![alpla trucks](/sites/default/files/2018-08/alpla-histroy.jpg)
Company
History
Over 60 years ago, the brothers Helmuth and Alwin Lehner founded the company ‘Alpenplastik Lehner Alwin GmbH’. Their initial assets consisted of courage, hard work and an injection moulding machine acquired at low cost. They converted the laundry room in their parents’ home into a production hall, and they were grateful for every helping hand they got. Their passion for technical challenges remains unparalleled to this day and is one of the cornerstones of our company’s history.
1955
![Alpenplastik Lehner Alwin GmbH’ in Hard (Austria).](/sites/default/files/2018-06/laundry_room_0.jpg)
Company is founded as ‘Alpenplastik Lehner Alwin GmbH’ in Hard (Austria).
1958
![alwin lehner alplamat](/sites/default/files/2018-06/alehner_015_-_copy.jpg)
Alwin Lehner designs and builds the company’s first in-house machine – the legendary Alplamat. The continuous development of this series of machines forms the basis for the technology leadership of ALPLA.
1958
![](/sites/default/files/2018-06/clu.jpg)
The first bottle for glass cleaners produced by the Siegel company.
1964
![](/sites/default/files/2018-08/markdorf-history.jpg)
First branch outside of Austria opens in Markdorf (Germany).
1968
![Latin America San Joaquin Venezuela](/sites/default/files/2018-06/venez.jpg)
First plant in Latin America opens in San Joaquin (Venezuela).
1975
![1975 hard austira](/sites/default/files/2018-06/1975hard_hs60_004_-_copy_0.jpg)
The company now has six branches in three countries, with around 1,200 employees.
1985
![in-house plant Lomazzo Italy](/sites/default/files/2018-06/1985.jpg)
First in-house plant in Lomazzo (Italy): bottles are produced here directly at the customer’s bottling facility, with numerous environmental and economic benefits.
1985
![PET flakes](/sites/default/files/2018-08/rgb_alpla_petflakes_clear.jpg)
PET takes over from PVC (polyvinyl chloride) as a packaging material; ALPLA develops the first two-step PET bottle.
1988
![ALPLA Global Technical Center Hard Austria](/sites/default/files/2018-08/history-1988.jpg)
The ALPLA Global Technical Center opens in Hard.
1990
![1990 central and eastern europe](/sites/default/files/2018-08/history-1990.jpg)
Expansion into Eastern Europe (Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Russia).
1990
![post consumer recycling material](/sites/default/files/2017-11/rgb_alpla_pelletspetbl80.jpg)
The first PCR bottle (PCR = post-consumer recycling) from ALPLA represents the prototype of a completely new type of product: this 1,000-millilitre bottle for Lenor is made from recycled plastic.
1995
![bangkok thailand employees](/sites/default/files/2017-10/alpla_00409_0.jpg)
The company now has 29 branches in 15 countries, with around 3,000 employees.
2001
![technical center atlanta georgia](/sites/default/files/2017-10/img_1292_-_copy.jpg)
First plant in the USA opens in Atlanta, Georgia; first plant in Asia opens in Bangkok (Thailand).
2005
![PET recycling plant Toluca Mexico](/sites/default/files/2018-08/mexico-recycling-pet.jpg)
ALPLA becomes a joint-venture partner in a PET recycling plant in Toluca (Mexico).
2007
![technical center shanghai china](/sites/default/files/2017-10/5-9apulakejiyouxiangongsihaichengchengong-ts-wp-0518fuben_0.jpg)
ALPLA opens its 100th plant in China.
2010
![](/sites/default/files/2021-06/rgb-plpad2-radomsko-recycling-39.jpg)
ALPLA acquires a majority shareholding in the Austrian company PET Recycling Team GmbH in Wöllersdorf. ALPLA expands its expertise in relation to recycling.
2012
![](/sites/default/files/2021-06/rgb-plpad2-radomsko-recycling-31.jpg)
Construction of an ALPLA PET recycling plant in Radomsko (southern Poland).
2014
![](/sites/default/files/2021-06/alpla_maquinas_herramienta.jpg)
Opening of Regional Technical Center with modern training workshop in Mexico; first plant opens in Africa, Kempton Park (South Africa).
2015
![blue preforms](/sites/default/files/2017-10/alpla_preform.jpg)
Acquisition of Plasco S.P.A. (Italy) and Argo S.A. (Egypt).
2016
![acquisition of egyptian taba group](/sites/default/files/2018-01/picture2.jpg)
Acquisition of Egyptian Taba Group; opening of Competence Center Shanghai with apprenticeship workshop.
2017
![boxmore packaging south africa](/sites/default/files/2018-08/alpla-history-2017.jpg)
Opening of site in 10th of Ramadan City (Egypt); acquisition of West Bend (USA), Propack (Italy) and Boxmore Packaging (Africa).
2018
![pharmaceutical packaging](/sites/default/files/2018-10/group_photo.jpg)
ALPLA purchases all shares in the Greek company Argo S.A. thus expanding its activities in south-eastern Europe and expertise in pharmaceutical packaging.
2020
![](/sites/default/files/2021-02/rgb-plpad2-radomsko-recycling-43.jpg)
Major extensions in the field of mechanical PET and HDPE recycling as well as chemical PET recycling.
2021
![](/sites/default/files/2022-03/alpla_ceo_philipp_lehner.jpg)
Philipp Lehner new CEO from 1st January & acquisitions in different countries, with focus on Circular Economy & Recycling footprint.
2022
![ALPLA Lanseria Production site](/sites/default/files/2024-04/alpla-lanseria-production-3.jpg)
ALPLA opens a state-of-the-art production site in Lanseria near Johannesburg, which also serves as the new headquarters for the emerging region of Sub-Saharan Africa.
2023
![Recyclat](/sites/default/files/2024-04/alpla_recycling.jpg)
With its own brands ALPLArecycling, ALPLApharma and ALPLAindustrial, the company underlines the increasing importance of key business areas.