Maker of biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film Gulf Packaging Industries Ltd (Gulf Pack) has announced plans to more than double production capacity by 2015 with the addition of two BOPP lines at its Jubail plant.

Gulf Pack now operates three lines with a capacity of 65,000 tonnes per year. The first of the additional lines will be installed by mid-2013 to raise output capacity to 110,000 tonnes while the second will be set up two years later to ramp up the level to 150,000 tonnes.

These lines have capability to make film in transparent, metallised, white cavitated, label-grade and anti-fog types with micron levels ranging from a low of 12 to a high of 50, said sales and marketing manager Fahad Mahmood Pirzada. The main applications for Gulf Pack’s products are food packaging, printing, lamination and wraparound labeling. The company has expanded its markets from the GCC and wider Middle East to the whole of Africa, Europe and lately the Americas, Pirzada added.

All Gulf Pack machines are of Bruckner make and recently it started its third metalliser to take metallising capacity to 12,000 tonnes. The company’s certifications include ISO 9001:2000, BRC (British Retail Consortium) and AIB (American Institute of Baking) among other standards. It procures its homopolymers from the local market.

Gulf Pack, founded in 1986, is owned by the Al Rajhi family. Chairman of the company Ahmed Al Rajhi said the company had successfully applied technology-based solutions and solved customers’ toughest problems over many years.

“BOPP film has gained popularity throughout the world. It has become the first choice, especially for food packaging, due to characteristics such as light weight, transparency, flexibility, hygiene and durability,” said Al Rajhi. “Another reason for its popularity is the non-availability of an alternative product of similar quality at the same price,” he said.

“In order to be better prepared to serve our customers, Gulf Pack is investing in its employees, internal processes, production capacity and business systems. We are strengthening our existing core competencies and investing in developing new capabilities to meet increasing requirements. Gulf Pack strives to be recognised as an employer of choice and has established programmes designed to attract and retain a highly skilled and motivated workforce. Our people are our greatest asset.”

Commented Ali Hassan Al Jameel, president of Gulf Pack: “We are the pioneer of BOPP and metallised film in the GCC region and our vision is leading us to expand our size manifold due to demand for our products in local and export markets.”