Alpla starts production at the new plant in Lanseria near Johannesburg

ALPLA CEO Philipp Lehner welcomed the South African Environment Minister Barbara Creecy and the Premier of Gauteng Panyaza Lesufi

35,000 square metres of covered production, administration and storage space, another 12,500 for future expansion, and 30,000 square metres of roof area equipped with solar panels: with the new plant in Lanseria, ALPLA is setting the course for further growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. After around two years of construction and relocation, the international packaging company celebrated the opening of the ultra-modern location on 12 October in the presence of the South African Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Barbara Creecy, the Premier of the Gauteng province Panyaza Lesufi, the Austrian Ambassador-Designate to South Africa Romana Königsbrun and many other high-ranking guests.

‘All of Sub-Saharan Africa is on the upswing, the markets have enormous potential. Our investment in South Africa is a clear commitment to the continent. In this way, we are increasing our competitiveness and guaranteeing the long-term regional supply of safe, affordable and sustainable packaging solutions,’ explains ALPLA CEO Philipp Lehner.

Combined competencies and technologies

It the new plant in Lanseria, ALPLA uses state-of-the-art technology and machinery to produce high-quality bottles, closures and special packaging

The new location in the industrial area north of Johannesburg combines and builds on the five previous plants in Harrismith, Denver, Isando, Kempton Park and Samrand. The departments, employees and machines were relocated step by step. Around 350 employees will start working in Lanseria and their number is subject to further growth. The new plant will produce bottles, closures and special packaging for the food, personal and home care, chemical, cleaning agent and pharmaceutical industries – a total of around 3.5 billion pieces per year.

ALPLA uses six different technologies, including injection and compression moulding, injection stretch blow moulding and extrusion blow moulding. In addition to international corporations, ALPLA also supplies smaller local companies with plastic packaging solutions.

With the new plant in Lanseria, ALPLA is also promoting its own training of specialists and has established a dual education and apprenticeship programme. This dual system of practical and theoretical training based on the Austrian model is already in operation at the ALPLA locations in Germany, Mexico, India, Poland and China. From 2023, the first 12 South African apprentices are to begin their training in the plastics technology and machining technology trades in the ‘Future Corner’ training centre in Lanseria.