Packaging giant Amcor has started expansion work at its flexible packaging solutions plant in Dongguan, China.

The plan covers a new 7,000m² production building and an automated warehouse. Once added, Amcor’s Dongguan campus will exceed 38,000m².

The additional space is intended to increase output and resilience to supply arrangements in South China’s industrial base.

The build is scheduled to finish by July 2027.

Equipment to be installed includes automated solvent-free laminators, high-speed bag-making lines and automated bag-arranging systems.

Amcor said the upgrades are designed to support work on recycle-ready packaging for food, home and personal care uses.

Amcor has operated in China for more than 30 years and has 23 manufacturing facilities and two research and development centres in the country.

The Dongguan project will add to its manufacturing network serving customers across the Asia Pacific region.

Amcor vice-president and Flexibles China general manager Xin She said: "China is an important growth market for Amcor, and the Dongguan expansion represents an investment in the technologies and capabilities that will help shape the future of packaging.

"We are creating a more efficient and intelligent manufacturing ecosystem that will help our customers grow and meet the needs of millions of consumers every day."

In May, Amcor’s Asia Pacific Innovation& Center (APIC) laboratory secured accreditation from the China National Accreditation Service (CNAS) for Conformity Assessment, adding to its role in the group’s wider innovation network.

The CNAS is the country’s official body for reviewing testing and calibration laboratories against international benchmarks.

Its approval shows that a laboratory meets internationally accepted standards for technical capability and quality management.