Albéa, the world's leading manufacturer of packaging for beauty, personal care and pharmaceutical products, has opened its new production site in Bottanuco, a town located near Milan, Italy. The $7 million site demonstrates the group's technical expertise, strive for industrial excellence and commitment to environmental responsibility, with the continual aim of better serving its customers.

Albéa's new site in Bottanuco has an area of 18,400 square metres, 250 employees and a production capacity of 160 million units per year. Thanks to its integrated injection, extrusion-blow moulding, decoration, surface treatment and assembly technologies, it has become the group's European Centre of Excellence for mascara, lip gloss and eyeliner. This plant consolidates production from two former industrial sites in Verderio and Imbersago, which had been operating for nearly 35 years in the Milan area.

Bottanuco teams support Albéa's global, regional and local customers with their product launches, from development to production. In a make-up market notable for its rapid pace of innovations, teams share the same drive for responsiveness, quality, competitiveness and service. In keeping with its CSR commitments, the group incorporated environmental efficiency during all stages of construction and continues to do so during daily operations. Albéa Bottanuco is now a model site in terms of renewable energy sources. This tri-generation heating and cooling system, both reduces greenhouse gas emissions and re-uses the heat for other energy needs. In addition, the workshops' layout was designed to improve employees working conditions and safety.

Joining the other manufacturing sites in Mexico, Brazil and China, the Bottanuco plant strengthens Albéa's leading position in the mascara packaging market.

"The creation of this European Mascara Centre of Excellence demonstrates our commitment to supporting our customers with their product launches. This completely integrated site should not only improve our responsiveness and industrial efficiency but should also allow us to offer a wider range of high value-added services. It will also make it easier for our customers and teams to work together", says Guillaume de Demandolx, Executive VP, Albéa Cosmetic Rigid Packaging.

Finally, the Albéa Tips Studio will also be setting up its global Centre of Expertise at the Bottanuco site. This program, the only one of its kind in the world, brings together all of the group's expertise in the areas of innovation, development and production of applicators, including fibre and plastic mascara brushes, lip gloss tips and eyeliner applicators. At Bottanuco, the centre offers customers a comprehensive library with fibre and plastic brushes as well as rapid prototyping capabilities and a make-up test laboratory to evaluate the trio formed by applicator, wiper and formula.

Bottanuco represents Albéa's commitment to investment, innovation and partnership with its customers to build the future of their brands.