Barilla America expands it Ames, IA, plant to include gluten-free pasta-making, equipping the area with secondary packaging machinery that can meet a wide range of retail customer requirements. As retail channels continue to grow—now including grocery, club store, convenience, and dollar, among others—retailers are requiring their Consumer Packaged Goods suppliers to provide them with packaging specific to their needs. With this in mind, in expanding its Ames, IA, plant’s capabilities in 2015 to include the manufacture of gluten-free pasta, Barilla America, Inc. sought secondary packaging equipment with ultimate flexibility, and the speed to keep up with its processing lines.

The addition of gluten-free processing and packaging to the plant represented a $26.8 million investment. The gluten-free plant operates two processing/packaging lines, with end-of-line equipment chosen to accommodate a range of secondary packaging formats, including different sizes, configurations, styles, and packaging materials. Exploring equipment options at PACK EXPO International in 2014, the Barilla team came upon PMI Cartoning, Inc. and its carton- and case-packing machinery.