Smurfit Kappa is set to invest more than €35 million in a new packaging plant in the Moroccan capital Rabat. The 25,000sqm facility will be Smurfit Kappa’s first corrugated plant in the country and is intended to help the company to ‘supply innovative and sustainable packaging solutions quickly and efficiently to its local customer base.’
The plant, which is expected to open in early 2023, will create packaging for sectors including industrial, agricultural, FMCG, automotive, pharmaceutical and ceramics. It will serve both local customers and multinationals based in Morocco.
Saverio Mayer, CEO of Smurfit Kappa Europe, commented, ‘We are very proud to announce the construction of this advanced new facility, the first of its kind owned by the company in Morocco. It will be located in an area with significant growth potential and create 300 direct and indirect jobs in the region.
‘Our customers will also benefit from our fully integrated and circular business model which will ensure a reliable supply of quality, value-adding and sustainable products.’
Ignacio Sevillano, CEO of Smurfit Kappa Spain, Portugal and Morocco, added, ‘We are delighted that the first stone has been laid – an important milestone for the project. This investment is a reflection of our ‘think global, act local’ approach which combines our global scale and expertise with our local team’s best-in-class knowledge to understand and satisfy our Moroccan customers’ needs.
‘The new plant will also incorporate an Experience Centre, our 30th worldwide, which will foster enhanced collaboration with our customers and provide creative ideas and insights.’
Finally, Edwin Goffard, COO of corrugated and converting for Smurfit Kappa Europe, concluded, ‘This new plant is being built at the right time and in the right place. High demand for corrugated is ongoing and customers want to know that their products are being transported and presented in the most efficient and sustainable way. We use the huge wealth of data gained from working with over 65,000 customers worldwide to identify the best solution for the task at hand.’
