Sealed Air Kaustik Launches Flex Pack Plant in Russia

US flexible packaging specialist Sealed Air Corporation has launched production at a new €9.5m food packaging plant at Volgograd in south western Russia.

Group subsidiary CJSC Sealed Air Kaustik opened the facility in a renovated factory on the Volgograd industrial complex of local partner, Russian chemicals company JSC Kaustik.

The Sealed Air Kaustik operation is set to produce a range of pack products including multi-layer polypropylene film packaging for the processed meat industry. It is already equipped with 500kgs/ hour capacity production lines and employs an initial workforce of 45.

Volgograd plant is expected to increase its workforce later to 68 and will install production lines with a capacity of 800kgs/hour, according to an announcement by the Volgograd regional government.

Charlotte, North Carolina, US-based Sealed Air first entered the Russian market in September 1993 when the now merged packaging business Cryovac set up joint venture production with Kaustik at Volgograd.

Sealed Air has contributed to the transformation of fresh food packaging in Russia since then. Even in 1994, meat products were still largely wrapped by the seller in paper.

“The impact of Sealed Air on the purchasing and eating habits of Russian consumers is a success story in itself. Extended shelf life has been a door opener for increased accessibility of fresh food, without preservatives, all over the vast country,” the US firm said in August 2013 when it celebrated 20 years in Russia.

In 2007, Sealed Air launched its Cryovac tray business which at the time was a complete novelty pack in Russia.

In 2013, Sealed Air announced its Russian operation had achieved annual sales worth more than €113m and employed around 500 in the country.

Sealed Air Corp., which offers diverse widely recognised flex pack packaging brands including ‘Cryovac’ and ‘Bubble Wrap’ around the globe, has annual revenue of around €7.3bn.