Portugal-based Cabopol Polymer Compounds is opening a new production site in Monterey, Mexico. The new facility, set to come online in December 2023, will initially include two production lines with an expected production capacity of 25,000 tons per year.
The compounder, which produces a wide range of thermoplastic and crosslinked compounds from biodegradable, compostable, and recycled polymers, said the expansion is in line with its long-term strategy to better serve its customers and reach new markets.
"The opening of our new production unit in Monterey, Mexico, marks a pivotal moment for Cabopol,” said Anselmo Mendes, sales director at Cabopol. “We are dedicated to delivering the highest-quality polymer compounds, and this expansion allows us to further our commitment to excellence. We are excited to better serve our customers and contribute to the growth of the local economy."
The new factory will be located in the heart of Monterey’s industrial zone and cover an area of 10,000 square meters. It is Cabopol’s first production unit in the Americas, after successfully operating facilities in Portugal, Serbia, and Morocco. The expansion is expected to reduce lead times for customers in the Mexican and North American markets through increased production capacity and improved supply chain efficiency.
Capobol offers three product lines for the circular economy. Sofiprime, consisting of recycled PP compounds with enhanced barrier properties; Biomind, consisting of biodegradable and compostable compounds from renewable sources, and more recently Biomind PHA.
The compounder started producing Biomind polymers at its Porto de Mós facility in Leiria back in 2010, which at the time was the first compounding unit for biodegradable plastics in the Iberian Peninsula. Applications include non-durable products for household, industrial and agricultural applications such as disposable nappies and cutlery, rubbish bags, food packaging, shopping bags, drinking straws, and agricultural films.