Octal Engineers New PET and APET Supply for Packaging

By Lynn Dornblaser

A new global producer in the packaging sector is setting its sights on the grocery and food packaging industries with an investment in APET sheet production targeted to support brands and grocers to boost their sales. Octal, which recently announced its entry into the $2 billion consumer plastics packaging segment with a $300 million initial investment in proprietary technology and a facility in the Salalah Free Zone of Oman, has identified the grocery and food packaging segments as critical markets.

"We are producing APET sheet that will enhance food packaging, increasing its appeal to busy consumers who have less time to dedicate to food preparation at home, " says William J. 'Joe' Barenberg, chief operating officer of Octal. "APET sheet is the fastest growing material for the clear rigid plastic packaging of food products. Our sheet is strong but not brittle, but it 's also very clear with excellent gloss for optimal merchandising appeal."

Octal uses a direct-to-sheet (DTS) APET plastic manufacturing process which constitutes a significant departure from traditional manufacturing processes—both in terms of manufacturing efficiency and product quality. This significant strategic innovation expands the universe of clear rigid packaging applications available to APET, growing opportunities for thermoformers and food and consumer product packagers.

Octal's research identified three key trends that support their investment in this sector: 1) Product Visibility and Protection – Consumers increasingly expect to see the product that they are buying before they pay; 2) Product Display Flexibility – Brand managers and store planners alike need products that are capable of effective display in a variety of ways to maximize in-store impact and simplify display refreshment; and 3) Single Material Packaging – For production speed and efficiency, there is an increased focus on selecting the best single packaging material for the product and developing the ideal packaging solution from that one material. This also enables easier recycling as the consumer takes on no burden of material separation. For more, visit www.octalglobal.com.