2014 will see major investments in France and Spain come into production for cosmetics and personal care packaging specialist Axilone.
In the early part of the year next year, Axilone Plastique’s factory at Guidel in Brittany, France will have a new production line for lacquering and metal-plating.
“This is a strategic new skill which is being integrated into this subsidiary of the Ileos Group, which specialises in packaging for the makeup, perfume and beauty care industries,” the France-based company says.
The Guidel plant currently produces plastic components such as caps, casings, capsules, galvanised and metal-plated collars.
The €3 million investment in the site means Axilone will now be able to provide a complete project service, from design to product production and assembly, with decorating techniques such as hot stamping, screen printing, pad printing, laser engraving and now plastic varnishing, lacquering and metal-plating.
Spain growth
In Spain, Axilone has for more than 30 years been producing caps, collars and other specialised metal packaging components for a number of exclusive beauty sector brands, from its factory in Catalonia.
With support from new shareholder Oaktree, Axilone parent company Ileos Group is investing €13 million in a new 9,000m² production facility and 2,000m² of office space at the site, which will specialise in metal pressing and have automatic anodising and assembly lines.
According to the company, the move is in response to “continuously growing demand and shorter time to market requirements” of its luxury brand customers.
“It will give Axilone the ability to cope with large, worldwide product launches and substantially reduce product time to market, thereby improving the company's ability to work with major international groups,” the company says.
Axilone’s existing factory near Barcelona will continue to provide facilities for small production runs and sample testing.
Construction on the new facility began in June 2013 and the factory should be fully operational during the 3rd quarter 2014.
In 2012, Axilone’s turnover reached €114 million, and the company currently employs 1,825 people worldwide, with 280 in Spain.
