Klöckner Pentaplast Group introduced the company’s newest kp i.center in Spain. The kp i.center provides a collaborative space to help global food and consumer products (FCP) customers bring products to market more quickly and economically. It is located in Sant Cugat, 30km with direct highways from Barcelona—one of the Spanish food industry’s most vibrant destinations.
“Klöckner Pentaplast is a leading innovator in the film and packaging industry,” says Daniel Dayan, President FCP, Klöckner Pentaplast. “Our kp i.center stands for interaction, ideas and innovation, the core elements in driving forward-thinking research and development in today’s packaging industry.”
The kp i.center combines a dedicated area resourced with marketing, sales and R&D experts together with laboratory, prototyping facilities, a supermarket and an FCP market research center. Klöckner Pentaplast has integrated industrial and technical capabilities to deliver a full experience from concept to production of a packing solution. “Close collaboration with our customers is the key to success,” says Dr. Helene Roberts, Director, FCP Marketing & Innovation. “Our kp i.center enables us to offer them a totally comprehensive range of resources and expertise.” The center is aimed at supporting commercial, technical and operational leaders to immerse themselves in idea sharing leading to the discovery of innovative packaging solutions.
The kp i.center hosts a customer inspiration area, a supermarket and a kitchen. “This will be a live space that will be constantly evolving. It’s somewhere that we can showcase different category and product innovations to inspire new product developments”, said Helene Roberts. “The idea is to demonstrate how packaging looks on a shelf or counter in store, emulating real consumer experiences for our customers.”
The high-tech laboratory includes several instruments for analyzing and creating different packaging solutions. Customers can make use of the form, fill, seal machine and thermosealers in the trial area. Working together with the kp team, customers will be able to test and assess designs in real-time. A MULTIVAC MAP (Modified Atmosphere Package) and an Erca Dairy Line are already available—more equipment will follow.
