American Canyon’s Alcan making wine screw caps

Monday, June 22, 2009, 12:40 pm

By Jeff Quackenbush, Business Journal Staff Reporter

Stelvin capsules AMERICAN CANYON – Alcan Packaging Capsules of California has started Napa Valley production of aluminum screw caps for the wine industry.

The company, part of Rio Tinto Alcan of France, began production of Stelvin Plus wine bottle caps in mid-March and has produced about 2 million so far, according to General Manager Frederic Catteau.

“What we’re trying to do here is Stelvin Plus 3-D decoration like embossing on tin capsules for customers transitioning from tin,” Mr. Catteau said.

Local production this year is expected to reach 7 million caps, with two shifts producing about 1 million a month for peak periods. Depending on economic conditions, that level could reach 15 million next year with the addition of a second production line.

The plant, located at 5425 Broadway, has equipment to handle volatile organic compounds, or VOC, emissions from production to allow for up to four cap lines. The manufacturing lines consist of a decorator machine and a device that applies the needed contours needed for the particular product line.

For example, the Stelvin Plus line of long-skirted caps has knurls and beads for gripping, but the Lux line doesn’t. The Stelvin Lux line is produced in France and now in Montreal. The goal is to make the new Stelvin Lux Plus line in American Canyon in two years, according to Mr. Catteau.

Key to that shift is adoption of additional capping equipment. Currently, San Luis Obispo Bottling, whose mobile lines serve Napa Valley, has equipment for Stelvin Lux, and a couple of local bottlers and wineries are set to acquire equipment to allow large-scale bottling under the closure next year.

“It’s not easy for wineries to get approval for capital expenditures in this economy,” Mr. Catteau said.

Alcan Packaging has invested $1.5 million so far in expanding the American Canyon plant from 20,000 to 30,000 square feet of leased space and bringing in new and refurbished equipment. The operation currently has 27 employees and had sales turnover last year of $22 million, including local production of capsules and orders of capsules and closures filled through the French and Canadian plants.

Meanwhile, a plan by a German beverage screw cap producer Mala Verschluss-Systeme GmbH to establish a plant in Napa Valley has been put on hold for at least five years, and perhaps indefinitely, according to Ortwin Krueger. His St. Helena-based wine production equipment company, Krueger Winery Technology, sells Mala caps, and he had been helping Mala with the up to $10 million project. “The recession kicked in, and money became tight,” he said.

For more information on Alcan Packaging Capsules of California, call 707-257-6481 or visit www.stelvin.alcan.com.