Containing Ambitions

Specialist in large volume plastic packaging since 2021

Large-volume plastic packaging for the construction, chemical and food industries is the speciality of the ALPLAindustrial division, which was founded in 2023. The expansion of the product range was initiated in 2021 with the acquisition of packaging specialist Wolf Plastics. ALPLAindustrial's portfolio includes cleaning and paint buckets, fuel canisters, hazardous goods containers and a selection of bottles and cans - always in combination with the closure. In-mould labelling (IML) is used for individualisation. In this one-step process, plastic and label are fused together to form an inseparable unit - saving time, energy, costs and storage space. ‘The set of packaging and closure guarantees an optimum fit. As a one-stop shop, we cover all the needs of our industrial and commercial customers,’ emphasises General Manager Roland Baumann. The diverse product range of ALPLAindustrial has recently been made visible on the new website.

Wide range of products and growth targets

Around 400 products are manufactured at sites in Austria, Hungary and Romania using injection moulding (IM) and extrusion blow moulding (EBM). Thanks to its high quality standards, technological edge and state-of-the-art machinery, ALPLAindustrial is one of the leading manufacturers in Central and South-Eastern Europe. In spring 2024, ALPLA strengthened its global offering as a system provider for large-volume plastic packaging by acquiring Fortiflex with plants in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. The customers of ALPLAindustrial include international manufacturers of building materials, paints and varnishes such as SIH (including Baumit, Austrotherm and Murexin), PPG Industries, Caparol, Saint-Gobain and FIXIT (RÖFIX), agrochemical companies such as Nufarm and local companies from the food industry. Further growth is planned for the coming years. To this end, ALPLAindustrial is investing in modern machinery, promoting automation and accelerating product development. 

Innovations and recycling

The ‘round corner’ bucket is a good example. ‘With its sophisticated shape, we maximise the stacking volume per pallet and thus reduce logistics costs by 25 per cent,’ reports Baumann. The vibro lid also offers added value, sealing the contents of the bucket securely and tightly from the inside, even when mixing colours through strong up and down movements. The IML process ensures efficiency. ‘The bucket comes out of the machine individually printed, is stacked, packaged and ready for dispatch,’ says Baumann. The labels are made from the same material as the packaging and are therefore easy to recycle.

With its own recycling line, ALPLAindustrial also offers climate-optimised alternatives for the polypropylene (PP) buckets. Up to 100 per cent post-consumer recycled material (PCR) is possible. ‘We can already offer our customers competitive advantages, especially in view of the EU directives that will come into force from 2025, which require a 30 per cent PCR content,’ says Baumann. The thin-wall injection moulding production with rPET recently developed by ALPLA and machine manufacturer ENGEL also offers great potential. For the first time, food packaging with wall thicknesses of just 0.33 millimetres can be produced. 

ALPLAindustrial - range at a glance

• Round buckets: 580 millilitres to 25 litres
• Hobbock’ bucket: 32 litres
• Oval buckets: 1.2 to 18 litres
• Oval ‘round corner’ buckets: 17.4, 18.1 and 19.6 litres
• Special size buckets: transparent household buckets (3 to 10 litres), square buckets (5 or 16 litres), 12-litre construction buckets
• UN/hazardous goods buckets: for explosive, flammable, oxidising, toxic or corrosive substances
• Canisters: 3 to 30 litres (also available for hazard classes UN-X and UN-Y)
• Canister AdBlue
• Bottles for food, home care, detergents and cleaning agents: 100 to 1,000 millilitres
• Cans with screw cap: 250 to 2,000 millilitres