Rigid packaging specialist RPC Group (Higham Ferrers, Rushden / UK; www.rpc-group.com) has identified Raunds in the UK as the fifth of six production plants it plans to close as part of its “RPC 2010” restructuring scheme – see Plasteurope.com of 05.12.2008. Additionally, it will sell its RPC Tedeco-Gizeh distribution business at Offenburg / Germany, with annual turnover of GBP 13m (about EUR 16m) and satellite operations in Romania and Poland.

Production at Mozzate / Italy was shut down ahead of schedule. In December 2008, RPC identified Halfweg (blow moulding) and Ravenstein in The Netherlands (injection moulding), along with Aš / Czech Republic (thermoforming) as further candidates for closure. The Raunds site produces extrusion-blow moulded plastic containers and spray bottles in PE and PP. The German distribution centre focuses on disposable plastic cups for cash & carry convenience applications and vending machines cups under the Gizeh-Dispofom trademark.