Sonoco opens metal packaging facility in Columbus, Ohio

Hartsville, South Carolina-based packaging developer Sonoco Products Co. has announced the grand opening of a new multimillion-dollar facility in Columbus, Ohio.

The 11,000-square-foot Sonoco Metal Packaging Technical & Engineering Center includes modern laboratories, prototyping equipment, training rooms and collaboration spaces, according to the company.

Sonoco says the facility’s opening demonstrates its commitment to expand leadership in sustainable metal packaging and creates a centralized location to support its customers with design support, advanced technical services, process development, engineering and training.

“We are excited to unveil our new state-of-the-art center which supports another milestone in our pursuit of excellence and our unwavering commitment to high-quality, precision manufactured metal packaging," Ernest Haynes, president of Sonoco’s metal packaging business, said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. "Our new center will foster even greater collaboration and productivity in a unified workspace where Sonoco will bring together can makers, brand owners, industry suppliers and scientific partners to harness the latest advances in technology and deliver greater value to our customers.”

The company notes it is a leading manufacturer of sustainable metal packaging for food and beverage products and one of the largest aerosol can producers in North America. It produces steel tinplate two-piece and three-piece aerosol and food cans along with closures and packaging components from 12 manufacturing operations across the United States.

Technical support is in high demand, Sonoco says, particularly for shelf-life testing and package performance. Sonoco specifically offers expertise in package performance and integrity testing, real-time shelf-life testing and electrochemical corrosion testing, among others. Additionally, the company offers customized training opportunities accommodating large groups and facilitating comprehensive education on can manufacturing processes to accelerate production ramps, increase throughput and improve quality.

“We continue to invest in our packaging portfolio to leverage new technologies and innovations and provide our customers with the most modern and efficient solutions in the industry,” Sonoco President and CEO Howard Coker says. “The opening of our new Steel Can Technology Institute stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to provide superior solutions in leading-edge technology, design and manufacturing for our customers.”