Expansions: Nant Biorenewables expands US capacity; Thyssenkrupp to build PET plant for Köksan in Turkey

Nant BioRenewables, the company behind the Wave Ware line of renewable foodservice products, has announced the expansion of its US manufacturing capabilities in Gadsden, Alabama, broadening its material platforms, custom resin formulation and compounding capabilities, and thermoforming capacity to support customers across foodservice, consumer packaged goods (CPG), and specialty packaging.

The expanded facility now manufactures across PP, PE, and multiple bioplastic platforms, including TÜV-certified home-compostable and BPI-certified commercially compostable materials. This multi-material flexibility enables operators and brands to align product performance, regulatory compliance, and sustainability objectives while reducing dependence on overseas converters and extended supply chains, the company adds.

In addition to its compostable straw, NantBioRenewables now produces a full line of foodservice disposables, including: cold cup/bowl lids, trays, plates/bowls and others. The company’s custom thermoforming capabilities support a wide range of applications across foodservice, consumer packaged goods, agriculture, and specialty industrial markets.

As part of the expansion, NantBioRenewables has further strengthened its R&D and materials science capabilities, offering custom resin formulation and compounding across PP, PE, and compostable bioplastic platforms.

These capabilities include the integration of the company’s proprietary ocean calcium sand technology, designed to enhance material performance while maintaining cost-conscious product profiles.

The Gadsden facility also supports customizsable tubular structures up to 10 mm round, enabling domestic production for: Food and beverage; Cosmetics; Single-dose pharmaceutical applications and Nutraceuticals

This capability provides brands with a US-based alternative to imported small-diameter packaging, with tighter process control, faster iteration, and improved supply chain responsiveness.

In other news, Thyssenkrupp Uhde’s subsidiary Uhde Inventa-Fischer has signed a contract with the Turkish packaging producer Köksan for the delivery of a PET production plant. The plant will be located in Yumurtalık, Turkey. The new production line will have a capacity of 324,000 tonnes/year of PET resin, suitable for all kinds of packaging applications and bulk continuous filament (BCF) production. Completion and commissioning are planned for 2028.

The plant will utilise the patented Melt-To-Resin (MTR) process by Uhde Inventa-Fischer, enabling a significant reduction in energy consumption. Thyssenkrupp’s scope includes the license, basic and detail engineering, and the supply of all major plant equipment. In addition, the operating personnel of Köksan will be trained by Thyssenkrupp’s technology and operation specialists.

The various grades of PET resin produced will be supplied to local markets as well as to countries in the Middle East, the Americas, Europe, and Africa.

The MTR process developed by Thyssenkrupp Uhde is a continuous polycondensation process that eliminates the solid-state-post-condensation process steps in the production of PET resin. This results in substantial energy savings, reduced investment costs, lower operating and maintenance costs, and a higher raw material yield compared to conventional technologies.

The technology meets today’s demand for sustainability by reducing the carbon footprint in terms of fuel and electrical energy by up to 30%. The process is based on the 2-reactor technology, which uses the patented Espree and Discage reactors to obtain the desired high melt viscosities, says the company.

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