Weidenhammer Packaging Group (Hockenheim / Germany; www.weidenhammer.de) has begun production of composite cans in the UK, through a new majority joint venture, Weidenhammer UK, established in February of this year with Chesapeake Packaging (Bradford / UK; www.cskplastics.com). The UK company, which traded as Field Packaging until the end of 2007, is part of the Chesapeake Group (Richmond, Virginia / USA; www.cskcorp.com).

In 2007, the Chesapeake Group consolidated the manufacture of luxury tubes for spirits from Bradford to a site in Scotland and may be planning to withdraw entirely from composite can production. Bradford is currently the group's only site to manufacture such products. Depending on how the business develops, the German partner could eventually take over the joint venture in full.

On four production lines, the site’s 30 employees manufacture composite cans for major customers in the food industry, including Quaker Oats (cereals, instant porridges) and United Biscuits (snacks). Weidenhammer UK currently produces primarily for the British market. In future, however, products made in Bradford also will be exported to Poland. For 2008, the UK company projects sales in the medium single-digit million euro range.

The joint venture initially will use the existing buildings owned by Field Packaging. By 2010, however, there are plans to double the space in Bradford to meet the expected expansion, according to CEO Ralf Weidenhammer. As one of the reasons for staying at the Bradford site, he pointed to its proximity to the UK’s major commercial centres at Manchester/Liverpool, Birmingham and London. Mike Ridgway, who has been employed with Field Packaging since 1969, has been named site manager.

CEO Weidenhammer said the company wants “to offer the British the same product portfolio that is currently available in mainland Europe.” Previously, he said, transport prices and a relatively weak euro exchange rate have limited imports into the UK.

With the new joint venture, the family-owned Weidenhammer Packaging Group employs more than 950 people at more than 12 sites in Europe and the US and aims to achieve sales in 2008 of around EUR 184m. Along with composite cans, its portfolio includes composite drums, luxury tubes and plastic containers. Its customers include Unilever-Bestfoods, Nestlé and Procter & Gamble.