AMI: Thin-wall packaging market in Europe undergoing dynamic changes

Advances in process technology synergistic with polymer science have enabled changes which have aided in the emergence of new applications.

Associated with these changes have been the tweaks in the supply chain. The industry actively consolidated and the leaders attempted to redefine and restructure their businesses to make the most of technical competence and to create a more robust negotiation platform. This has driven the disposal of non-strategic business units and targeted investment. There has been substantial site rationalization, exchange, production re-location and acquisition amongst the leaders, according to the report.

Multi €billion converters have started coming to the forefront in the global multi-sector packaging arena, including Reynolds (Auckland, New Zealand), Berry Plastics (Evansville, IN) and Amcor (Melbourne, Australia) to name a few. RPC Group (Northamptonshire, UK) following the acquisition of Promens and Global Closure Systems, and Coveris (Chicago) are among these ranks as well.
 
Last year, the top 10 converters of thin wall packaging in EU28+3 accounted for 43% of the market. Outside of these big players, the supply in Europe remains relatively disjointed and more consolidation is expected on the horizon.
Driving quality and improved standards of value products are retails, who are strong customers of thin-wall packaging. Brand owners are implementing several packaging solutions to capture discrete marketing opportunities, using multiple designs, which allow them to monitor and compare costs, modify the packaging mix and spread risk.

Over the next five years, those suppliers with a dedicated business strategy are anticipated to continue to strengthen their market presence.