Amcor Flexibles Packaging Targets Profitable Growth Through Simplified Products

Can a simple product also be a market changing product? Amcor believes it can, and that simplification is exactly what its customers are looking for today. In fact, it is using this approach to grow its flexibles packaging business.

We know our packaging customers today have an appetite for product simplification," says Marco Hilty, VP Marketing and R&D for Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas. "The packaging technology we are bringing to market now is not simple to make, but it does simplify the packaging supply chain for our customers."

"Since the acquisition of Alcan, Amcor Flexibles is on a simplification journey. We have grown through acquisitions, and to remain competitive, we needed to standardize and streamline our own supply chain and production processes," says Mr. Hilty. "It is not an easy journey, but we've seen significant benefits in the form of better product quality control, streamlined processes, and cost savings." Getting its own house in order allowed the business to put an even greater focus on new product development. "We know many of our customers are also on a simplification journey, and we can offer them a portfolio of products that supports those goals."

Amcor Flexibles' product portfolio includes several new material platforms that cover a broad range of packaging applications. Each of these material platforms offers targeted barrier properties, simplified product specification and management processes, improved performance on customers' packing/filling lines, and shorter lead times.

N-Gage is a high barrier lidding film for fresh foods and medical products that seals directly to APET trays, eliminating an adhesive layer. AmFlow is an optimized flow wrap for dried products with low barrier. AmPET is a metallised laminate with medium barrier; AmLock is a foil laminate for products needing high barrier.

"Customers are seeing the value in our platform approach," says Mr. Hilty. "For example, we helped a customer transition their confectionary business from over ninety packaging material specifications to just four with AmFlow. This then allowed the customer to standardize aspects of their own production process and realize cost savings. That is much easier when you have only four materials to set up on your machines around the world, instead of ninety."

Amcor Flexibles also believes that their customers may see added marketing benefits through simplifying their packaging material to one of these platforms. The new materials will appear the same (or better) as standard packaging products to consumers, but the time and cost saving through efficiency gains will allow brand owners to focus more on interesting packaging features. Easy-open and reclose features, various pack shapes, and the ability to change graphics more often thanks to shorter packaging lead times will keep products fresh, convenient, and appealing for consumers.

In addition to simplification, some recent Amcor products offer a new approach to traditional packaging. One example is VisualCan, a shrink wrap film for aluminium cans with an easy twist off top. VisualCan protects the can's top during distribution. The easy to customize printed wrap film and the twist off top help brand owners to run promotions.

Mr. Hilty commented, "Amcor Flexibles sees the combination of simplification and innovation as a way to meet our customers' needs. It's helping our customers to simplify on the production side, and provide consumers with innovative packaging."

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About Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas
A leading supplier of die-cuts with a focus on innovation, service and customer partnership. With 68 plants in 21 countries, Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas, a division of Amcor, is a market leader and the world's largest supplier of flexible packaging. We deliver innovative packaging solutions and provide enhanced quality products for the food, beverage, pharma, personal care, medical and industrial markets. Its award winning approach towards sustainability makes Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas the preferred partner for customers looking for responsible packaging solutions. For more information visit www.amcor.com

About Amcor
Amcor (ASX: AMC) applies art and science to create responsible packaging solutions that enhance the products people use in everyday life. With global leadership positions in flexibles and rigid plastics packaging, Amcor continually innovates to find new and better ways to protect essential products such as food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, personal and household goods. Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, Amcor employs 27,000 people worldwide and has operations across 43 countries. For more information, visit www.amcor.com.

For more information, please contact:
Dr. Marco Hilty
VP Marketing and R&D
Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas
Tel: + +41 44 316 18 56
Email: Marco.Hilty@amcor.com Cassandra Biehler
Marketing Communication Manager
Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas
Tel: + 41 44 316 1920
Email: Cassandra.Biehler@amcor.com