The Dow Chemical Co. recently announced it is continuing to invest in a “Packaging Center of Excellence” in Horgen, Switzerland, to better serve the needs of the packaging industry across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The company is doubling the staff of its packaging center to a total of approximately 20-25 people, and significantly expanding its capabilities for testing and prototyping adhesive laminating and film structures for food and beverage packaging needs.

The packaging center combines the scientific and technical expertise of Dow’s staff with equipment and collaboration space for specialty adhesives, resins, and formulated films in one place. It will also enhance customers’ ability to test materials and formulations for new package functionality and design. In addition, the center will hold seminars and forums that will allow package makers and brand owners and others to occasionally share insights about the future needs of the packaging industry.

“This is the next step in a journey all of us in the packaging industry must take,” said Anton van Beek, regional general manager of Packaging and Converting for Dow Europe, Middle East, and Africa. “The global population continues to grow, while the amount of arable land for food production remains essentially unchanged. There is an increasing need to bring more of the food we harvest to the global dinner table-more efficiently and with a lighter environmental footprint along the way. Smarter packaging design and better packaging materials are just one important way to reduce wastage and improve the success of the food supply.”

For more information, visit www.dow.com.