operations will be Flávio Zampirolli, Field Service Engineer. Richena commented, “This new facility gives Zip-Pak the local resources to satisfy the closure needs for virtually any customer with a flexible package in Brazil. We look forward to providing the answers and solutions that will help customers take advantage of the growing consumer demand for products in flexible packaging in Brazil, and throughout South America.” The company will offer a large selection of resealable solutions, including string zippers, double track string zippers, and flange zippers. All closures are ideal for form-fill-seal applications and are well suited for a wide range of consumer products, including produce, pet foods, bakery items, tortillas, cheeses, confectionaries, and frozen foods. As part of its “global to local” customer service commitment, the Brazil facility will also warehouse and distribute many other zippers produced by the Zip-Pak plants located in North America and Europe. At the Zip-Pak Brazil open house held on March 13th, almost 100 visitors attended packaging workshops, received a tour of the new facility, and viewed product demonstrations. The guest speaker at the event was Luciana Pellegrino, Executive Director of Associação Brasileira de Embalagem, and a leading authority on consumer packaging. In her remarks, she noted that flexible packaging is expected to grow by double digits in Brazil over the next several years, and that consumers are actively looking for resealable packaging options. “More and more Brazilian consumers are choosing packaging that protects and extends product life in environmentally-responsible and sustainable ways,” added Richena. “Zip-Pak’s flexible solutions directly support this trend, while enhancing product performance and elevating brand perception.” Zip-Pak to Exhibit at Fispal 2013 Zip-Pak, along with other ITW Companies, will be exhibiting at Fispal Tecnologia 2013, June 25-28 at the Anhembi Exhibition Pavilion, São Paulo, Brazil. Representatives from Zip-Pak Brazil will be available to demonstrate the company’s broad range of resealable solutions at ITW booths #171, 173 and 174.
