Nova Scotia’s GN Thermoforming enters form/cut/stack thermoformer market

Armed with the results of a market analysis – and with help from an Italian equipment supplier – Nova Scotia’s GN Thermoforming Equipment is entering the form/cut/stack thermoformer market.

The analysis conducted by Chester, N.S.-based GN showed that packaging manufacturers were making increasing use of form/cut/stack technology. GN then decided that the fastest way into this market was through a partnership with Milan, Italy-based Agripak s.r.l.

The result is the recent launch of the GN800, a high-speed form/cut/stack thermoformer developed in partnership with Agripak, and which marks GN’s entrance into the form/cut/stack market and expands the company’s plug-assist machine offering.

“We saw the changes in the marketplace so we wanted to move swiftly to counter the competition,” said Jerome Romkey, GN’s marketing manager. “Our strategy was to adapt and enhance Agripak’s proven technology to meet the requirements of today’s processors and gain a strong foothold in this highly attractive market.”

The first unit has already been sold to a European processor for production of PET sealed containers, Romkey added.

Agripak manufactured and sold form/cut/stack thermoforming machines until 2003. GN, who has manufactured roll-fed thermoformers for the production of high-quality plastic packaging for the past 35 years, bought the rights to Agripak’s original machine design and has added new features and technologies. “We used their proven design, and combined it with GN’s own proven technologies,” Romkey said. The enhancements offered in this new thermoformer came in response to input from customers and toolmakers to ensure GN’s new machine would meet today’s changing market conditions.