Yesterday in Weinburg, Lower Austria, the expansion of the rolling mill at Constantia Flexibles’ main plant, Constantia Teich, was officially dedicated. This expansion promotes a more sustainable, local aluminum-foil production and strengthens the stability of European supply chains, enabled by the US$55-million investment from the world’s third-largest manufacturer of flexible packaging. An additional US$33-million have been invested in a new lacquering line in recent years.

“With this investment, we are making a clear statement for growth, innovation, and sustainability. By expanding the rolling mill, we are increasing aluminum-foil production by around 30%, up to 90,000 tonnes of aluminum foil per year, making our largest plant in the Group also one of the largest integrated producers in Europe,” says Daniel Winkler, exec vp-Aluminum Div. & Group Sustainability at Constantia Flexibles. “At the same time, we are making a significant contribution to decarbonization, avoiding approximately 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.”

Constantia Flexibles relies on state-of-the-art technologies from European suppliers for the overall investment. It includes three foil-stock furnaces, a rolling station, a separator, three double-chamber foil furnaces, the expansion of the high-rack-storage, and a lacquering line. The power supply will be ensured partly by renewable energy, including a large-scale, company-owned photovoltaic system.

The expansion of the rolling mill lets Constantia Teich increase capacities, particularly in strategic growth areas such as coffee capsules, pharmaceutical, and food packaging. The first commercial production has now started.