​Staff Writer
The ALPLA Group, the leader in plastic packaging and recycling, opened a state-of-the-art production site in Lanseria, West Rand.
The new plant will produce bottles, closures and special packaging for the food, personal and home care, chemical, cleaning agent and pharmaceutical industries – a total of around 3.5 billion pieces per year.
The plant was opened on Wednesday by Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Barbara Creecy, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and the Austrian Ambassador-Designate to South Africa Romana Königsbrun. 
The US$50 million plant will not only drive sustainability and recycling in the country. 
It will create and sustain 350 jobs, with an apprenticeship programme that will train 36 mechatronics and recycling technicians for ALPLA operations across southern Africa.
The plant has one of the largest solar installations on a privately owned manufacturing building in South Africa.
The ALPLA investment is a key contribution to the Lanseria Smart City master plan and Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
Lanseria Smart City is an area earmarked for radical residential and commercial development. The city aims to accommodate up to half a million residents, with newly integrated public transport systems connecting residential zones and industrial hubs in 2030.
Welcoming the plant's investment in Gauteng, Premier Panyaza Lesufi said: "A new Smart city will develop from this area, and the investment that we are unveiling today is a firm commitment from government and the private sector to develop the Lanseria area.
Premier Lesufi said one of the positive spin-offs of the city will be economic acceleration and job creation, both of which are critical in the fight against unemployment, poverty and inequality.
"The ALPLA investment is a key contribution to the Lanseria Smart City masterplan. We are establishing a special economic zone in the area to attract more investment and create jobs for our unemployed youth," said Lesufi.
In her keynote address, Minister Creecy said the opening of ALPLA technologies' plant is another milestone in the relationship between Austria and South Africa.
"I have been informed that ALPLA technologies has invested around USD 100 million in South Africa between 2014 and 2019. This plant represents an additional investment of USD 50 million and will provide 350 job opportunities."
ALPLA technologies supports the Youth Employment Service programme with work experience opportunities for 50 young people, spending R6.4 million on skills development and an additional R500,000 on learnerships for contractors with disabilities.
"Our investment in South Africa is a clear commitment to the continent. In this way, we are increasing our competitiveness and guaranteeing the long-term regional supply of safe, affordable and sustainable packaging solutions," explained ALPLA CEO Philipp Lehner. 
"Here in Lanseria, we concentrate our expertise, optimise production processes, use state-of-the-art equipment and create energy-efficient operations," added Mike Resnicek, Managing Director Sub-Saharan Africa at ALPLA.