3P Shrink, a subsidiary of 3P Gulf Group, a pioneer among provi-ders of plastic packaging solutions in the Middle East, has announced it has raised the production capacity of shrink films to 50,000 tonnes per year (tpy) by operating a new line.

“The new capacity makes 3P Shrink the largest producer of shrink film in the region and supports growth in the sector which has suffered from a lack of reliable capacity and inefficiencies in the manufacturing process,” the company said in a statement.
Commenting on the expansion, Ali Hashim, vice chairman and CEO of 3P Gulf Group, said: “Continuing demand for our products in the packaging industry has prompted us to supplement our existing capacity to 50,000 tpy.  The new machinery and set up will enable us to ensure quality standards in our production and make the products readily available to our clients.”
3P Gulf Group employs around 500 staff at its different production sites in Jeddah, where it specialises in producing shrink films, stretch films, PET preforms, bottles, caps, laminate tubes and jars for the food, beverage and health and personal care industries. The group has four different plants in the industrial city and has been playing a major role in the plastic packaging industry in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) since its inception in 1992.
Currently, the group is providing packaging solutions to clients around the Mena region including multinationals in the FMCG sector and the pharmaceutical and personal care industries. Some of its clients are Pepsi Cola, Coca-Cola, Nestle, Unilever, Almarai and Spimaco.
 “The hike in raw material cost is alarming, but we have the advantage of being in Saudi Arabia, the world’s petrochemical hub. The next step is expanding our business to Europe, we already have opened an office in London for the purpose,” Hashim said.
With increased shrink film production capacity, the group expects to increase sales by 25 per cent from last year’s figure of $200 million.  With further investments in product diversification and geographical expansion, it seeks to be in a strong position to prosper in the years ahead, the company said.