ALPLA has launched its first base plant in the Philippines, strengthening its presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Since the summer of 2025, the global packaging producer has been manufacturing high-quality plastic bottles and closures in Calamba City, and on 19 March 2026 it celebrated the official opening of the plant with around 80 guests. The new facility in Filinvest Technology Park Ciudad de Calamba covers 4,800 m² of space dedicated to production, administration and logistics, intended to form the basis for further expansion of ALPLA's operations on the Philippine market. This location represents the next step after the company's previous presence in the country as an in-house partner producing preforms and bottles directly in the filling plants of a global customer.
Expansion of activities in the Asia-Pacific region
The plant in Calamba City, located in Filinvest Technology Park Ciudad de Calamba, is an important milestone for ALPLA. The company began operations in the Philippines in 2014 as an in-house producer, supplying preforms and bottles directly to the filling lines of an international customer. The start-up of the first base plant creates a foundation for offering a broader portfolio of packaging solutions for local and global customers.
At the official opening ceremony on 19 March, representatives of ALPLA's management, including Chief Operating Officer Walter Ritzer, Managing Director APAC Ronald Tichelaar and General Manager ALPLA Philippines Christian Kotschy, welcomed around 80 guests. Austria's ambassador Johann Brieger also attended the event. Walter Ritzer highlighted the importance of the investment for the regional strategy, stating: "This strategically important investment in the Philippines strengthens our presence in the Asia-Pacific region. With our experience and technology, we will establish ourselves in this country as an important partner for all local and international customers".
The Calamba City plant began production in the summer of 2025 as ALPLA's 200th plant and is now one of the company's 206 production facilities worldwide. The new investment is intended to enable further scaling-up of activities in the region while maintaining global quality and efficiency standards.
Processing technologies and expansion potential
At the new plant, ALPLA manufactures plastic containers, bottles and closures for various industries using three processing technologies: injection stretch blow moulding (ISBM), extrusion blow moulding (EBM) and compression moulding (CM). Customers include international fast-moving consumer goods manufacturers, global beverage companies and local enterprises. This combination of technologies makes it possible to handle a broad range of packaging formats and functional requirements in a single facility.
The plant has been designed with further expansion of production capacities in mind. Production started on four lines, while the infrastructure allows for the installation of an additional five lines depending on market needs and customer projects. This enables ALPLA to gradually increase the supply of packaging as demand in the region grows and the project portfolio develops.
The importance of a comprehensive approach to the offering was emphasised by Ronald Tichelaar, who said: "We see great potential in the Philippine market and aim to differentiate ourselves with complete system solutions. With ISBM, EBM and CM already installed, we can offer customers a high level of vertical integration, global quality standards and efficient, reliable production from day one. Expanding our portfolio here was the logical next step".
Plant organisation and workforce
ALPLA currently employs around 40 people at the Calamba City plant. According to Christian Kotschy, the team's commitment during the preparation and start-up phase was crucial to the success of the project. Adaptation of the shell construction began at the beginning of 2025, and the first machines were already running by the summer of the same year. This process covered both the installation of new processing technologies and the development of local technical competences.
Christian Kotschy pointed out that the combination of requirements related to building a new plant, implementing advanced technologies and recruiting qualified staff posed a major organisational challenge. As he noted: "Establishing a new plant is always a challenge. In Calamba City, new technologies and the search for skilled workers were added to the mix. Now we have strengthened our team and are ready for more".
The Calamba City plant is intended to enable flexible adaptation to the needs of customers from the beverage industry and other sectors using plastic packaging. Thanks to local production, ALPLA can shorten the supply chain, ensure stable deliveries of products and offer quality standards in line with the requirements of global brands, while at the same time serving local producers.
Packaging specialist ALPLA celebrated the official opening of its plant in Calamba City on 19 March. Pictured from left: Christian Kotschy (General Manager ALPLA Philippines), Johann Brieger (Ambassador of Austria), Walter Ritzer (COO ALPLA Group), Rona.
