Zempack, a JBS company and one of the largest manufacturers of metal packaging for food and aerosols in Brazil, has doubled its production in the last ten years and seeks to expand the presence of metal packaging in new product categories.
With the capacity to manufacture more than 1 billion units per year, the company identifies expansion opportunities in segments such as seafood, supplements and pharmaceuticals, in addition to its operations in the food, chemical and industrial sectors.
One of the recent projects is the supply of packaging for canned oysters, an example of the strategy to develop applications for products that still have little presence in this type of packaging. The move also seeks to diversify Zempack’s client portfolio, which was created to supply JBS operations and today serves more than 100 companies in the market.
“Cans are already part of the consumer’s routine in various categories, but their potential goes beyond the best-known applications. We want to show other industries how metal packaging can help protect their products and open up new consumption possibilities. Canned oysters are an example of this path ,” says Marcelo Jorcovix , CEO of Zempack .
The expansion is supported by investments made in modernizing the factories in Lins and Guaiçara (SP). Since 2015, the company has allocated more than R$ 350 million to the units, focusing on automation, productivity and efficiency, as well as reducing the consumption of raw materials and energy. The operations employ approximately 700 professionals and manufacture more than 2,500 items.
New applications for metal packaging
Zempack’s expansion strategy involves developing packaging adapted to the needs of different industries. In the food segment, for example, cans offer protection against light and oxygen ingress, as well as resistance during transport and storage.
When combined with proper heat processing, hermetically sealed packaging allows food to be preserved for extended periods without the need to add preservatives for that purpose.
These characteristics are among the attributes that the company intends to explore to expand the use of metal packaging in categories such as seafood, supplements, and pharmaceuticals, while respecting the specific requirements of each product.
“We want packaging to be perceived as part of the product’s value. For the industry, it needs to offer protection and efficiency in distribution. For the consumer, it can combine safety, practicality, and preservation. These are the attributes we want to bring to the discussion when a company develops a product or reviews its packaging ,” says Jorcovix .
Automation and industrial efficiency:
Investments made in the last decade have also enabled the expansion of factory automation and increased production line productivity, focusing on reducing the consumption of raw materials and energy per package produced.
One of the results was the development of cans for corn and peas that use 6% less steel, without compromising packaging performance. This reduction decreases the amount of raw material needed per unit, with efficiency gains that multiply in large-scale operations.
The company also seeks to expand the circularity of the materials used. Waste generated during manufacturing is sent to JBS Ambiental for treatment and reintegration into production chains. Furthermore, Zempack is one of the founding members of Prolata, a reverse logistics initiative that promotes the collection and recycling of steel packaging after consumption.
